They were opposite in looks, Keanu had dark hair hanging past his shoulders, dark brown eyes, and topped out at six foot. Hal was built more like a swimmer and had at least three inches on him. Keanu had the physique of a body builder and spent his off time working out or participating in extreme sports.
Brax, the co-leader of his team of Smokejumpers, recruited Keanu at twenty-two when he’d made national headlines. Now at thirty-three, he was ready to head home and settle down. Being seven years older than Hal, he considered him like a little brother. As the unofficial leader of the team it was his job to watch over the guys, but he’d taken Hal under his wing like a brother. Knowing he’d possibly done his last jump, and he and Hal would no longer be working together, Keanu already missed his friend.
He walked Hal to the door and watched as the big man took the stairs two at a time, before jumping into his oversized four-wheel drive pick-up. Hal waved one big hand out the window before executing a U-turn to leave. Keanu waited until the taillights disappeared down the long drive before going inside. After cleaning the mess up, he shed his clothes and stood under the rainforest-like shower he’d installed on his deck. Sighing, he closed his eyes.
* * *
Cammie Masters loved the little town of McKinley Landing, and the way it was tucked into the side of the surrounding mountains. But, and this was a big but, she hated the way it had grown. The town used to be only thirty-eight hundred people. Since the pork plant moved in the population had almost doubled, and so had the crime.
Many of the residents of McKinley Landing were a mix of races, but she connected best with her mother’s Native American relatives. Her red hair was the only thing that was different. When she was a child, she’d played with the other kids and wished she’d had their black hair.
The summer Cammie had turned twelve, she’d fallen in love for the first time. She’d climbed one of the big pines bordering the Cascade forests and her shoe got stuck several feet up between two branches. She thought back to the afternoon that changed her whole life with fondness.
“I’m a big girl. I am not gonna cry.” Cammie shivered, looking down at the ground from the tree she was stuck in. “Dang you, Mazey Otto,” Cammie whimpered.
Mazey called her a fire demon because of her red hair. When she told her it didn’t mean she was evil the other girl called her a liar. She hadn’t intended to hurt the brat, she only wanted her to shut up. It wasn’t her fault. Mazey was clumsy and fell down the stairs. Now everyone was calling her names, so she ran away.
Swiping at the tears dripping down her cheeks, she didn’t want to admit she was crying. Cammie tried to wiggle her foot free, but only made it worse. The sound of something crashing through the trees caused her to nearly jump out of her skin. From her viewpoint, something really big was running straight for the tree—for her.
Cammie held her breath, closed her eyes, and prayed whatever it was wouldn’t see her and decide she’d make a tasty snack. Her mama always said there were things in the forests that would kill and not to go in to them. But Cammie loved the big pines and the noises the animals made were her favorite sounds. Now, the wilderness seemed to stop and wait, like it knew a greater predator was in its midst.
The beat of her heart filled her ears. Cammie opened her eyes. Surely if the beast was hungry it would be growling or shaking the tree. Right? Looking at the last place she’d seen the thing, she relaxed, or tried as much as she could with her arms wrapped around the trunk.
“Are you ready to get down?”
Cammie jumped. “Oh my God. Please don’t eat me. I’ll taste really, really bad. I promise.”
A deep laugh had her looking at the speaker. He had to be the most beautiful person in the entire world. Long black hair and two dimples in his cheeks, if he was gonna eat her, he wouldn’t smile at her, Cammie thought.
“I’m not that hungry.” The gorgeous man snapped his teeth together. “Yet.”
She shivered, and the tears she tried hard to hold back, dripped down her cheeks.
“I was only joking, don’t cry. I’m going to climb up and see what’s going on, okay?”
He didn’t give her a chance to answer, before he scaled the big tree like a monkey. She was a good twenty feet in the air. What had taken her at least fifteen minutes to climb, he did in less than five.
“Wow, you’re a really good climber.”
“Why thank you, my tiny damsel in distress. I’m Keanu Raine. What’s your name?”
Cammie’s brow furrowed. “Um…I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.”
He held out his hand. “Well, since you’re kinda stuck in this tree and its getting dark, let’s become friends.”
Cammie gazed at the man she decided she would marry someday. He told her about himself, patiently telling her he was a local firefighter, and about his grandfather, the shaman of their tribe. Her mother was so gonna love him. Cammie adored the name Keanu, figuring it would go down in her diary as her new favorite.
“I’m going to be grounded for life if my mama finds out I was here,” Cammie groaned.
“Let’s worry about getting you down and then I’ll take you home. I’m sure she’s already worried about you.”
She nearly fell out of the tree when Keanu pulled out a little knife. “Please don’t hurt me.”
“What? This?” Keanu held it up. “I’m going to trim some of the bark off between these branches, so we can get your shoe loose.”
Watching closely, Cammie held completely still until the pressure eased on her foot. She jerked her leg, nearly kneeing her knight in the jaw.
