Before I could fire off my own vitriol-fueled reply, his eyes flared wide and he looked me up and down. “Wait . . . were you in there?”
Remembering the blood, I faltered. Lying wasn’t really my specialty, and with the way I looked right now, there really was no getting around it.
“Yup,” I said, popping the p. Fuck it. It was the truth, after all.
He blinked, glancing between me and the car like he could come up with a rational explanation for how I was still breathing. Finally, he lifted his icy eyes back to my face. His pupils flared, and his expression softened, just for a second. “Salem?”
My jaw went slack, and I started to take a step back before I caught myself. I definitely didn’t know this guy, and I hadn’t lived here for over four years. There was no reason he should know my name. Crossing my arms, I cocked a hip and stared up at him, silently demanding an explanation. I wasn’t stupid enough to give him more information without gathering some of my own.
“You’re Shep’s sister,” he said, his expression hardened once more. “You already missed the funeral. Why come back now?”
And there it was. The reason I was back in this shithole. Okay, it wasn’t a shithole. Not even close. But I hated it all the same. Ever since I’d crossed the state line into North Carolina, I’d practically choked on the memories that had consumed me. Each one crystalizing my anger and fueling my rage. Damnit, Shep. I fucking told you this would happen.
“I don’t think that’s any of your business,” I said.
He glared at me. “Don’t be too sure about that. I mean, I was there, and you weren’t, so—”
“Finish that sentence. I dare you.” The guy had a good six inches on me, maybe more. And his bicep was about the size of my thigh. Didn’t mean I would hesitate to kick him straight in the dick. He might be bigger than me, but a good nut shot was the world’s best equalizer.
A muscle ticked in his jaw. He looked about as angry as I felt, but the anger wasn’t directed at me. He let out a sharp exhale and glanced away, staring hard at my car.
“Do you need a ride?”
“Uh . . .” I let out a shallow laugh. “I’m not about to get in a strange dude’s car.”
“I’m hardly a stranger, Salem. Shepard was my best friend.” He said it like it should mean something to me.
I blinked at him. What did he want? A medal? Or maybe a cookie . . . I got a little distracted at the thought of cookies, my growling stomach taking that moment to make itself known.
“I might have a bag of M&M’s in my car . . .” he said slowly.
I narrowed my eyes. “Really? Like that makes it any better?” I asked incredulously. “You’re literally the fucking candy man—”
“Yeah, well, you totaled your car and you look dead on your feet. I can hear your stomach rumbling. Shepard said you were really into anything chocolate. Since you want to be a brat about this, I figured I could—”
“What?” I threw both hands up. “Lure me away with candy? Hmm? Did it ever occur to you that I might be waiting on someone?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest once more.
“In the woods? By yourself? While you’re doing god knows what in the car…” He lifted an eyebrow, giving me a condescending look.
I growled under my breath. Of all the people to come across me on my first hour back, it had to be this dickwad.
This was exactly what I meant about my family and miracles. Blessings didn’t come without a curse. It looked like my way out of here was sexy as all get out and apparently knew my brother. Then he opened his mouth, and all I could think about were better ways to put it to use.
I ran a hand through my hair, already having forgotten the dried blood that made it stick together. My fingers snagged, and I cursed under my breath.
“Look,” he said, letting out a sigh. “You’ve clearly had a rough night. I can just give you a ride back to your aunt’s if you want. It’s gotta be better than waiting out here all night until some rando trucker drives through and maybe gives you a ride back to town where you have enough service to actually make a call.” He lifted both hands in surrender and inclined his head.
I pressed my lips together, debating it.
Unfortunately for me, he wasn’t wrong.
“Fine,” I said, moving away from what was left of my car. My black combat boots touched the forest floor and a pop from plastic exploding followed by a squish made my heart sink. Lifting my foot, I looked down where I’d just stepped.
Two smushed Hostess cupcakes spilled out of their crappy plastic wrapping.
“Ugh,” I growled under my breath, my fists clenching as I realized what I’d done.
Stranger Danger beside me cocked his head. “You’re pissed about stepping on shitty processed junk food more than your car? Or, I don’t know—the injuries you likely have?”
