“Yeah.” I grinned and stopped in front of her. Her style was classic and simple, and she always looked put together. Even with bare feet, black yoga pants, an off-white long-sleeved top, and her hair in a bun, she looked amazing. This was the most casually dressed I had seen her, and I liked it. Compared to her, I felt dingy in my scruffy boots, my jeans, and T-shirt. I was like the help who shouldn’t be allowed in the house.
“I was off to do yoga downstairs.” She tugged at her top. It was cute she felt she had to explain her relaxed appearance. I guess a Siren didn’t let many people see her in exercise pants.
“You want something to eat before you go?” She pointed her thumb over her shoulder. “Once again, Marguerite made too much for dinner. She’s used to making dinner for more of us...” Rez’s voice broke off, and she looked down at her feet. A sadness flickered over her face.
It was a look I understood and saw too many times on my own family members.
In a war you understand people are going to die, but you are never ready when it takes your own. They lost two of theirs in the fighting, and we lost four. It was an emptiness I would never get accustomed to.
Rez’s cream-colored sweater slipped slightly off her shoulder as she bent, dabbing at her eyes. My gaze trailed down the curve of her neck and over her shoulder. She sucked in air and adjusted her tiny frame straighter, pushing away any signs of grief. An overwhelming urge to reach out and pull her into my arms, to shield her away from pain, to have her close, taking mine away, smashed into me. It hit hard and quick, and I took a step back, clenching my fists into tight balls. What the hell? Charming and flirty was one thing, but the protective nature in me was not something that came out for women outside my family. Ember had been the first, but she had been safe from the beginning. Even before Eli realized it, all of us could feel him claiming her. As soon as he gave her his blood, she was one of us. Wanting to shelter Ember was all right.
Those two were meant for each other. No matter how often I felt Ember was someone I could have fallen for, it was never a real consideration. She was Eli’s, and Eli was hers. Seeing them together stirred something in me I wanted to keep buried. I vowed I’d never let myself love like that ever again. I now told myself my impulse to protect Rez had nothing to do with her personally. It was a reaction to the family we lost.
“I’ve seen you eat.” Her delicate hand reached out for my arm. “Please, do us a favor so we don’t have to eat venison stew for the next three nights.”
I glanced down at her delicate fingers, then quickly looked at her face. A grin twitched at my mouth. “You know I can’t turn down Marguerite’s cookin’.” Marguerite’s food was unbelievable. Probably the best cook I’d ever come across. It wasn’t shocking she’d be working for the Unseelie King. Though she was human, she was a seer and had known about the fae since she was little. She had been working here since then. The demons treated her like family and, from what I saw, she loved them each like a son or daughter. We all adored her.
“Oh, Mr. Moseley. Venir y comer.” Marguerite came up behind Rez, her arms open to welcome me. The woman was barely five foot, but her aura was so full of love and force you forgot how little she was. When she got angry or scolded you, she would have us Dark Dwellers bowing our heads in guilt and shame. Ember told me one time she threw Marguerite over her shoulder by accident, and the woman popped up, tsked her, and continued on with the laundry.
Strong and fierce. All the women here were.
“Hello, mamacita,” I said as she pulled me down in a hug.
When she drew back, her gaze was critical. “Su triste?” She patted my cheek.
“Never sad when you’re around.” I winked.
“Oh.” A blush crawled up her neck, coloring her cheeks. She swished her hand at me and returned back to the stove. She shoveled a mound of stew into a bowl, adding a slab of cornbread to a side plate. “Come. Eat.”
Rez stepped to the side, motioning me to the huge island.
“I’m all right if you want to continue on with what you were doing.” I stepped past her, giving one of my typical side grins.
She studied me. Her brown eyes digging so deep into me, my smile dropped.
“What?”
She tilted her head. “Are you ever not on?”
“What are you talking about, darlin’?”
“That.” She lifted her hand, motioning at me. “All the put-on charm and schmoozing. Don’t you ever get tired of doing it? Pretending you’re all right?”
It felt like she had shoved me hard in the chest. I blinked.
She crossed her arms, holding her chin up in a challenge. Damn! She was more like Ember than I thought, although Ember hadn’t seen through me this quickly. I wouldn’t allow Rez, either. It was a surface, which didn’t need to be scratched.
“Has it ever not worked?” Her eyebrows went up.
I widened my stance and folded my arms over my chest, a grin pulling up the side of my mouth. “No.”
A flutter of annoyance wavered over her features. “Says a lot about the type of girls you go after.”
“I don’t go after them, darlin’. They come to me.” I turned away and headed to the counter and sat where Marguerite set out my food.
Rez’s lips parted, ready to respond, but they pulled back together. With a shake of her head and mumble, she departed the room, leaving Marguerite and me alone.
Marguerite leaned over the counter and patted my hand before she turned to clean the stove.
