by S. L. Baum
Marcus let out another long breath. “My strength is slowly coming back, I guess. I tried out my firepower when we got back to the hotel, so I know that works, and I used my brain phone on Eve in the limo, that’s good too. But I’m pretty sure my lost and found department is gone. I haven’t had one flash of a missing item or the face that would go with it. I was almost on overload when we arrived in Vegas. People lose stuff like crazy in that town.”
“Yeah, Drew still has it. I kinda forgot about it. Do you want to hunt him down and take it back?” I asked.
“No. I think I’m actually glad it’s gone. I always hated those flashes.”
“By the way, I’m pretty sure I grabbed a little more than I meant to... you know... out of Elizabeth. You’ll probably become aware of a few new powers, when you have strength enough to discover them,” I admitted.
His whole body flinched. “What did you put in me?”
“I’m not entirely sure,” I shrugged. “It’ll be fine.”
“Great!” Marcus rolled his eyes, just before closing them. He leaned his head against Eve’s shoulder, and I soon heard those smooth even breaths that let me know he had fallen asleep.
“How are you doing?” Link squeezed my hand.
“Fine,” I sighed.
“You don’t sound fine.”
“I just have more questions than anyone could ever answer, and...”
Link silenced me with a kiss and said, “Maybe the answers are within that book and within you. Give yourself some time, Charity. It’s been less than twenty-four hours since this transformation occurred.”
“What if I become an evil Caster? Marcus said that there have only been a few good ones,” I worried.
“Well, of course you are going to be a good one. What else could you possibly be, Charity? You are one of the kindest people I’ve ever known. Did you kill that dude, Drew? No. I probably would have. You cleaned him up and let him go. You set Barbie out on the right path too. You are going to help Summer deal with all this knowledge instead of just zapping her mind. You are good, Charity. You are amazing,” Link whispered the last sentence and kissed my neck.
“Okay, I’ll try not to stress myself out about it. Can I ask you a question? How do you feel about feeding off of Elizabeth?”
“I haven’t really let myself think about that yet. Bagged blood seemed like the perfect solution for my hunger issues. But the anger that was flowing through me, mixed with the scent of blood... I don’t know, Charity. It was such an instinctual reaction. I didn’t feel in control, and that scares me,” he admitted.
“I’m going to stay in Telluride for a few weeks and we will work on that,” Lulach spoke up. “Now that we know you have those primal urges, they must be dealt with.”
“Thanks. You have no idea how much I appreciate that.” Link gave Lulach a grateful smile.
“We all need guidance when we first make the change. You are just a special case. I wasn’t sure how much assistance you would need. But I believe you will learn how to control that part of yourself with ease.”
Link grimaced. “I hope you’re right.”
When the airplane’s wheels hit the runway for our landing, Summer’s mom, Nurse Paxton, was already waiting at the Telluride airport. As soon as she could get her hands on Summer, she latched onto her daughter as if she’d been gone for weeks instead of days. If she knew even a fraction of the turmoil we had gone through in those few days, she would probably never let Summer leave her sight again.
When we got out to the small parking lot, Lulach and Christopher approached a Towncar, the keys to which were waiting in the ignition. Lulach had an extensive web of contacts. I jokingly called it The Vampire Network. He always had whatever he wanted, waiting for him, wherever he went. He and Christopher were going to check themselves into a hotel. They took Cozmo and Lizabelle with them so they could do the same.
The six of us that remained, loaded our luggage in the back of the vehicles we had left at the airport when we had departed and drove straight home. The snowy, white, mountaintops were the most comforting sight in the world at that moment. I was happy to be back in Telluride, to be home again.
When we walked through the front door, our trio of couples split up and retired to three separate areas of the house. Marcus desperately needed to rest. It would take him a few days to get back to his normal self once again. He and Eve walked down the hall, arm in arm, to the guest suite. James and Catherine stayed in the kitchen. James had announced, upon walking into the house, that he was famished. Before Link and I made it halfway up the stairs, James was pulling ingredients out of the freezer to start a meat sauce.
I held onto my husband’s hand, as we walked through the house. The butterflies in my stomach were flitting around, and around, and around. It was my wedding night.
As soon as we entered my suite (now our suite) of rooms, Lincoln shut the door behind us. I took his hand and silently led him into the bathroom. I turned on the shower, and as the room began to fill with steam I pulled him to me and wrapped my arms around him. I claimed his mouth with my own for a long, deep kiss. My breath was ragged when we finally pulled apart.
Link reached his right arm over his head, grabbed the back of his shirt, and pulled it off in one fluid movement. I ran my hands across the smooth skin of his chest and smiled to myself. This beautiful man was officially mine, now. I leaned forward and kissed his neck as he ran his hands through my hair, down my back, and grabbed onto the hem of my shirt. He pulled the shirt over my head. I reached forward to undo the buttons on his jeans as his hands found the buttons on mine as well.
