by Scarlet Dawn
Isaac’s stone nostrils cracked as he inhaled sharply, staring at my hands. His attention snapped up to me, and he jerked a clawed finger back the way we had come. He even bared his gruesome teeth at me.
He wasn’t exactly pleased I hadn’t told him about the pain I was in.
I peered once more to where we were going…and then nodded my head. I quickly turned and started a light jog away from the heat radiating in the air. My lungs were constricting, the very oxygen I breathed choking me, but I didn’t stop. It wouldn’t get better until I was away from the wrongness coating the night.
When I could breathe easily and the blisters magically disappeared from my skin, I sat down on the grass on a hill and peered down to where the Stone family had gone to save the day.
My shoulders slumped in defeat as I placed my red bag next to me on the cool ground. I wasn’t able to do anything. There was no adapting to this situation as Isaac had mentioned. If I had stayed, I would have hindered their search.
I blinked and stared as silver light shot up from the trees into the darkened sky, as if it were attached to the moon it flew so high. My breath caught. I cringed as Gargoyle roars filled the night air, my fingernails digging down into the dirt.
Just as I saw his family flying into the air, and dropping like bombs, only to shoot up into the air again, light firing from their bodies, a hand clamped down on my left shoulder. I jerked in alarm, my frightened gaze snapping up.
Caleb stared off into the distance, standing over me. He had just appeared out of nowhere. When he spoke, his words were quiet. “If you really want to be with him, a man of his caliber, in power and predator, I’ll tell you how you can help.”
I tried jumping to my feet, but his hand kept me sitting. “Yes, I want to help!”
Blunt words. “Then stay here.”
My nostrils flared in irritation. “How is that helping?”
“Know your limits, Kennedy. You can’t be with him if you’re dead.”
I swatted his hand away and turned my regard back to the fight that was taking place. My attention didn’t move from there. “But I was supposed to help. That’s what the wizard said.”
“You did help. They wouldn’t have found him tonight if it weren’t for you.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, ready to argue.
But when I glanced back…he was gone.
With my head resting on a pillow, I grumbled, “I didn’t do shit tonight.”
Isaac ran his fingers through my hair. “We took care of him, Kennedy. That was the whole point of going out there. How it happened is beside the point.”
I sighed quietly. “So what the hell was he doing?”
Isaac hummed quietly. “Well, he was trying to kill every shifter in Woodland Creek.”
My eyes widened. “Are you kidding me?”
“No.” He snorted. “You know that black fog in town?”
“How could I forget?”
“It was pulling all of the shifters powers from their bodies.”
I stared. “Why in the world would he want to do that?”
“He wanted their life force.” He grunted gently. “He had an addiction to energy.”
I blinked. “Like my mom with heroin.”
“Exactly.”
I tapped my fingers on his bare chest. “Why did the fog stop when I entered the protection of Hanna’s spell?”
His lips twitched. “Do you really want to know?”
I merely gazed at him.
“Because you held his father’s book, where he had stolen the original spell from. The book holds the power to it.”
My jaw gaped open. “The wizard was Vince’s dad?”
“Yes. And since his dad created that spell, and he gifted you with some of his power, you also felt the effect of it when the spell was put into action.” He shrugged a shoulder. “Caleb explained it all to me.”
“Wait, does that mean the “incident” was caused by Vince too? Did he steal power then?”
A soft shake of his head, a grin lifting his lips. “I believe that was Hanna’s work. Her way of placing us together since we never would have without a little influence.”
After a minute, I grumbled, “I still wish I could have done something.”
Isaac chuckled and pulled me in closer to his body, tucking the blankets around us more firmly. “You did, Kennedy.”
My lips smashed against his skin, I muttered, “What did I do other than get blisters?”
He paused. “They’re all gone, right?”
“Yes, they’re gone,” I groaned.
“Just checking.” He rubbed my back and rested his head above mine. “I’m going to tell you what Hanna said now since you think you’re useless.”
I blinked and attempted to keep the excitement from my voice. “I’m listening.”
“She told me, ‘With faith comes trust. With trust comes safety. And the woman who gives you all three will hold your heart.’”
I grinned against his skin, unable to speak.
He cleared his throat harshly. “Well? I told you. Now you’re supposed to tell me what Vince’s dad told you.” He paused. His Gargoyle huffed. “He was even more powerful than Hanna before his death. This has to be good.”
“Fine, I’ll tell you.” The morning sun began flittering into the windows, casting a golden glow over our exposed flesh. “He said, ‘You carry the salvation of this town with the true love of your life. The two of you will beat the night.’”
Isaac held still until his head rose, and he peered out the windows to the new day. He chuckled quietly, laying his head back above mine. “And we did beat the night. We both survived.”
My jaw slackened. “Damn! That’s what he meant?”
“Wizards have a funny way with words, Little One. Like when Hanna showed up at your apartment with Caleb. She said, ‘Perhaps you should pick one.’ That was her way of slapping me silly to make sure I wasn’t falling for our ex’s game plan.” He kissed my forehead as I snickered at his grumpy tone. “Now let’s go to sleep, and when we wake, we’ll go for lunch at The Bread Basket.” He hummed quietly. “And for the record, I think Hanna was right with her prediction.”
My lips twitched. “As was Vince’s father.”