I stared down to my bowl, holding my spoon midair.
Irritation rumbled my spine and across my shoulders. Who was she to talk about being real? Was her life here authentic? Wasn’t she a glorified secretary to Lars, who treated her more like an employee than someone who slept in his bed every night? The sweet den mom at Camp Demon, who went out and dragged men to their deaths on the weekend. Yeah. Who was the one pretending to be all right?
I slammed the spoon down on the counter, no longer hungry, and stormed out. I could hear Marguerite calling after me, but I was in no mood to be cordial, and she didn’t deserve this West—the angry, violent one.
Rez wanted fucking real? I crashed through the front door, bypassing the stupid Otherworld bike slumped on the ground. I itched to change—to become what I was meant to be: a ruthless killer, something to be truly feared, no pretense or appeal.
My legs took me across Lars’ protected property line and into the forest. I curled over, the beast tickling under my skin. Pain shot up my back and down my limbs. I crumpled to the ground with a gasp. Turning was not especially comfortable, but it had never been painful. It was part of us, the Dark Dweller’s nature.
Except now it had changed.
Agony tore through my muscles. They wanted to stretch and grow into their familiar form, but stabs of anguish rippled, keeping them from doing what they wanted to do. My body withered on the ground, liquid seeping out of the corners of my eyes.
Since being held in the Seelie dungeons, I had only changed a handful of times, and each time it was harder. At first I could ignore the pain, but now it crippled me.
“NO!” I growled. I grabbed my wrist and put all my energy into changing my hands into claws. Torment shredded down my arm, causing my jaws to clamp together. I pushed harder. Sweat poured down my face. Nails sprang from the tips of my fingers; black sleek fur covered my deformed hand. A paw started to emerge.
For one moment my human hand dissolved and became a beast’s razor-sharp claw.
Then it was gone.
I couldn’t even hold the shape for more than a few seconds.
Anguish burned deep in my chest. Rez was right about one thing. I was a fraud. Nothing about me was true anymore. My entire identity was gone.
I was no longer a Dark Dweller.
A roar broke over the night, shuddering the ground and trees with heartbreak and grief.
Thank you to all my readers. Your opinion really matters to me and helps others decide if they want to purchase
my book. If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving an honest review on the site where you purchased it. Thank you.
Want to find out about my next book, The Barrier Between, Collector’s Series #2? Sign up on my website and keep updated on the latest news. www.staceymariebrown.com
Zoey’s life has taken a dramatic turn. Only a few months ago she was a Collector working for the DMG, a government agency, tracking and collecting fae. Her life had been changing and improving with a partner she loved and a sister she adored.
Now all that’s gone—Daniel murdered by a fae, and Lexi killed when the Seattle area is devastated by a powerful, overwhelming electrical storm. Zoey herself is altered by her association with the Wanderer, Ryker, in life-changing way.
Zoey discovered she was an experiment from the very company she worked for. She could die at any moment of a threatening defect—taking with her Ryker’s magic with her.
In a race against time, Ryker and Zoey set out to find a way to transfer his powers back before it’s too late. Their journey takes them to the rainforests of South America, dealing with those who are after something Ryker possesses and who will stop at nothing to obtain it for themselves.
What Zoey and Ryker discover can destroy them or tear them a part for good.
Acknowledgements
To my readers: You are the only reason I can follow my dreams. I hope you enjoy these new characters and story as much as you loved the Darkness Series. Thank you for opening your arms to me and the crazy voices in my head... which are real!
To my mom: Thank you for being my front line and for being my sounding board, reader, critic, and giving me advice and support. I don’t know what I would do without you. I love you.
To Chase Nottingham: Your editing and humorous notes are essential to me, and your insights have made me a better writer. Thank you. http://www.chaseediting.com and [email protected].
To Hollie: Working with you has been incredible. I am so happy you are in my life. There is no getting rid of me now! http://www.hollietheeditor.com/.
To Victoria at Whit & Ware: Your cover is unbelievable. I think I cried when I saw it. The moment I saw the design, I was in love. You forever have a fan. http://main.whitandware.com/.
To Judi at http://www.formatting4u.com/: Thank you! You have made the stress of getting my books out on time so much easier.
To all the bloggers who have supported me: My gratitude is for all you do and how much you help indie authors out of the pure love of reading. I bow down. You all are amazing!
To Rachel at Mark My Words P.R.: Really excited to start this journey with you! Here’s to an incredible 2015.
To all the indie/hybrid authors out there who inspire, challenge, support, and push me to be better: I love you!
And to anyone who has picked up an indie book and given an unknown author a chance. THANK YOU!
About The Author
Stacey Marie Brown works by day as an Interior/Set Designer and by night a writer of paranormal fantasy, adventure, and literary fiction. She grew up in Northern California, where she ran around on her family’s farm raising animals, riding horses, playing flashlight tag, and turning hay bales into cool forts.
