Under Sunless Skies (Starlight Saga Book 2)

by Sherry Soule

  “Even if it means marrying that girl, Neela?” I ask, my voice trembling on the words.

  FRIGHT NIGHT BABBLE

  Hey there, Grinning Gremlins!

  Some tropes get a bad rap, but is it really warranted? Maybe I should reconsider my views on them…

  Because in a complex world where good doesn’t always trump evil, isn’t it fun to watch a movie or read a novel where the vampire saves the human girl? Or a hero kicks butt and gets revenge? Or the evil baddie is gratifyingly flung off a rooftop while screaming?

  I like to think of these tropes as my own fictional type of comfort food—a warm, fuzzy vacay from a reality filled with everyday tough choices and sucky disappointments.

  So here are two of my favorite tropes in film and literature. First, the child genius who saves the day by finding a solution to any given problem, although they’re “just a kid.” What some writers fail to realize is that most real-life gifted kids are only extraordinary in one thing like music, art, or math.

  Lastly, “The Plain Jane Who Finds Love” is a classic. This underdog heroine isn’t beautiful, or smart, or skilled in martial arts, but she still manages to ride off into the sunset with a romantic hottie.

  Peace, love, and horror flicks,

  Sloane

  THIRTY-FOUR

  Heavy rain smacks the house and a bolt of lightning strikes the gloomy sky. I stare out the window at the dreary world outside. The wind tugs at the trees, and fat droplets of water leave zig-zagging trails along the glass. A large boom echoes and shakes the pane, causing me to flinch.

  Since no reapers showed up at the cottage, I came home the next morning after the prom fiasco, and layered myself in clothes to diminish the ectoplasm scent. It might not help much, but it does make me feel better.

  “Sloane, are you all right?” My mom stands in the archway that divides the living room from the dining room. “You look paler than usual.” She purses her pink lips. “And why are you bundled up like that? Do you want me to turn up the heater?”

  The last thing I want to do is worry her.

  I shake my head from the sofa, peering over the lid of my laptop resting on my thighs. “No. I’m frightfully good. So stop the hovering.”

  “Are you sure?” My mom flicks a speck of paint from the front of her jean overalls. “Did something happen at the prom?”

  “Nope. Nothing at all. It was super lame,” I lie.

  In truth, it was a craptastic night, but there’s no reason to tell her about it and have her freak out. She’s stressed enough with my dad gone.

  I remove my robe and one T-shirt, then my thick socks to avoid more questions about why I’m dressed so warmly. “Have you heard from Dav—um, Dad?”

  Her eyebrows crease inward. “He called yesterday and said he’d be home next week. Then I think the three of us should sit down and have a nice, long chat.”

  “So tempting and yet—”

  “It wasn’t a suggestion, young lady.”

  I inwardly groan and try not to roll my eyes. “That sounds like I’ll be getting a stern lecture on accepting my alien roots—blah, blah, blah.”

  “Maybe…we could use a little blah around here, don’t you think?”

  “Depends on what type of blah you’re referring to.”

  “The normal type. Where we’re just a boring, suburban family again.”

  “That would be…nice,” I say. “It may be microscopic, but it’s still hope.”

  With her slender shoulders back, my mom raises her chin. “And I’m going to hold on to that hope with everything I’ve got because there’s no way that I’ll let this crap with Sector Thirteen destroy my family.”

  When my mom ventures back into her art studio to paint, I snuggle under a blanket with my purring cat on the sofa to watch a scary movie. Halfway through the flick, a hard knock on the door startles me and I turn off the TV.

  Yanking off the blanket, I jostle a grumpy Jinx from his comfy position, and then tiptoe to the front door. In case it’s Xavier or another Meleah I’ve unknowingly pissed off, I peek through the peep-hole, then crack open the door.

  Hayden stands on the porch, his hair limp from the rain and his clothes damp. His white, V-neck shirt clings to his body, revealing rippling muscles, and his jeans hang low on his hips.

  “Oh crap, what now? Do we need to leave the house?” I ask.

  “No. It’s safe. Can I come in?”

  I open the door wider to let him in. “Sure.”

