The emptiness he spoke about was familiar to her. It was the emptiness that called to her before she found him, the emptiness that made anger an easy option to embrace. She smiled. “Careful. I might think you need me.”
“You have no idea.” His grin descended on hers.
“I think I do.” Sam’s lips brushed over Damien’s in a grateful, soul-rending kiss.
~ ~ ~
Sam approached Eugene’s private lab and knocked on the door.
After a moment, the door slid open and Eugene stood there. He wore a scowl of displeasure on his brow. But when he saw her, shock and then excitement flashed over his face. “Come in.” He stepped aside and let her in.
The room was his sanctuary. He didn’t let just anyone in here. The room was cluttered with metals and objects and other things; Sam had no idea what most of them were. She moved into the room.
Eugene waited by the door. “I’m glad you’re safe.”
Sam grinned and turned to him. She stared for a long moment. He reached out to grab a machine from his workbench and began to stroke it. “Eugene…” she started, but let her voice trail off.
Eugene shook his head. “You don’t have to say anything.”
“I do. What you did…”
Eugene bowed his head, scowling. His hand moved over the metal quicker.
“You have to let me make my own decisions. You can’t try to protect me from everything.”
Eugene pursed his lips, nodding.
Sam sighed. “You were wrong about Damien.”
Eugene grunted softly. “You’re the only one he cares about.”
Sam nodded. “But he proved himself this time.” She looked down. “And so have you. Every time in the past that I’ve needed you, you’ve been there.” She glanced up at him. He stared at her with wide eyes and an open mouth. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have gotten that angry at you. Angry. But not that angry.”
Eugene shook his head vehemently, holding the machine tight against his chest. “No. You were right.”
“You are family to me, Eugene. And you will always be family.”
Eugene stared at her.
“I’m trying to say I’m sorry.”
Eugene sucked in his lips, nodding. “Thanks. Thanks for that.” He held out his hand to her. “Friends?”
Sam stared at his hand for a long moment. She shook her head negatively. Eugene slowly lowered his hand. Sam launched herself into his arms, hugging him fiercely. “Family, Eugene. We’re family. Thank you so much for finding me.”
Eugene’s soft sigh reached her ears and he hugged her back. “You’re welcome.”
Epilogue
Sam sat outside the broken-down shack that disguised Eugene’s elaborate facilities, watching the sunset through the leaves of the forest trees. She needed the time to unwind. She had buried the memories of Scala and what he had done to her once before. Now, the feelings of helplessness rose again. Twice. Would it happen again?
She heard Ben approaching before he reached her. “Damien said I could find you here.”
“The last I talked to you about Damien you said not to trust him.”
Ben nodded. “He really proved himself where you are concerned.” He shrugged. “He still doesn’t care about the rest of us. But he’s loyal to you.”
Sam looked over her shoulder at him. “Looks like he’s the one Changed you can trust.”
Ben sighed. “Sam.” He looked down. “I want to talk to you about what happened. About Cora.”
“You were feeding Cora. And you lied to me about it.”
“I know.”
“Christian and I needed you. When Daniel attacked us, you should have been there to help.”
Ben nodded. “You’re right.”
“You’re right? That’s all you have to say?”
Ben floundered for a moment. “She’s family, Sam. I had to try and help her.”
“I’m family, Ben. She is a Changed.”
“Damien is a Changed.”
“He’s proven himself.”
“But the fact remains that it is possible for a Changed to resist making the Jump. I wanted Cora to…” He looked down, shaking his head. “I wanted her back. She said she wanted to make the Jump to go with the angel. I wanted to give her that chance. I wanted to believe her.”
“You can’t give the Changed a chance. She drained you. And you let her. You were weak.”
“You were weak, too. You let Scala capture you.”
Sam’s mouth dropped open in shock. She snapped it closed angrily. “He used four Changed to trap me. Sorry. I didn’t have any backup.” She stood up and turned.
“I’m sorry! Sam. It’s not the same. But both of us were tricked.”
Sam stared at him in disbelief. “The only one I was tricked by was you.”
“And I was tricked by Cora.”
Sam shook her head. “Not the same, Ben.”
“It is the same. We are all family.”
“We were family. Cora is a monster now.”
“You once thought Damien was a monster.”
