Burned
Page 26
Control the voice in my head smirked, we’ll show him some control. I raised my hand, gesturing to Spencer to stop. It felt foreign, like my whole body was mine but not. It looked like my hand, my body, but I no longer fit in my skin.
“I’ll be fine. Let’s just go home.”
“But-”
“Now!” My voice rose and the energy flew from my hand to Spencer, pushing him back like I had physically shoved him. His eyes widened. The scent of his fear exploded on the air.
I liked it.
The energy built up inside me, stretching my insides and spilling out like clouds rolling off the nearby Laramie Mountains. It needed a place to go, something to burn. With merely a thought, a lodgepole pine about two hundred feet away burst into satisfying flame. Effortless. The pungent scent of burning needles stung my nose. Closing my eyes, I savored the feeling of release, of strength. I was stunned at the ease with which I wielded this power. So. Much. Power.
I could do anything.
I was a god.
And if I could do anything, I could control it. I would control it. Taking a deep breath, allowing the air to fill my lungs. Blocking out the frantic shouts surrounding me. The panicked voice of my partner. I just breathed. Breathed in the power. Pulled it in. And once I was full I pushed the remaining energy that continued to swirl around me into the ground at my feet. And it stopped.
I opened my eyes to Spencer’s wide brown ones, the shock of both what I had done and what I could have done clearly evident. He put his hands back onto my shoulders, but there was no longer a need. I had grounded myself. I had controlled the fire.
“You okay?” He searched my eyes for the answer, the truth.
I forced a short nod, wanting only to stay numb so I could keep it together. Don’t feel the pain. The loss. The panic. Just get back to Tampa and kill Alejandro. Then I could fall apart.
“It’s okay now,” his voice rang hollow. The farm may be okay, but I was far from it.
“What. The. Fuck?” Gavin growled, stalking over to us. Spencer swung his arm around my shoulders, not taking any chances. I didn’t blame him, not that he had been much help in the thick of it.
“Daniel is dead.” That stopped him in his tracks. His eyes found mine. I expected to see triumph. He hated the human. Hated having to share me with him. Repeatedly referring to him as coffin bait. But surprisingly they were sad. He reached out to hold my other hand.
“I’m so sorry.” And he was. His voice rang clear with the truth in his words. But I wouldn’t let this break the ice I had encased myself in. I had to stay cold to stay sane. Again I only nodded in acknowledgment.
“Are you,” hesitating, “not okay, but….well, are you okay?”
I barked out a strangled laugh.
“I’m not going to burn the place down. I’ve got it under wraps now. I’m sorry.” I looked away, unable to hold eye contact. My worst fears had almost come true. “I’m just too dangerous to be around normal people.” Gavin and Spencer snorted, causing me to look back at them, astonished.
“Only you would think a family of shifters was normal,” Spencer shook his head, as Gavin rolled his eyes.
“No harm, sweetie.” Aunt Sue marched up to us. “Looks like just your phone bit the dust. Along with one tree that was diseased anyway. The fence is only a little singed.”
A fine trembling took over my muscles as I tried so hard to hold it all in. But the moment her arms embraced me I sobbed into her neck. I let the grief seep through. Just for a moment. I heard Gavin briefly explain what had happened and that we needed to leave right away. For once I let them take over the details, the packing, and getting everything situated while I fell apart a little into this tiny woman’s arms.
We were going home. And I was going to kill Alejandro.
He wanted to play with fire? Well, he was about to get burned.
Coming Soon
Look for the next book in the Burned series - Deceived.
Brilliant and beautiful, Arabella has it all.
Money.
Power.
Love.
Or at least she thought she did.
When her carefully constructed life begins to unravel around her, she realizes that nothing is how it seems.
And that sometimes the easiest person to lie to is yourself.
Available soon.
For more information and to receive updates on new releases, visit http://jnicholeparkins.wordpress.com.
Acknowledgments
While writing can be a very solitary, almost lonely undertaking, publishing is far from it. Without the support, advice, and handholding from a variety of people, I would have never have hit publish.
First of all, I’d like to thank my family for standing by my latest adventure. Thank you for tolerating my long hours, my frequent absences, and the messy house. They were there through it all, from start to finish - my mom especially - encouraging me along the route. And a special thank you to my husband for letting me sleep in when I had a late night, distracting the kids when I needed extra writing time, and just being generally awesome. You sir, rock.
Thank you to my friends who helped spread the word: sharing my posts on Facebook, being first readers,spotting errors, listening to me whine, and reminding me that I could do this! This list is nowhere near complete but for starters - Jasmine, Ciera, Heather., Melissa, Craig , Becki, Frank, Sylvia, and Jean. A special thanks to Nyssa, Paulina, Jodi, Sheila, and Mandy for helping me name those troublesome side characters.
The bloggers, reviewers, and Facebook groups that shared my posts and teasers, and who cheered me on - thank you!
Thank you to my editor, Jennifer Tovar of Gypsyheart Editing for working her magic.
I’d also like to thank the fabulous indie authors I’ve met this last year, whose invaluable advice has made a huge difference in my life. You are too numerous to name!
And thank you. Yes YOU, for reading my book. It’s been a life-long dream, derailed too many times to count. Thank you for picking my book out of the thousands available.
About the Author
J. Nichole Parkins writes New Adult, Urban Fantasy, and Paranormal Romance. She is currently working on Exposed, the third book in the Burned series. Wife, mother of three, and constant daydreamer, she is never without a story floating around in her head or a book or two in her purse. A Florida transplant, she can often be found writing poolside with a cup of Chai tea or reading her Kindle way after bedtime.
Visit her on the sites below - especially Facebook - because she’s there WAY too much. Feel free to friend her, she doesn’t bite. Unless you want her to.
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