We soon stood in front of each other, kissing as if we were the first two people to discover the sweet passion that a kiss can deliver. The taste of his lips, the feel of his tongue, the desire that was building within me... it was almost too much to bear. We stepped into the warm spray of the shower and let the water wash over us, cleansing away anything and everything that had ever caused us pain or worry.
Link turned me around, worked the soothing eucalyptus shampoo into my hair, and massaged the tension out of my head, my neck, my shoulders, and my back. I leaned backward into his chest and sighed, “I could get used to this.”
Link circled his arms around me and said, “I’m happy to provide my services whenever you need them.”
“I’ll remember that,” I smiled.
“You can count on it,” he said as he moved my hair to one side and kissed my neck. “I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost you.”
I turned around and wrapped my arms around his neck. “We are here, together, aren’t we? Just wipe it away, Link. Forget about Vegas, lose yourself in me.”
The fierceness of his next kiss amazed me, but I responded in kind. We moved out of the shower, toweled each other off, and stumbled toward the bed... our lips barely breaking contact. As our passion swelled, my skin burned from his every touch.
“Charity?” Link breathed.
“Yes,” I assured him.
I closed my eyes and concentrated on the sheer bliss I felt from being in the arms of my husband. I had pledged myself to this man with my body and my soul. Our blood bond synced our heartbeats, and we were as one.
I love you. I cried out with my mind.
I love you too, so much. Link responded.
I felt the fire building inside of me and my eyes flew open. Link gasped when he gazed into the blue flames.
The room shook... then the house shook... and finally the earth shook below us.
****
chapter seventeen
THINGS TO COME
Link and I fell asleep in each other’s arms, right after I shouted through the door to James and Catherine that we were just fine. I embarrassingly admitted that I was the cause of the tremor and was thankful I didn’t have to look them in the eye. I would have to learn how to control my new powers, the sooner the better. The city should not have to deal with an earthquake every time my husband and I made love. Plus, the
re was no telling what kind of damage I could do to the century-old buildings in town. I would be a happy wife, living in a city of ruins. Who knew that being able to tap into the elements would produce such a result? At least I hadn’t caused a quake of great magnitude. It was actually quite minor, thankfully.
A few hours later, soft little kisses woke me up, trailing from my shoulders down to the base of my spine. It was a delightful way to start my day. I stirred and sighed with contentment.
“Good – morning – sweet – heart,” Link punctuated each word with a kiss.
“It is a very good morning,” I smiled and turned to face him. “But why did you wake me so early?” I yawned.
“What? Four in the morning is too early for you?” Link smiled my brilliant smile. “Sorry babe, you were just too beautiful. That silky skin was meant to be kissed, it was calling to me.”
“Rrriiiiigght, my skin called to you.”
Link paused in thought. “We spoke to each other last night, in our heads, like Marcus. Didn’t we? How did we do that?”
“I’m not sure,” I said. “I think that is going to be my standard answer to a lot of questions for awhile. I wish there was a manual for this Caster job that has been thrust upon me.”
“Maybe you should start reading from that creepy book today. I’m pretty sure that’s about as close to a manual as you’re going to get. But later, okay? I think my lips missed a few spots. You woke up too soon,” Link playfully pouted.
“You should probably make sure that none of my parts are jealous of the attention you’ve shown to my other parts. I don’t think this spot on my elbow was kissed at all. Or here on my tummy, and you definitely missed the back of my knee,” I giggled.
“Madam, I must fix that, right this very minute!” Link exclaimed as he pulled the sheet over our heads.
A minor aftershock rocked the towns of Mountain Village and Telluride, very early that morning. It barely registered on the Richter scale - I was more in control the second time around.
About an hour later, Link stood at the stovetop making one of his amazing omelets for me while I paged through The Book of Spells.
“Ooohh, I can turn you into any kind of animal, permanently,” I awed.
“Pass,” Link said as he took the spatula and flipped over the ham, egg, and cheese mixture.
“I can make you become enamored of me,” I batted my eyelashes at him.
“You don’t need a spell book for that. I am already in love. You can’t make me want you any more than I already do.”
“I can change the weather for a day. That might come in handy. I wonder why it specifies a day.”
“So you don’t upset the balance of the universe,” Link responded.
“I don’t think I have any control over the universe.”
Link plated the omelet. “You have control over my universe.”
“Seriously, Lincoln, I basically can do just about whatever I want, to you or anyone else for that matter. Each time I page through The Book, a new spell appears, one that wasn’t there the last time. It is just too much power,” I sighed.
“You will make the right choices. I know you will, but I do think you should practice. Maybe there are some minor spells you could try. And that calling on the elements thing, we should probably work on that... especially the earth,” Link winked.
“Yeah, I guess the earth could use a break from me, and you! You are just as much to blame. The way you make me feel...” I smiled and put a forkful of food into my mouth. “Aahh, you make the best omelets.”
“Thank you, for both of those comments.” Link winked again. “What should we do today?”
“Just about anything we want, I guess. We are without limitations!”
