Lightning Lost

by Miranda Hardy

  Lightning Lost

  The Roaming Curse Book Two

  Miranda Hardy

  Lightning Lost Copyright © 2017 by Miranda Hardy

  All rights reserved.

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  No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  Lightning Lost is a work of fiction. The names, characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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  Quixotic Publishing LLC

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  Edited by: Keith B. Darrell, Cynthia Shepp & Tawdra Kandle

  Cover by: Rebecca Frank

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  Lightning Lost / Miranda Hardy.—1st Edition

  ISBN 978-1-939588-18-0 (print edition)

  ISBN 978-1-939588-19-7 (eBook)

  Contents

  Also By Miranda Hardy

  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

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Saint’s Grove

  Also By Miranda Hardy

  Don’t Miss Out

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also By Miranda Hardy

  THE ROAMING CURSE

  Lightning Struck

  Lightning Lost

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  SAINTS GROVE

  Hearts Aligning

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  BLACK-EYED KIDS

  Death Knocks

  Marcus

  Death Returns

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  THE FORBIDDEN

  Delicate Thorns

  Jagged Feather

  Iron Petals

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  UNDERWATER ISLAND

  Shore of Graves

  Nether Tears

  FOR

  FAITH AND CODY

  Prologue

  ‘The one born with the power gifted by the Earth is the key to breaking the Roaming Curse.’ The final line of the curse plays over and over in my head as I face my adversary.

  Had I arrived a few minutes earlier, I might have survived this ordeal.

  I had imagined my last moments to be peaceful, surrounded by loved ones, years from now when I’m old and gray, with no powers playing any part in my future.

  Glaring at him, I smile, knowing I’ll ultimately win.

  Chapter 1

  We circle each other like vultures waiting for their meal.

  “My money is on the she-devil,” Brayden says. “She’s wicked fast.”

  Vadoma’s eye twitches. My half-sister hates that nickname.

  “You’ve got a bet!” Riley slaps Brayden’s back. “Lightning is faster.”

  Vadoma’s sepia eyes narrow. We’ve become too familiar with each other over the past six months; I glance at her feet to see which way she’ll move. She slides left, raising her right knee. I block the kick, but she crosses over with her left hand, connecting to my cheek.

  A stinging pain shoots through my head, followed by a ringing static in my ears.

  “Oooh, told ya.” Brayden laughs. “First contact goes to the she-devil.”

  “Elysia, you let me down.” Riley whines. “I never thought she’d beat you.”

  Vadoma lowers her arms, grinning from ear to ear. “That’s going to leave a mark, little sis.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” I rub the sore spot. “Lucky shot.”

  “All right, it’s my turn.” Kayla moves to replace me in the center. “I’ve got this.”

  I laugh. “Go for it. She has a mean hook. Watch out for that move.”

  Vadoma makes kissing sounds at Kayla. “Come here, girl.” She pats her knees, teasing the she-wolf.

  Kayla, Brayden, Riley, and Colin, my man, are the island’s resident werewolves. They haven’t shifted since our arrival, and I think it aids their eagerness to spar daily. Vadoma’s all too happy joining their excessive energy-driven hobby. Even though Vadoma and Kayla tease each other in the ring, they’ve bonded over their love of fighting. I caught them sunbathing together in the cove two days ago, sans the guys, who usually are lurking when they’re in their bikinis.

  My feelings were slightly hurt they hadn’t invited me. I suppose that’s why I agreed to spar against Vadoma this morning…to show them I don’t always do everything with Colin, but given my aching cheek, I’m not spending enough time practicing martial arts. I’m rusty.

  “You okay?” Nadya rises from her seat on the sand against the rock. She chose to sit farther away from the fighting area. My cousin never participates and shows little interest in learning moves. She does, however, come down to watch, especially when Riley’s here.

  “It’s fine.” The throbbing in my face subsides. My head still feels strange, but I don’t want to appear like a wimp. “Vadoma finally got the shot in on me she’d wanted for a long time. I had it coming, I guess.”

  “You didn’t have it coming.” She purses her lips.

  “Glad to know you’re on my side.” I smirk.

  She watches Riley. That familiar far-off stare resurfaces. “Do you think Riley’s into that strong, wiry type?”

  Riley moves beside Emilian, pointing to Kayla, probably sharing his thoughts on their stances or techniques. Emilian, Nadya’s older, annoying brother, tries his darnedest to fit in with the werewolves. He’s weaker than the rest, but always gets into the ring. They all respect that. “Is that why you’ve been exercising every day and watching the fights? Because you think that’s what Riley’s into?”

  She shrugs. “I don’t think the way to his heart is through his stomach. He never eats any of the pies or desserts I fix. Besides, do you see the way he’s always involved with the fighting?”

  “Nadya, be yourself. Don’t try to change the way you are to please anyone other than you. If Riley’s not interested in you, he’s a fool.” I grab a bottle of water from the cooler. “Do you enjoy learning how to defend yourself?”