Even before she could write, she was creating stories and making up intricate fantasies. Writing came as easy as breathing. She later turned that passion into acting, living and traveling abroad, and designing.
Though she had never stopped writing, moving back to San Francisco seemed to have brought it back to the forefront and this time it would not be ignored.
When she’s not writing, she’s out hiking, spending time with friends, traveling, listening to music, or designing.
To learn more about Stacey or her books, visit her at:
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By Nikki Jefford
Volleyball had been replaced by badminton while I was in the hospital. Mr. Mooney let me get away with sitting out class the first two days, but by the third he decided to diagnose me as fit for participation. “Sky, ready to jump back in?”
I paused on my way to the bleachers. “I’m not dressed.” Besides, everyone was already paired up.
“Fane!” Mr. Mooney called. “Get out here. You can be Aurora’s partner.”
I tried not to flinch or show signs of distress. My last memory of Fane involved his tongue tracing his upper lip in lewd gesture.
Fane stood up and gave Mr. Mooney a glare so dark it sent a shiver down my spine. It was the first real sensation I’d experienced since the accident. When his eyes moved to me I momentarily forgot to breathe.
Fane held my gaze a moment longer then slipped out of his leather jacket. I watched, transfixed. This was history in the making. Fane Donado taking off his coat.
All of his imperfections breezed out the door as soon as I got my first look at the six-pack straining against his cotton tee. My eyes must have been playing tricks on me. For a guy with such a slender build, Fane was surprisingly muscled.
Fane took deliberate steps down the aisle of the bench, straight to the edge. He jumped from the bleachers, causing them to rock in his wake.
I swore I felt a thud inside the pit of my stomach when he landed.
Mr. Mooney nodded at Fane. “You two are playing Clayton and Tyler.”
Fane walked past me and took two rackets off the floor. He handed me one. I took it from his outstretched hand then followed several steps behind.
Part of me was relieved he didn’t say anything. All I could think about was the obscene gesture he’d made right before my world turned up-side-down. I hardly noticed his hair. I was too distracted by his lips. And now his abs. Luckily, I wouldn’t have to look at either while we played side by side.
At the far court, Clayton and Tyler bounced birdies up and down on the strings of their rackets.
Clayton nudged Tyler as we approached. “Oh great. Goth boy and zombie girl. This should be fun.”
I took my place beside Fane. He held his racket loose and lazy. I barely held mine at all. Clayton pelted the birdie at me. I tried to shield my face and ended up dropping my racket.
“Oh, come on!” Clayton shouted.
I picked up the birdie and threw it over the net.
Clayton served the birdie to Fane, who smacked it over the net with the flick of a wrist. Tyler launched the birdie at me. It hit me on the shoulder, but I swung anyway as it bounced to the floor.
“Hello? Earth to Aurora,” Tyler called across the net.
“I think she’s still in a coma,” Clayton said.
“That’s game,” Tyler said. “Your serve.”
I picked up the birdie and handed it to Fane. It’s a good thing it wasn’t a real bird. Fane crushed it in his hand. Only for a moment. Only I saw. He relaxed and looked across the net. I felt that odd shiver return.
Fane smacked the birdie as though it were a fly. He walloped it right between Tyler and Clayton so fast neither boy had time to react. When they did manage a return hit, Fane gracefully flicked away any stray birds that came at me. I watched in fascination, fully engaged for the first time since the accident.
The boys tried to hit the birdie back. Fane had them racing across every corner of their court. By the end of the period they were out of breath. They took off without a backwards glance when Mr. Mooney blew his whistle signaling the end of gym.
As I walked past Fane I felt a twitch. Not my own. I felt the twitch of his hand wanting to stop me.
“Hey, you. Are you okay?”
If I had any emotion left I’d laugh. He didn’t even know my name—that or it wasn’t worth saying.
He studied me carefully. “I’ve seen that look before.”
N
ow I was curious.
Valerie jumped down from the bleachers. “Fane!”
He didn’t pay attention to her. I held my breath waiting for him to tell me what he saw.
Valerie sashayed her way over to Fane, red hair blazing down her shoulders. She held out his jacket. “I’m ready to blow this joint. Let’s get a bite.”
Her last words grabbed his attention, and he forgot me completely. Valerie looped her arm around Fane’s and they walked toward the double doors. I was right behind them, silent as a ghost. When I reached the hall entrance leading to the locker rooms I stopped. I saw his head start to turn. I knew he was going to look back, but by the time he did I’d be gone.
********
“Full of action from the very first page, Aurora Sky is a book that will have the reader hanging onto every word, staying up late into the night to find out just what is going to happen next!”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ – Examiner.com
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Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter is available at all major online book retailers.
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