by Wendy Owens
Piper emerges from the front door, and maneuvering around me she slides down to sit next to me.
“I’m sorry,” I offer.
She looks at me with a shocked gaze. “For what?”
“Peter,” I reply in a flat voice. After nearly being beaten to death during the case, Peter decided life was too short to allow he and his brother to live under the monstrous rule that was his mother. He took his brother, and they left, leaving only a brief letter to Piper to say goodbye.
She sighs, shrugging her shoulders. “He was a wuss.” I know she doesn’t believe this.
I force a laugh. Then we both do. The only choice we have left is to laugh.
“When do you think we’ll know what they are going to do with Nash?” I ask.
“What? You mean if he’ll be reassigned?”
“Yeah.”
“Soon I would think. They won’t let you work long without a Bimtok.”
“Yeah, God forbid we get behind on killing people,” I snort.
She purses her lips thoughtfully, “What’s going on with you?”
“What do you mean?” I know what she means.
“Ever since the inquiry you’ve been pre-occupied by something.”
I turn my head to Piper. I want to tell her. I want to tell her about the dagger, and about how I am trying to find Joe’s killer, and about Lady Peabody wearing the pendant with the same symbol, all of it. But I don’t.
“I just want to know who’s behind all this,” I answer, which is partially the truth.
“Understandable.”
“Do you believe in God?” I ask.
“That’s an odd question.”
“Just thinking about Joe.”
“Yeah, of course I do,” Piper answers.
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because of the angels.”
My eyes lock onto her. “What are you talking about?”
“The angels, they’ve visited the Queen before.”
“You can’t be serious,” I scoff.
“Of course I am. Demons are real too.”
I laugh before I say, “This world just keeps getting stranger and stranger.” I hesitate a moment before asking, “Do you ever wish you would have just had them wipe your memories?”
She frowns at my statement. “No, if they had, I would have never been assigned to you.” I notice cracks in her frown until they finally give way to a forced smile.
“You know what?” I start. “I say it’s about time I let you and Nash train me.”
Her eyes grow wide. “Are you serious?”
I nod. “It looks like I’ll be sticking around in this job for a while, so I might as well figure out how to use all of these Phoenix powers while I’m at it.”
Piper hops to her feet, “I’ll get started researching right away! You won’t be sorry.” She extends a hand to help me up.
I fend off her hand and say, “I think I’ll stay out here a bit longer.” She rushes inside and begins formulating her ‘train Tynder’ game plan, and it can’t come any sooner. Something big is brewing and based on Lord Ardacks final words, I apparently play into the middle of it. Next time an Alpha or some other monster comes knocking at my door, I’ll be ready. Even if it’s the Queen herself. And whoever this is that has a plan for me better think again. I will find them, just as certain as I will find Joe’s killer.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my readers. Without you I wouldn’t be able to do what I love as a living. Every day you’re making my dreams a reality.
To Regina Wamba of Mae I Design for capturing Tynder perfectly on the cover.
A huge thank you goes out to Amy Donnelly who helped me make this series everything I wanted it to be. You’re an incredible editor and I am so happy I get to work with you.
To Josh, you believe in me when I have trouble believing in myself. Thank you for being my rock, my beta reader, and every other position I need, but can’t afford to hire.
Thank you to my three kids, Zoe, Brayden, and Penelope who put up with a messy house and a lack of clean laundry so that mommy can write. You each are so special to me in a unique and different way and I love you all to the moon and back.
About the Author
Wendy Owens was raised in the small college town of Oxford, Ohio. After attending Miami University, Wendy went on to a career in the visual arts. After several years of creating and selling her own artwork, she gave her first love, writing, a try.
Wendy now happily spends her days writing—her loving dachshund, Piper, curled up at her feet. When she’s not writing, she can be found spending time with her tech geek husband and their three amazing kids, exploring the city she loves to call home: Cincinnati, OH.
For more information:
@WendyLOwens
WendyLOwens
www.wendyowensbooks.com
[email protected]
Also by Wendy Owens
YA Romance
Wash Me Away
YA Paranormal (CLEAN)
The Sacred Guardians Series
Sacred Bloodlines
Unhallowed Curse
The Shield Prophecy
The Lost Years
The Guardians Crown
Adult Contemporary Romance
Stubborn Love Series
Stubborn Love
Only In Dreams
The Luckiest
Do Anything
It Matters To Me
Adult Urban Fantasy
Burning Destiny
Blazing Moon