Link leaned forward and kissed me, taking my breath away. “Have I told you today, just how much I love you?”
“Why no, Mr. Knight, you have not.”
“Well, Mrs. Knight, I love you... body, mind, and soul,” he whispered in my ear.
I kissed him back, putting every ounce of love I possibly could into the action. The surrounding air began to swirl, whipping our hair around, and pushing our bodies even closer together. The lights began to flicker, and the room began to shake.
“And I love you,” I murmured against his lips.
The End...
for now.
Novels by S.L. Baum
THE IMMORTAL ONES SERIES – YA paranormal romance
A Chance for Charity (The Immortal Ones – book one)
My Link in Time (The Immortal Ones – book two)
Of Fire and Brimstone (The Immortal Ones – Elizabeth’s Novella)
Our Summer of Discontent (The Immortal Ones – book three)
The Eve of Destruction (The Immortal Ones – book four)
The Arrival of Dawn (The Immortal Ones – book five) *coming soon
The LUSH novels – YA Dystopian
LUSH (a LUSH novel – book one)
HUSH (a LUSH novel – book two)
CRUSH (a LUSH novel – book three)
The Deathtaker Series – Paranormal Romance
The Deathtaker (Deathtaker – book one)
The Deathtaker’s Daughter (Deathtaker – book two)
The New Deathtaker (Deathtaker – book three) *coming soon
You can catch up with all the random stuff that I do (not that it’s really all that interesting to anyone else but me)… at any one of these places…
Website - http://slbaum.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/slbaumnovel/
Blog - http://mywriteroad.blogspot.com
Twitter - @slbaum
Instagram - @slbaum
Snapchat - @slbaum71
Thank you so much for downloading My Link in Time.
I want to give a special “THANK YOU!!” to the people who read through this novel before I made it available to the public. Al, Allie, Frankie, Jill, Lala, and Wendi... your feedback was invaluable.
I will forever be grateful to my family. My children and husband have grown accustomed to seeing the back of my head, as I type away at the computer (especially during all of March 2011 – as I was furiously trying to get the book ready). Thank you... I love you... I wouldn’t be able to finish without your support, encouragement, and enthusiasm. You are my world!
***
Read an excerpt from – Of Fire and Brimstone
(The Immortal Ones – Elizabeth’s novella)
chapter one
AN INTRODUCTION
England 1823
They are a curious lot – Witches. Their powers are a mystery. When will they manifest? What will they be? Almost no one knows, except for the few Witches that are granted an affinity toward others’ powers. One thing is for certain; A Witch must be born of a Witch, at least one parent must hold powers. If both the mother and the father are, then the child will surely be. Mixed parentage produces mixed results... no powers, weak powers, or normal powers... it is all up in the air until the child matures and discovers what will develop, or what won’t.
Silas could tell, the moment he met any child, if the little one would develop powers. He could see into the future of a Witch. Whenever he came into the proximity of one, no matter what the age, he would get a quick flash of their future. No flash... no powers... not a Witch. The more time he spent with the Witch, the more flashes, and therefore the more future he was witness to. His friend Percy, for example, was going to be burned to death, reduced to ash, by a great fire. Silas hadn’t told Percy, and probably never would, even though the fire was mere weeks away. What was the point in knowing the details of one’s own demise?
When it came to his visions of his own life, or that of any other being’s, Silas would take no actions to alter the outcome. When he was a much younger man, he had come to the conclusion that one should not endeavor to change one’s destiny. It would alter too many other things, and blur his visions of the future. The blur disturbed him, and he didn’t like it. His one and only attempt to
interfere, to save a friend’s life, had not been successful. He decided then and there that future attempts would be futile so he would never try again. Silas believed that it was best to accept one’s fate, no matter what the outcome may be.
His latest vision told him that on the night of the fire, the one which would take Percy’s life, the little girl who played in the street in front of the ale house would somehow be a factor. She would have powers. He knew it the second he had crossed her path. Her father was a drunken sot, spending any coin he earned on drink. That pathetic waste of human flesh was most definitely without powers. The man spent most of his days drinking himself into a stumbling, babbling stupor. It was unknown what had happened to the Witch who had given birth to the child.
It was because of his vision that Silas had begun to pay careful attention to the scrawny, dirty, wide-eyed urchin, after the first day he’d spied her. The little girl would sit near the open door of the ale house, with her pitiful little doll and a stick she used to draw pictures in the dirt. She seemed quite willing to accept the routine that her life had become. She would be outside, unattended for hours, drawing flowers, the sun and stars, and occasionally some quite accurate geometric shapes. Sometimes she practiced her letters. That is what originally grabbed his attention.
One day, as he and Percy were exiting the ale house, a drunken patron shouted at them. “Be careful. Don’t trod on me girl. She’s a mystery to be sure!”
“What girl?” Percy shouted back through the open door as he shuffled his way outside.
Silas watched as Percy dragged his feet through the girl’s careful, precise work. The child gasped in despair. She held up her doll, gazing at its worn face and into its button eyes.