  “I know it’s good for me, but I’d rather be shopping. But given the lack of malls in the area, my choices are limited.” She watches the waves lapping against the shore. Her amber eyes dull. “You know when you dream of living in paradise, lounging in the sun and relaxing on the beach all the time?”

  A large pelican swoops into the water and comes up with a fresh catch in its mouth. The small breaks mean the water’s calm. It would be a great day for fishing, but we’re all tired of eating seafood. “Yeah.”

  “It’s not as glorious as people imagine.” Her eyes glaze over and I know she’s daydreaming of something else. “I’d give anything to see a movie in a theater, surrounded by people. Buttery popcorn sounds so good right now. I don’t even know what’s playing these days.”

  “None of us do.” I take a drink and see Colin walking down the path to the beach. He grins when he sees me. My stomach flutters and I wonder, again, if this feeling will ever ebb.

  “I can always tell when Colin’s near. Your face glows. It’s kind of annoyingly sweet.” Nadya pouts, and looks up the trail.
“If only Riley felt that way for me.”

  I instinctively touch my heated cheeks. “Really?”

  She chuckles. “Yes, you look like a rosy-cheeked raggedy doll.”

  I playfully shove her, and wish I didn’t look so sweaty with my hair in a ponytail. He’s seen me plenty of times this way, as the humidity disagrees with me, but it would be nice to freshen up some.

  He jogs the rest of the way toward me, scoops me up in his arms, and twirls me. He pulls me close and breathes deeply. “Oh, I missed you.”

  “All of a few hours? Didn’t we eat breakfast together?” I lean into his shoulder and savor the moment.

  He lowers me and cups my face. He turns my cheek and touches the sore spot. I wince.

  “Who do I have to kill for this?” His smile slips. “If you were sparring with Brayden or Riley, I’ll end them now.”

  “You’ll have to kill her sister, then.” Nadya smirks.

  “No. Vadoma did this?” Colin’s hands move to my shoulders and I feel like butter. I want to melt in the sand. “Did you let her get in a punch on purpose?”

  “You’re hurting my ego.” I pull away. “She hit me fair and square. I underestimated her skills.”

  He stands back and crosses his arms. “I don’t believe it.”

  “Where have you been anyway? We’ve been down here for hours practicing and you’ve been MIA. Are you so strong you don’t need to practice?”

  His chestnut eyes gleam. “I have a surprise.” He grabs my hand and pulls me away.

  “Fine. I see where I rank.” Nadya rolls her eyes.

  I blow her a kiss before turning around and facing the path that leads up to the house. “What are you up to?” I squeeze Colin’s hand.

  “You’ll see.” He waggles his brows.

  “So mysterious.”

  We pass over the lawn, avoiding the large castle-like structure we’ve called home for the past six-and-a-half months. The house encompasses a large, square-stone courtyard where we often eat at the stone circular tables. All the bedrooms are at the north end, with the kitchen, library and living space lining the south. To the east, there’s an enclosed aviary and garden with rose bushes of every color. Each week, a cleaning and gardening crew boats in. Bo had a full-time caretaker, but sent him to the mainland when we arrived. He must have amassed a sizable sum to have bought this gem.

  With all of the fanciness of the estate, I’d have thought there would be a television in each room, but Bo has none in the entire house. The only hint of modern technology is his laptop, but he often loses his Internet connection on cloudy days.

  Colin leads me to the farthest northeast side of the island. A rickety-looking shed stands at the edge and contains the mower and gardening supplies. There’s also a secret door in there that leads to the cove below the rocks on the north side. Bo keeps a boat there in case of emergencies.

  “Are you rescuing me from this prison and taking me to the mainland?” Excitement builds inside me as I think about leaving. Like Nadya, boredom weighs on us all. I’ve read more novels in the past six months than in my entire life.

  “I wish I could, but don’t get your hopes up.” He sighs.

  We enter the shed and he shuts the door behind us. The other door won’t open unless the first’s shut tight. Bo went to great lengths to hide this getaway route. He’s overly obsessive. Colin turns the light on, revealing the dusty contents. Lawn trimmings line the bottom of the large mower. We maneuver around it. The back of the shed is lined with shelves holding various sheers, gloves, pots, and general gardening soils. Colin reaches under one of the shelves and pushes on a lever that pops the back wall open, shelves and all.

  Metal spiral stairs lead down a few hundred feet until we reach the sandy floor. The silty path leads us to a hidden cove that can’t be seen from any position on the island. A speedboat is docked to the right. Several barrels of gas form a triangle at the beginning of the wooden planks near the boat.

  To the left, a picnic setting blankets the sand. Colin scoops me up, with my legs dangling as he cradles me. “Do you remember our first attempt at a picnic?” he asks.

  “You mean when the bird pooped on your head?” I smile.

  “I’m hoping this one will turn out better with fewer interruptions.” Brayden, Emilian, Riley, and Kayla showed up to the last one, which led to a less than desirable outcome.

  “It’s hard finding time together without disruption. We are never alone.”

  He lays me on the blanket, sitting next to me. “Tell me about it. Sleeping in separate bedrooms is torture.”