  He moves past me, examining the room. “Who’s home today?”

  I shut the door and lock it. “My mom’s in her studio, so she’ll be working until nightfall, and Jonah’s upstairs in his room playing a game on his computer. My dad is still MIA.”

  His gaze sweeps over me from head to toe. A flush heats my face and neck. At least I look gothicly cute in my flannel PJ bottoms and a cotton shirt with a supercute heart and cross decal, but sans a bra. My humungous boobs are extra noticeable in my tight shirt without, yeah, a bra. So there’s that.

  I grab a purple hoodie from the coat rack and slip it on. “Are you all right? You look strange.”

  “I’m fine. It’s just…” He blinks, shoving his hands into the pockets of his dark wash jeans. “Delta used to have PJs like those.”

  Okay, that just buried any sexual tension we were sharing six-feet under.

  “I still wish you would’ve told me about her.”

  “What was I supposed to say?” His watery gaze meets mine, then flits away. “Oh, by the way, I have a sister born in a genetics lab, who’s not even remotely human. And sorry, but you can’t meet her because ST kidnapped my sister for more perverse genetic testing.”

  “Okay point taken, but...” My voice dies. Not wanting to argue over what is clearly a touchy subject, I change the topic. “Why are you here?”

  “We need to get the rest of the residue to fade. I thought we could try a few physical things…” He wiggles his eyebrows.

  A sweet, hot fire washes over my skin at the wicked suggestion. Part of me wants to smack him upside the head, but there’s another part that considers the ‘hooking up’ idea.

  “I take it you’re not referring to de-skunking me with tomato juice?”

  “That would be a no, Peaches.”

  Hayden’s crooked smile is lethal. So sexy, my heart does cartwheels.

  “Yeah, I’m not having sex with you.” I grunt. “Wait here.”

  I rush up both flights of stairs to my room, no time for a cold shower so I quickly slip out of my PJs, and change into my least attractive T-shirt and faded jeans. When I return, Hayden casts me a sidelong glance.

  “No more cute PJs?” He sounds slightly disappointed. “I take it, no kissing, either?”

  “No. We need to be using our heads and not our lips.”

  I turn my back on him, but his hand encircles my waist, and he gently tugs me back around. “Is that a positive no on the making out?”

  Wiggling out of his arms, I sit on the couch. “Yes, Hayden. Now focus.” I pluck the wool blanket and place it over my lap. “What about Saxton? Is he still marked? Will Xavier or the reapers go after him?”

  “Maybe, but I doubt it. You know…” Hayden taps a finger on his chin. “We could use him as bait to lure Xavier out of hiding—”

  “No way! We’re not involving anymore humans in this mess. Don’t even go there,” I say firmly. “I don’t want anybody else getting hurt. So no more teleporting. I mean it. I don’t care how much danger I’m in, because we keep exposing my family.”

  “Don’t worry, Zach is keeping an eye on Saxton. The ectoplasm is faint now.” He is quiet a moment, then says in a tight voice, “Why the concern?”

  My lips turn downward. “What do you mean?”

  “Never mind.” Hayden pinches the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. “There is another reason why I came over today.”

  “Which is?”

  “If we can trigger your latent powers, then you’
d be a lot safer,” Hayden says. “Xavier will have a harder time trying to...whatever it is he has planned. And God forbid, if ST shows up, and I’m not here, then you can protect yourself. Unfortunately, I can’t guard you twenty-four-seven.”

  “How do you propose we do that? I might not even have any abilities.”

  “I have a few ideas we can try.”

  “Do you think Xavier’s going to come after you next if he doesn’t find me?” My stomach turns over at the thought of Xavier hurting Hayden. “Or send ST soldiers after my family?”

  “I’m pretty sure that ST has no idea what Xavier is doing. Because if ST knew who your father was, trust me, they would’ve been here by now, storming the place and arresting him.” He cocks his head to the side, in that cute way he does whenever he’s contemplating something. “The downside is that Xavier is furious that I refused to marry his daughter, and he already knows you’re my only weakness and a liability…”

  I pull the blanket over my lap. “I’m not a liability, Hayden.”