“But he’s proved he isn’t. You gave Cora a chance and look what happened.”
Ben nodded. “You’re right.” He nodded again. “You’re right. I should have told you. I’m sorry. Really.”
Sam stared at him. What the hell was wrong with him? How could he think she let Scala capture her? “Fine. It’s forgotten.” She fazed.
~ ~ ~
Damien closed the hood of Sam’s Audi Spyder holding a small piece of metal between his thumb and forefinger. He stared at it. A camera. The only thing that didn’t belong in the car. If he looked very closely, he could see the wires, the lens. This had helped them recognize the misty shapes, but he didn’t like Eugene bugging Sam’s car. He smashed it between his fingers with a satisfied grimace.
“Took you long enough to find it.”
Damien whirled to find Sam standing inside the garage, watching him. “You knew about it?”
Sam smiled. “It’s my car.”
“And you left it?”
Sam shrugged. “It wasn’t hurting anything. It wasn’t taping the inside of the car. That would be creepy.”
Damien approached her. “It would have been more then creepy. That, I wouldn’t have allowed.”
Sam’s eyebrows rose. “You wouldn’t allow it?”
He stopped before her, his gaze moving slowly over her face. “I wouldn’t allow it.”
Sam ran a hand over his cheek. “I’ve missed your arrogance.”
Damien laughed throatily, gathering her close. “Of course you have.” He bent to claim her lips. And he had missed her just as much. So many years of loneliness. His mood seemed suddenly jubilant, the anger withdrawing like the tide. He had Sam back. She was safe.
Damien pulled back to gaze down at her. There was only one thing that still caused him anxiety. Scala had taken Sam because he had seen them kiss in the alley. What kind of danger would their relationship put her in?
He brushed a strand of her hair from her cheek. For now, for this one moment, Damien didn’t care. He had Sam back at his side and that’s all that mattered. He bent his lips to hers again, slowly caressing her skin. The kiss deepened as he moved his mouth across hers.
~ ~ ~
Ben watched as Damien kissed Sam on one of the screens in Eugene’s lab. He glanced over his shoulder. Christian and Eugene had gone into Eugene’s lab to talk about a new idea Eugene had.
Ben turned back to the screen. He ran a finger over the image of Sam’s body. He was glad to see Sam safe again. How he loved Sammie. How he loved her.
His eyes flickered to completely white and then back again.
###
Coming Soon: Lost Souls: Episode 5
About the Author
Laurel O’Donnell has always been interested in the supernatural. It has intrigued her enough to write a vampire paranormal romance, Immortal Death, which won Indiana’s Golden Opportunity contest. Her love of the medieva
l period has generated many medieval romance novels, which are currently available at eBookStores everywhere. Her medieval romance novels have also won several awards, such as the Holt Medallion for A Knight of Honor, and the Happily Ever After contest for Angel’s Assassin. The Angel and the Prince was nominated by the Romance Writers of America for their prestigious Golden Heart award. She came back to the paranormal for her urban fantasy series: Lost Souls. Altercation is the fourth episode in the Lost Souls series, with more episodes to come…
Please visit the author’s website at: www.laurel-odonnell.com to keep up to date on all of Laurel’s books and her upcoming releases.
Thanks for reading!
Laurel O’Donnell Book List
Urban Fantasy
Lost Souls: Resurrection - Episode 1
- The first episode in the urban fantasy series: Lost Souls.
Christian Thompson is killed but refuses to pass into the afterlife because of his need to shelter his daughter from her cruel mother. He soon discovers there are others like him, other spirits trapped between the world of the living and the dead. He joins the Lost Souls in their struggle against a dark evil that threatens them all.
Lost Souls: Resurrection – Episode 1 – Available now on Amazon
Lost Souls: Imperfection - Episode 2
- The second episode in the urban fantasy series: Lost Souls.
Sam and Ben have just defied the leader of the Lost Souls. Outcast from their former group, they battle the dark forces of the Changed on their own. As they investigate the mysterious disappearance of one of their Lost Soul brethren, they come to the chilling realization that their nemesis Scala has escaped his centuries-old prison with revenge on his twisted mind.
Lost Souls: Imperfection – Episode 2 – Available now on Amazon
Lost Souls: Deception - Episode 3
- The third episode in the urban fantasy series: Lost Souls.