  The one downfall to this paradise is having your extended family living together. My dad, grandfather, two aunts, sister, three cousins…it’s a wonder we haven’t killed each other by now. “I miss my independence.”

  He pops the champagne cork and pours the bubbly liquid into our glasses. “Here’s to a moment of peace and quiet.”

  We clink our glasses. The fizzes tickle the top of my lip. “This is so good.”

  “Don’t drink too much. I don’t know how I’d explain an intoxicated weather girl to your father. What if it starts snowing in the middle of the Gulf? You could get all out of whack.” He takes my glass from me, setting it next to the basket.

  “You did not just call me a weather girl, did you?”

  He inches closer, moving the wild strands of hair from my face. “My Elysia. My lightning-struck love.” He kisses my cheek, then travels to my ear, nibbling on the end, and hits the one spot that drives me crazy…the side of my neck. Prickles of electricity rush through me. I turn to meet his lips with mine.

  The kiss deepens and a yearning burns inside of me. We haven’t been together in this way since our one night in the swamp under the mossy oak; I often revisit that special wooded spot we canoed to months ago in my dreams. I roll on top of him, feeling every inch of his barrel-chest against me. His hands caress my back, his burning fingertips stirring my need to be touched.

  He breaks our kiss. “Don’t you want to eat lunch?” He grins and flips me onto my back, kissing my neck.

  “Sure, let’s eat.” My breath catches and a moan escapes. His hands find my sides and he moves down igniting the inner desire that wants to break free.

  “I’m going to sneak into your room every night,” he whispers in my ear.

  “Do you promise?”

  “You have no idea how badly I want you all the time.” He sits up and looks into my eyes. Burgundy flames flicker in them, a yearning begging me to see him. “I’m in love with you, Elysia.”

  It’s the first time he’s said it to me. I’ve wanted to hear his declaration a thousand times over these last several months, but whenever I thought he was on the cusp, he stopped. The protective wall surrounding my heart crumbles into dust.

  “I love you, too.” A wetness fills my eyes and a tear streams down my face.

  He wipes them away. “Don’t get all emotional on me.” He looks up to the sky, waiting for the clouds to roll in. A smile curls on his lips.

  I pound on his chest. “You had to go there, didn’t you.”

  “It was getting too serious.”

  “Was not.” I stick my tongue out at him.

  A clattering of steel echoes through the cove.

  Colin groans. “You’ve got to be kidding. It hasn’t even been fifteen minutes.” He rolls off me, sitting up.

  I straighten my tank top and scoot upright for whoever plans to intrude on our picnic. “Hand me the champagne. I think I’ll need it.”

  He gives me my glass.

  We turn to see Fonso barreling into the cove. He’s my fun-loving gay cousin, Nadya and Emilian’s oldest brother. Normally, I enjoy my time with him, but right now it’s the worst possible timing. He spots us and runs over.

  “We have a problem.” He wheezes, bending over and breathing deeply.

  Colin stands. “What?”

  “It’s gone.” Fonso waves his hands in the air like a madman.

  “What’s gon
e?” I ask.

  He rolls his eyes and slowly mimics his erratic gestures, as he usually does when he’s using his telekinesis. “My powers. They’ve stopped working, and I’m not the only one who’s lost them.”

  Chapter 2

  I’ve never felt more hollow in my life. It feels like I’ve been disconnected from my core. An emptiness wallows inside me. Colin follows Fonso inside, leaving me in the courtyard. A dizziness shadows my mind, as if it’s waiting to pounce on me at any moment. If I turn too fast, it’ll grab hold and yank me down.

  Nature isn’t responding to my emotions. It’s abandoned me.

  “Hey, are you okay?” Dad kneels in front of me.

  “I’m not sure.” I stare into his silver gray eyes. “It’s gone.”

  He breathes deeply. “Let’s go and meet with the others. Something’s off.”

  I nod. He holds his hand out for me to take. Its warmth comforts me. “Do you feel anything?”

  “No. I feel nothing.” He opens the library door for me. If his radar for trouble isn’t working, we may be headed into dark days. All my life I’ve relied on Dad to know when the Hunters were coming. Without his warning, they could be on their way, and we wouldn’t know.

  We walk into the silence of my most treasured place on this island. Tall bookshelves line the entire south side of the library. A rolling ladder attached to a rail is pushed all the way to the north side. The musty book smell lingers, mixing with the salt air. This is by far my favorite place to be, normally, when it’s not crowded.

  The werewolves, Colin, Kayla, Riley, and Brayden, stand in the east corner. My cousins, Emilian, Fonso, and Nadya sit on the couch. Nadya’s head rests on Fonso’s shoulder. Aunt Simza and Aunt Mirela stand next to Bo, my grandfather, who sits on the desk. My sister’s missing from the somber affair.

  Losing the power to control the weather would’ve been a joyous occasion a year ago. I’ve prayed to be normal for so long, but now, staring at the forlorn faces of my family gathered around me brings an entirely different emotion. We’re scared.