  “How about an adorable distraction?” He winks his blue eye.

  “I can work with that.” I grin and my insides become all mushy.

  “If we can generate your powers and give you some awesome ninja stealth like me, then you’ll have the advantage over an attack. First, we need to get this ectoplasm off you, so if your abilities do surface, it’ll kill the stink factor. Might even overpower the residue. Once you can learn to teleport, we’re golden.”

  “So let’s hear those ideas of yours. How do we get my abilities to emerge?” I ask.

  “I’m thinking it might be an emotional trigger. Like if you got mad enough, or frightened, or you know…turned on.” He crookedly smiles.

  I growl in frustration. “We’re back to that? I am not making out with you. Next suggestion, please! And it better not be anything sex-related, buddy.”

  “Fine, but we need to do something…” Hayden leans against the archway, folding his arms. “Because stressing over your safety and worrying about when Xavier is going to strike next is time consuming.”

  My hands curl around the edge of the blanket, crumbling the fabric. “Well, excuse me for taking up your day.”

  “I’m only pointing out the fact that time is not on our side, and we need to act fast.” Frowning, Hayden tilts his head, and several strands of hair slide into his face, hiding his expression. “Let’s face it, you’ve already been terrorized, chased by mutants, and beaten, all of which failed to rouse your abilities. But there’s got to be other ways to awaken your alien mojo.”

  “Like what?” I shake my head. “Getting hot and sweaty with you?”

  “Doesn’t sound so bad.” Hayden makes a sound in the back of his throat. “It’ll be fun trying…”

  My body warms. Hayden seems to drag in a deep breath. I’m not sure if he exhales. Something passes between us, unspoken and heavy and passionate. I don’t move, although I want to leap off the couch and fling myself into his arms.

  “Not even in the name of science?” There’s that uneven smile again.

  I laugh softly. “Control yourself, buddy.”

  “Such a fun killer.” Hayden crosses the room, grabs me by the upper arms, and jerks me to my feet. Our faces are inches apart, and he groans. “You’re making me crazy. Every time I see you,” he says, his voice a husky, breathless whisper, “I just want to hold you in my arms and never let go. You’re the only girl that fills all the darkest places in my heart.”

  Every inch of me is hyper-aware of him. His breath dances over my mouth and I lick my lips. He watches and lowers his head. Then Hayden kisses me senseless.

  Those hot, steamy kisses are both my salvation and my torment. I will most likely die with the memory of them on my lips. My eyes flutter closed. I’m swimming in raw sensations. He kisses me with a fiery insatiability, slowly, deeply. His hands wrap around me and crush my body to the length of his. His mouth covers mine again while his hands wander, caressing my body. I move into his touch and my arms tangle around his thick, strong neck.

  I want to keep kissing him—hungrily, crazily, in that desperate way lovers kiss when they’ve lost someone or they are about to. My legs weaken. His kisses feel like falling through a fervent dream. A flare of heat courses through my body, like a hot spike that goes from my swollen lips to a much lower place. One of my hands seeks his skin and slips under his damp shirt, running my fingertips along his impressive six-pack abs.

  He breaks the seal of our lips. He’s breathing hard, his voice gruff as he whispers, “Notice anything strange yet? Or different?” Hayden’s mouth moves to my neck under my hair to place a kiss on my jumping pulse.

  “Maybe. Keep doing that,” I whisper, holding him against me even harder—and all thoughts of killer mutants and fiancées and alien residue instantly vanish. “But I don’t think it’s awakening any special powers.”

  “Then we’ll keep trying,” he whispers.

  Dammit. He got me turned on even after all my weak protests. My feelings are so transparent. And I hate myself for it because Hayden will always be my weakness, too.

  “Please don’t give up on us yet...” he murmurs against my skin. “You’re my heart and soul. The only person I can really count on.”

  Talk about my heart going pitter-patter!