Sam, Ben and Christian continue to battle the dark forces of the Changed. After receiving surprising news about the whereabouts of Sam and Ben’s sister Cora, they arrive at a friend's to investigate. As their search deepens, Ben becomes consumed with trying to save Cora, taking a very dangerous path that puts himself and everyone around him in jeopardy.
Lost Souls: Deception – Episode 3 – Available now on Amazon
Paranormal Romance Novels
Immortal Death
Jade Smith’s supernaturally fast ability to heal has made her a freak. After years of fearful reactions from others, she stays hidden in the shadows of life. The one thing that keeps her sane is her writing -- and her wonderful Demetrius, an imaginary vampire fighter character she created in her online stories. But when Demetrius suddenly appears in her apartment demanding answers, her life changes forever…
- Winner of the Indiana Golden Opportunity Contest
Immortal Death – Available now on Amazon
Medieval Romance Novels
The Angel and the Prince
In this exciting medieval romance, the French lady knight known as the Angel of Death wages a battle of wills and desires against her dreaded enemy --- the English warrior known as the Prince of Darkness. An epic medieval romance.
- Nominated for the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award
The Angel and the Prince – Available now on Amazon
Angel’s Assassin
Lady Aurora of Acquitaine is the epitome of purity and goodness. Nothing makes her stray from the path of right, not even the terrible fear and sinister secret of her mother's death that she keeps hidden from the world. But then a dark and dangerously handsome man saves her life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden desire, threatening to tear her peaceful world apart.
- Winner of the Happily Ever After Contest
Angel’s Assassin – Available now on Amazon
Champion of the Heart
Fox Mercer watches in horror as his father’s knighthood, lands and nobility are all torn from him. Banished into disgrace, Fox waits for the moment to strike to avenge his family’s honor. And that moment arises when a tournament is announced --- a battle of champions wherein the winner gets to claim a very lovely prize…
Champion of the Heart – Available now on Amazon
A Knight of Honor
Taylor Sullivan is a raven-haired hellion fleeing the flames that destroyed her family. She arms herself with a quick sword and a sharp tongue, hiring herself out as a mercenary, willing to do whatever it takes to survive. Slane Donovan is a knight of honor, sworn to uphold his oath and his word. He seeks the woman who wears the Sullivan ring, determined to bring her back to Castle Donovan. A fast paced medieval romance filled with action.
- Winner of the Holt Medallion Award for Best Medieval Novel
A Knight of Honor – Available now on Amazon
Midnight Shadow
Disguised as the legendary hero known as the Midnight Shadow, Lady Bria Delaney swears to rid the land of Lord Terran Knowles’ cruel tyranny. She is stunned to encounter him in her father’s castle --- one of the many suitors vying for her hand. Captivated by his darkly intent gaze, Bria struggles to suppress her fierce attraction to the very enemy she has secretly promised to destroy. A Robin-Hood style medieval romance with a twist.
Midnight Shadow – Available now on Amazon
The Lady and the Falconer
A mysterious falconer infiltrates Castle Fulton during a siege, intent on reclaiming what is rightfully his. When the handsome stranger lays eyes and hands on Lady Solace Farindale, all of his plans of revenge start to crumble around him...
The Lady and the Falconer – Available now on Amazon
Medieval Romance Novellas
The Bride and the Brute
Jayce Cullen has been fighting her fear of thunder and lightning ever since she was a child, but nothing could have prepared her for the fury of her new husband. Feeling deceived and betrayed into a loveless marriage, Lord Reese Harrington wants nothing to do with his new wife. Trapped in a marriage with no escape, the beautiful young bride must battle the demons of her husband's past and hope that she can weather the storm his brutish behavior unleashes.
- Available for FREE at many ebookstores! See the author’s website at www.laurel-odonnell.com for a full list of stores where this free ebook can be found. This free ebook also contains free previews of many of Laurel’s other medieval romance novels listed above.
The Bride and the Brute – Available now on Amazon
Thanks for reading!
Table of Contents
LOST SOULS
The World of Lost Souls
The Characters of Lost Souls
Previously on Lost Souls
Lost Souls: Altercation
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Epilogue
About the Author
Laurel O’Donnell Book List
Altercation - Episode 4 (Lost Souls) Page 8