Isaac
I stood at the edge of the clock tower and held the most precious gift life could have given me in my arms. Her blonde hair whipped in the wind, obscuring my vision of her face, but I knew she was smiling. My lips brushed her left temple as I took in her heady scent. I hummed softly into her ear, “We’re going to be late, Little One.”
“Just a few more minutes,” Kennedy whispered in awe. “It’s even more beautiful up here during the day than at night.”
I tucked her in close to my body as a strong wind rippled her pink gown. “Don’t slip.”
She chuckled, pressing her head back against my chest. “Would you catch me?”
“Of course. But then we would have to go home since I would be naked.”
“We would really be late then.”
“Agreed.” I kissed her temple again, unable to get enough of this human. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Gargoyle.” Her blue eyes flicked up to mine, shining in the sunlight. “Can we come back here tonight after the wedding?”
I lifted a black brow. “Jackie won’t like you missing her reception afterward.”
Her grin was pure mischief. “We’ll sneak out.”
I tipped my head back and laughed. “You are a wicked human. It’s not every day your best friend gets married.”
My human waved an absent hand, her voice whisper soft. “Either way, we’ll be together.”
“Yes.” Another brush of my lips against her skin. I was damn greedy for her. “We will.”
Kennedy
I swayed to the music with the love of my life. Pure happiness kept a perpetual smile on my face. I leaned my head against my man’s hard pecs, and whispered, “How much longer do you think we should stay?”
/> Isaac chuckled quietly. “At least ten more minutes. She’s getting ready to cut the cake.”
My stomach growled. “Okay, we can stay for that.”
“I thought you might agree.” His fingers spread wide against my back, his hips swaying with mine to the gentle beat. “Your stomach has been talking to you for the last half hour. You should probably feed it.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “I want to dance with you.”
“And I’ll dance with you all night long.” His voice was a sensual purr. “I like the way you move.”
I grinned up at him, staring into his green eyes. “We can have cake anytime.” I grabbed his hand and dragged him behind me, laughing as I glanced over my shoulder. “I want to dance on top of the clock tower.”
His grin was sinful. “You were made for me.”
“Right back at you, Gargoyle.”
Woodland Creek was a beautiful town.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my novella from Woodland Creek!
All reviews are appreciated.
If you would like to read more from the Woodland Creek series, please click on the link below:
Woodland Creek Website
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times bestselling author and award-winner, Scarlett Dawn is the author of the Forever Evermore new adult fantasy series, the Mark new adult science fiction saga, and the Lion Security contemporary series.
She lives in the Midwest, adores her music loud, and demands her fries covered in melted cheese.
Where to find Scarlett
Facebook
Twitter
GoodReads
On the Web
Sign up for Scarlett's Newsletter
"MY WORLD WAS FOREVER CHANGED."
FALL
Thrown head first into a barbaric world she knows nothing of, Braita Valorn must adapt to a dark life as a slave of the Mian society--her existence depends on it.
SINK
Danger lurks, and Braita's lack of knowledge of the planet, Triaz, is now abundantly clear. On a mission to find her best friend, Jax, she must infiltrate the Crank Pit, a brutal complex where Mian enter, only to leave absent a heartbeat.
STOP
Braita Valorn is stuck. She has no real freedom, her existence dependent on what the men of Triaz decide. But she desperately wants it to be, and will do anything to capture it.
RISE
Judgments are made, an archaic stand within Mian laws, and Braita finds herself charged with treason. But never one to sit during a battle, she risks her last chance of release with blackmail.
SOAR
Braita Valorn is a disaster walking. One mistake after another on the planet Triaz has landed her in trouble time and again. Will Braita obtain her freedom? Or will she finally accept a life she never asked for?
Orphan, Lana Claire, drinks too much and parties too hard. Eighteen-years-old, and a wild child, Lana does whatever she wants, whenever she wants. When a crazy encounter at a new bar ends with bodies littering the ground, Lana wonders if she may have discovered a path that leads to answers she desperately needs.
Never one to walk blind, she treads carefully. What she finds is more than she ever hoped for. Lana knew she wasn't human, but an entire community of others like herself blows her mind. And the men! Heat and passion burn bright when Valan men are on the hunt for their mate, but Lana never expected to be the spark for two of their hottest playboys. More than ready to sizzle with the alphas of Valan, Lana does what she always does. She dives right in.
A fresh, meaty, sink-your-teeth-in-and-hold-on-tight new adult fantasy series kicks off with King Hall…
King Hall — where the Mysticals go to learn their craft, get their degrees, and transition into adulthood. And where four new Rulers will rise and meet their destinies.
Lily Ruckler is adept at one thing: survival. Born a Mystical hybrid, her mere existence is forbidden, but her nightmare is only about to start. Fluke, happenstance, and a deep personal loss finds Lily deeply entrenched with those who would destroy her simply for existing — The Mystical Kings. Being named future Queen of the Shifters shoves Lily into the spotlight, making her one of the most visible Mysticals in the world. But with risk comes a certain solace — her burgeoning friendships with the other three Prodigies: a wicked Vampire, a wild-child Mage, and a playboy Elemental. Backed by their faith and trust, Lily begins to relax into her new life.
Then chaos erupts as the fragile peace between Commoners and Mysticals is broken, and suddenly Lily realizes the greatest threat was never from within, and her fear takes on a new name: the revolution.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Epilogue
About the Woodland Creek Series
About the Author
Uploaded by [RAL] [BЯ]
center>