  He kisses me again. This time a little more roughly, passionately. His hands tangle in my hair, occasionally leaving to caress my arms and stroke the hot flesh. My pulse races, my skin on fire, and I can feel the same emanating from him. The kiss dissolves my resistance. I entwine my arms around his neck and press into him. My emotions are at war, causing a deep ache within my soul. Forbidden fruit. Lust and desire. Passion and infatuation. The world outside of this moment ceases to exist. As if someone has lit a match to gasoline, causing an explosion we have no control over, and my mind can think of only one thing. Warmth against cold skin, soft flesh against hard muscle…

  Someone loudly clears their throat from behind us. Hayden and I flinch, untangling our limbs and un-fusing our mouths.

  THIRTY-FIVE

  I peek over Hayden’s shoulder at Jonah standing in the archway between the foyer and the living room. My cheeks sting, my collarbone hot. No words can describe my utter mortification.

  “Guess I can tell mom and dad to skip the sex talk now,” my younger brother says in a matter-of-fact voice. “And who are you and why are you groping my sister?”

  “I’m Hayden, a good friend of Sloane’s.” That smirk returns when Hayden whispers in my ear, “You hardly smell now.”

  “Shut up.” I shove him away, and he laughs.

  Jonah takes a step into the room. “Is it safe to enter?” he asks in an obnoxious voice. “Or are you two going to have intercourse in our living room?”

  Hayden shakes his head, then glances at me. “Is he always such an ass?”

  “More like a genetic anomaly.” I face my brother. “Watch it, Brainiac Boy. Hayden’s a Meleah like dad, and a future leader, so show some respect.”

  “In that case, what are your intentions with my sister?” Jonah gives Hayden a stern look.

  Hayden holds up one hand. “Honorable, I promise.” His cell phone rings and he slips it out of his back pocket to answer. “Yes, Arcane—I’m leaving Sloane’s house in a few minutes.” He hangs up and kisses my cheek. “I have to go soon.”

  “Have you met our dad?” Jonah stares at Hayden. “He told us that he broke some injudicious law and now he’s gone to plead his case with the GB leaders.”

  “No, I’ve never had the pleasure, and I agree, it is a stupid law.” Hayden raises an eyebrow and studies my brother. “How much do you know about what’s going on? I mean, the political side of your family’s situation and Sector Thirteen?”

  “Not much. Fill me in.” Jonah moves to the couch and plops down next to Jinx.

  “There’s a shadow war on the rise between humans and Meleah.” Hayden sits in the recliner and I take a seat beside my brother. “Some of our c
lan has already gone into hiding, like your father. It isn’t that hard since we basically look so much like humans. Meleah are hard to find if we decide to go underground, or if we don’t use our powers. But Sector Thirteen must’ve been busy remedying that problem by creating these reapers…” Hayden explains what the mutants are, and then he leans back, crossing one leg over his thigh. “Thoughts? Questions?”

  “Since Meleah can teleport, what’s to keep them from robbing banks or committing crimes?” Jonah asks. “Obviously, not all Meleah are as benevolent as you.”

  Great question. Jonah may be a pain, but he’s a smart little creep.

  “For one, the Meleah would have to work at the bank and been inside the vault in order to teleport there. You can’t teleport anywhere you haven’t actually been to in person,” Hayden says. “Second, we are closely monitored by ST, so extravagant spending might get noticed, and if a Meleah goes off the grid, like your father did, they’d be hunted down and eventually caught. And third, ST pretty much takes care of all of our needs by providing powerful, high-paying careers. It might be to keep us from getting the urge to become bank robbers.”

  “Has anyone tried?” I ask.

  “Not that I know of, but I’ve heard rumors. Meleah are typically skilled at making money. Most use more of their brain than the average human does. It’s like that cool movie, Limitless, where the guy has super cognitive powers just like we do. Some Meleah are much more advanced than others, but being successful at our jobs has never been a problem for us as a species.”

  “Ah, so hybrids are super smart and super conceited,” I tease with a smile.

  Jonah tilts his dark head. “What else are Meleah good at?”

  “All adolescent Meleah must learn some form of martial arts and when they reach adulthood, they are required to get weapons training. Hence, being the governments’ secret weapon against any invading threats or impending wars. Obviously, not all Meleah are recruited for combat, others are better suited to become scientists and doctors, and so forth.”