by G. K. DeRosa
We would never see each other again. Never.
My nostrils flared as warring emotions crashed inside like battling tides in the ocean. One wanted to cast a spell to make me forget Solaris. The other wanted to take a plane and steal her right out of Imera.
A flicker of movement suddenly caught my eye. The taranoi I’d been chasing landed on the ledge in front of the window. Adrenaline spike through me again, washing away Solaris’s image.
My arm shot out, grabbing his in an iron grasp. “Where do you think you’re going?”
His dark brown eyes widened. “How did…” he trailed off, quickly recovering from the shock. A hard expression morphed his features.
“Don’t even try to fight me,” I warned as his body tensed. “You won’t win.”
A snarl curled his lips, revealing a pair of sharp fangs. “I’d rather go down fighting than surrender to any of you greedy royals, Prince Kaige.” He spat my name as if it was poison.
My silver eyes reflected in his. “Fine.” I shot onto the stone ledge, my arm quickly securing around his neck.
He struggled against me. “You royals and nobles are all the same. Choking on synth while we starve. It doesn’t matter which one of you rules. You’re all selfish and merciless creatures.”
Did all taranoi think that of us? The crime rate had increased, most cases involving the theft of synth. Could I really blame them for wanting more food? Maybe if I talked to the king—
My thoughts were cut off as the club around me disappeared. The music, the taranoi, the scents, it was all gone.
A dull gray cement wall came into focus illuminated by harsh white lights.
What the hell is going on? Where am I?
A familiarity began to creep through my mind moments before pain exploded across my nose.
Red haze flashed through my vision, and I was back in the club, struggling with the taranoi. He’d slammed his head into my face, cracking my nose. Curses tumbled from my mouth, garbled by the blood leaking down my face. I should have just compelled him the moment my fingers curled around his arm.
My grip loosened so I could spin him around to do just that. His shoulder rammed into my chest, and his foot slipped on the stone ledge. Glass shattered against my back.
The stars appeared above and cold air rushed over my body as we both fell from the window, the hard cobblestone street far below.
Chapter 2
Solaris
My eyes snapped open and harsh white lights blinded me. I blinked, trying to bring the room to focus. A dull gray cement wall boxed me in.
Dammit. I’d hoped it had all been a terrible nightmare.
I sat up and scooted to the edge of the cot, still squinting from the bright lights overhead. This had to be some form of torture. I glanced at my watch; it wasn’t even 5am yet.
After getting captured sneaking back into Imera last night, I’d been transported to the OrderComm detention facility. The weirdest part was that Turstan didn’t say a word to me the entire ride over. His soldiers handcuffed me then escorted me to their Hummer. After they dumped me in this cell, I expected a visit from my favorite Collective leader, but instead it’d been radio silence ever since. Not even Malcolm came. My chest tightened.
What if they’d done something to Malcolm because of me?
I shook my head, trying to chase the dismal thoughts from my mind. Everything would be fine. No one would ever find out I’d been in Draconis. I’d had a lot of time to think while hiking with Kaige through the Shadow Lands, and I had the lie ready to go.
Kaige.
My heart flip-flopped just thinking about him. I hadn’t had much time to focus on him since my arrival in Imera. It hadn’t exactly been the homecoming I’d imagined.
He should’ve been back in Draconis by now safe and sound. Preparing for the trials or doing whatever princes did when they weren’t hiding fugitive human girls.
I rubbed at the middle of my chest, a spot just under my collarbone. I could still feel him, but it was faint. He was alive, but his emotions were dulled. Like mine without him.
I exhaled a slow breath. I had to let go of the prince of darkness; I’d never see him again. We’d tempted the prophecy more than enough over the past week. Not seeing him was for the best—for everyone.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor, and I jumped to my feet. I positioned myself by the door and stared as the handle turned.
The door jerked open with a whoosh and Turstan stepped through, his cold gray eyes piercing right through me. I could’ve sworn the temperature in the cell dropped by ten degrees when he entered. He buttoned the top button of his high-collared pale blue suit, covering the scar at the base of his neck.
“So glad to see you’re awake, Ms. Levant.” His upper lip twisted into a sneer. “I take it the facilities were satisfactory?”
I crossed my hands against my chest, and the soft fabric of the top Kaige had given me glided over my skin. Crap. If anyone noticed it, they’d know something so fine could never have come from Imera. I glanced down at the flowy purple material. It was wrinkled and dirty. Hopefully no one would give it a second glance in its current condition.
“Yes, they were fine,” I finally answered. “Why are you keeping me here?”
“Careful, young lady.” He raised a finger, his yellow brittle nail making my skin crawl. “I’m the one asking the questions today.”
I gritted my teeth to keep my mouth from exploding a slew of curses.
He walked toward me, grinning like the Cheshire cat. His white mustache moved with his lips, the ends pointing upward. “Let’s put aside for one moment the fact that you stole Collective property, a crime that alone could imprison you for the rest of your life, and focus on where you’ve been for the past week?”
“Collective property? I thought that was your personal jet?”
“Everything belongs to the people of Imera. You know that.” His words slithered from his thin lips like molasses.
I grunted. “Of course. How could I forget?”
“And? Where have you been?” he hissed through clenched teeth.
“Wandering around the Shadow Lands trying to make my way back here.”
He furrowed his unruly white eyebrows. They were permanently arched, giving him the appearance of always looking surprised. “And the plane?”