“Shelve the judgment, dude. I can’t control my totaled car. That ship has sailed. I can’t change that I look like I was in a car accident and thrown from the fucking car.” His eyes flashed with something, but I ignored it. “I can’t even control the fact that I’m hungry because I missed dinner. Or how shit my life is right now. All I could control was finding and eating those fucking cupcakes until I figured out what I was going to do.” I was shouting at a guy who looked like a god and that I did not know in the slightest, but I was at my wit’s end tonight. “And apparently—I can’t even fucking do that!”
He studied me, and it felt like his eyes could see straight through me. I couldn’t recall a time I ever felt more exposed. “Come on; I think I have a jacket you can borrow in the car.”
Something in his tone took away the fight in me. I was tired, and I really didn’t have a better choice.
“Okay,” I grumbled. “But there better be some M&M’s.”
He smirked.
“Don’t even think about getting handsy,” I warned him, giving him the side-eye. Not that I would mind. The guy looked like he knew what to do with his hands. I just felt better saying it.
He actually laughed at me. “In your dreams, Salem Kaine.”
—Click to get the rest of the book NOW—
Also by Kel Carpenter
The Grimm Brotherhood Series:
Reaper’s Blood (Book One)
Reaping Havoc (Book Two)
Reaper Reborn (Book Three)
Queen of the Damned Series:
Lucifer’s Daughter (Book One)
Wicked Games (Book Two)
Infernal Desires (Book Three)
Brimstone Nightmares (Book Four)
The Dark Maji Series:
Fortune Favors the Cruel (Book One)
Blessed be the Wicked (Book Two)
Twisted is the Crown (Book Three)
For King and Corruption (Book Four)
Long Live the Soulless (Book Five)
The Daizlei Academy Series:
Heir of Shadows (Book One)
Trial by Heist (Novella)
Scion of Midnight (Book Two)
Queen of Lies (Book Three)
Vessel of Destruction (Book Four)
About the Author
Kel Carpenter is a master of werdz. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s traveling the world, lovingly pestering her editor, and spending time with her husband and fur-babies. She is always on the search for good tacos and the best pizza. She resides in Bethesda, MD and desperately tries to avoid the traffic.
Join Kel’s Readers Group!
Acknowledgments
This was one of the hardest books to write. Not because I didn’t know what happened. For once Selena actually followed the plan. It was difficult because this is the end. The end of the story that started it all. The story that started me on my journey as an author.
I’m pretty sure I bawled like a baby the day I typed ‘the end.’ While Selena and co. rarely listened and were so unbelievably difficult to write most of the time, this goodbye has been the most difficult for me. I did it, though. And you, dear reader, walked with
her to the finish line.
So first and foremost, thank you for sticking with me and Selena to this point. Thank you for being invested in Selena’s journey and seeing it to the end. I didn’t make it easy on you, but hopefully I made it worth it.
To Analisa, thank you for editing, but more importantly—thank you for being there. I dedicated this one to you because your support and encouragement as a friend not only helped shape the story, but made it so that I could finally finish it. I’m so grateful for that, and for you.
To Matt, I love you, babe. Thank you for handling my mood swings and hippo hunger rages when I forget lunch because I spent too much time writing. Your love and support has been the strength that’s helped me get this far. Thank you for believing in me when no one else did.
To Courtney, you were one of the first advocates for me to drop everything and chase this wild dream of mine. Some might call that crazy, but the crazy part to me is how long ago that now seems. You’re an amazingly supportive friend and I’m lucky to have you.
To my Aunt Raquel, Uncle Shon, Greg, and Carol: thank you for being the role models I needed. Thank you for holding on and not giving up as I learned to be better than what I knew. Thank you for everything, really. You four deserve way more thanks than I give you for putting up with my ass all this time.
And last but not least, to my author friends that have stuck with me: You guys are fucking amazing. There’s a lot of you I have to thank for being supportive and kind and helping me through the hard days. Special thanks to Amanda, Graceley, and Meg. You ladies have helped me through so much these past months. Thank you for pushing me and supporting me and standing with me through the rough times. You’re some of the best friends a girl could ask for.
Vessel of Destruction (Daizlei Academy Book 4) Page 26