“At the bottom of some lake.” I grinned. The only good thing about losing that magnificent jet was the look on Turstan’s face right now.
“You crashed my—the Cessna?”
“It wasn’t my fault. The whole system shut down. I was lucky I made it out alive.”
He huffed. “Yes, you’ll have to tell me how you managed that without a scratch.” He pulled a chair from the corner and moved it next to the cot. He eyed it with disgust before lowering himself onto it. “Sit.” He pointed to me then at the makeshift bed.
I shuffled over and slumped down.
“Tell me everything. Do not leave a single detail out.”
I went through the whole story, using most of the real facts. Those were always the best lies; the ones with as much truth as possible. I, of course, omitted the part about Kaige and the blood bags.
“So the entire plane caught on fire?” he asked, glaring.
“Yup.” I swung my legs back and forth. “Right before it rolled into the lake.”
“And you never saw any border patrol as you neared the wall on your return?”
“Nope. I looked for them, but didn’t see any soldiers. I remembered hearing about that secret entrance so I went for it.”
He stood and paced in front of me, his fingers twisting the ends of his mustache. “Now, Ms. Levant, did you see anything in the plane before you took off or perhaps after you crashed?”
“See anything? I was kind of preoccupied with other things like getting away and saving my butt.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why? Are you missing something?”
He scratched at his beard, the sound like nails on a chalkboard. “Hmm? Oh ye
s, I believe a few personal effects may have been on the jet. I was hoping they didn’t end up at the bottom of the lake as you so eloquently described.”
I tapped my foot on the cement floor. “So can I go home now? I’ve told you everything.”
An unexpected chuckle burst from his lips. “Can you go home?” He approached me, his frosty eyes narrowing in. A chill slithered up my spine. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re in?”
I gave him my best smile. “Oh come on, Head Minister, can’t you cut me some slack like usual?”
His jaw twitched. “I believe I’ve done that too often now, Ms. Levant. And for the wrong reasons. Your mother’s death can only excuse you so many times.”
A pang sliced through my heart, it was like a hot knife through butter. Somehow I always knew that was the reason Turstan had looked past so many of my prior transgressions. It wasn’t just because of Malcolm’s undying loyalty. And there it was; he might as well have admitted it.
A far, dark corner of my brain knew the reason why. No one would admit it, not even Malcolm, but I was certain. Now more than ever. Turstan hadn’t just overseen my mother’s execution, he’d been the cause of it.
I wrapped my fingers around the metal frame of the cot, squeezing so not to scream as Turstan marched out.
Not only would I prove he was behind the blood bags being sent to Draconis, I’d also find out why he had my mom killed.
And then I’d kill him.
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Also by G.K. De Rosa
The Guardian Series
Wilder: The Guardian Series
Wilder Destiny
Wilder Revelation
Wilder Legacy
Wilder: The Guardian Series The Complete Collection
The Hybrid Trilogy
Magic Bound
Immortal Magic
Beyond Magic
Also by J.N. Colon
The Iron Series
Blood In Iron
Badly In Blood
Blood Lies
Torn By Blood
Blood Shattered
Divine Darkness series
Dark Souls
Dark Sins
Dark Prophecy
Dark Goddess
Secret Salem series
Stalked
Hunted
Haunted
Tormented
Acknowledgments
A huge and wholehearted thank you to my dedicated readers! I could not do this without you. I love hearing from you and your enthusiasm for the characters and story. You are the best!
A special thank you to my loving and supportive husband who always understood my need for escaping into a good book (or TV show!). He inspires me to try harder and push further every day. And of course my mother who is the guiding force behind everything I do and made me everything I am today. Without her, I literally could not write—because she’s also my part-time babysitter! To my father who will always live on in my dreams. And finally, my son, Alexander, who brings an unimaginable amount of joy and adventure to my life everyday.
A big thank you to my editor, Sarah. And a new talented graphic designer I discovered, Sanja Gombar, for creating a beautiful book cover. A special thank you to my dedicated beta readers/fellow authors Kristin and Tiea who have been my sounding board on everything from cover ideas, blurbs, and story details. And all of my beta readers who gave me great ideas, caught spelling errors, and were all around amazing.
Thank you to all my family, friends, former co-workers (especially you, Robin Wiley!) and new indie author friends who let me bounce ideas off of them and listened to my struggles as an author and self-publisher. I appreciate it more than you all will ever know.
G.K.
About G.K. DeRosa
USA Today Bestselling Author, G.K. De Rosa has always had a passion for all things fantasy and romance. Growing up, she loved to read, devouring books in a single sitting. She attended Catholic school where reading and writing were an intense part of the curriculum, and she credits her amazing teachers for instilling in her a love of storytelling. As an adult, her favorite books were always young adult novels, and she remains a self-proclaimed fifteen year-old at heart. When she’s not reading, writing or watching way too many TV shows, she’s traveling and eating around the world with her family. G.K. DeRosa currently lives in South Florida with her real life Prince Charming, their son and fur baby, Nico, the German shepherd.
Contact me:
Website: www.gkderosa.com and www.wilderbook.com
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wilderbookseries and www.facebook.com/gkderosa
Twitter: @vampgirl923
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About J.N. Colon
USA Today Bestselling author, J.N. Colon writes young adult and new adult paranormal romance and urban fantasy. She’s a bonified paranormal junkie, getting her fixes from books, television, and movies. Her favorite day of the year is Halloween, and she’s dying to go ghost hunting one day. Stop by her website and learn more about her and her books.
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