“Thank you, thank you, Keanu.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
“All right, now we need to get down. I want you to climb on my back and hold on. Can you do that?”
“I can get down by myself. I got up here, didn’t I?”
“Yes, little lady, you did, but you also got yourself stuck. Besides, it’s my job to rescue people, so you’d be letting me do my job.”
He made it sound like she was helping him. With a huff, Cammie wrapped her arms around Keanu’s neck and held on for dear life.
He descended the tree like he’d been doing it all his life. She didn’t want to let go when they reached the bottom and he obviously thought she couldn’t walk. All the way back to town, he told her about his new job. When he told her he was leaving to become a part of a group called Smokejumpers, she wanted to weep.
Cammie decided she was going to be just like him when she grew up.
* * *
“Hey, Red, how ’bout you and me going out tonight?” Ted Grossman asked.
The question jarred her out of her memories. She used to consider Ted to be one of her best friends. Any time Cammie was in a jam, Ted was there to help pull her out. When her high school boyfriend had been cheating on her, it had been Ted whose shoulder she’d cried on. Luckily for her, Ted was also the one who had broken the news to Cammie, otherwise she may have made the biggest mistake of her life, since it was prom night and all.
Now, the thought of Ted and his new friends made her skin crawl. There was something about the three men he’d been hanging out with that didn’t sit well with her.
“Um, not tonight Ted.” She smiled to lessen the blow.
Cammie tried to walk around the pack of idiots standing outside the bar. One of them grabbed her arm, making her flinch at the rough treatment. The hand wrapped around her bicep held her in place. She looked at the man, at his hand where it rested on her arm, and back to him. She raised her eyebrows. Ted gave her a beseeching look.
“Listen, you little bitch. You think you’re better than us? Well, I have news for you.”
She recognized Bob Thompson and his sneering voice immediately. “Guys, I’m tired. I really just wanna go home and get some rest. Why don’t you go back into Sully’s and have another beer?”
Cammie looked at Ted, a guy she used to consider a friend.
“Aw, come on, Cam. You can have just one drink
. You know you’re the hottest piece in town,” Ted said with a drunken leer.
Cammie shuddered. “Did you just call me a cow? No, don’t answer that.” She held up her free hand. “Seriously, I really appreciate your flattery, but I’m going home.” Cammie looked pointedly at the hand still holding her arm.
“Let’s go, Bob. I’ll buy you a drink,” Ted offered.
“You are a fucking pussy, Ted,” Bob snarled.
Cammie had enough. Using Ted’s distraction, she shoved her palm into Bob’s chest, pushing him away, and twisted out of his grasp. He lunged, but luckily for her his friends dragged him back into the bar. His curses still rang in her ears. Tossing her ponytail over her shoulder, she shook her head and quickened her pace.
Walking to the firehouse yesterday had seemed like such a good freaking idea. Why hadn’t considered the danger of leaving at midnight the following night? She decided to claim temporary insanity. With the string of fires, and one of her teammates injured, it worked for her.
She picked up her pace, pushed her bag over her hip, and tapped her pocket to make sure her phone was still there. She’d be totally lost without her iPhone. The hair on the nape of her neck prickled. Cammie glanced over her shoulder and saw a Jeep sitting idle at the stoplight. The late hour and the dark tinted windows didn’t allow her to see the driver, and a shiver wracked her frame.
With some kind of pyromaniac running around, the last thing she needed was a stalker for crying out loud. The engine roared and she watched from the corner of her eye as the Jeep turned at the light. “Thank you, Lord Jesus,” Cammie murmured.
* * *
Ted wanted to hit Bob for the way he treated his Cammie. When he saw the woman of his dreams walking alone, he thought he’d invite her in for a drink. He had no clue Bob and the other guys would follow him. Her rejection nearly gutted him, but he still didn’t want her hurt, and she’d be a lot more than hurt if Bob got ahold of her. Ted had seen firsthand what the man could and would do to those who didn’t do as he wanted.
The images sent ice through his veins. “You owe me more than a drink, Teddy.” Bob’s voice slurred.
The overwhelming urge to smash the empty bottle over Bob’s head heated his once chilled body. The knowing glint in the other man’s eyes made Ted knock his knuckles on the table instead. He signaled for the waitress to bring them another round. At the rate they were going, Ted was going to owe more than he made in a week, the alternative was something he didn’t want to consider.
Since Bob and his friends had come to town, Ted didn’t know what was what. One night he’d had too much to drink and the next he owed his soul to the devil, or in this case, Bob.
Memories of the night were sketchy, but Bob and the other guys were only too happy to fill him in, with video proof. Ted shook his head, he thought of the saying there’s no use crying over spilled milk, and wanted to yell at the absurdity. If only it was milk he’d spilled. His stomach churned.
The waitress brought over the tray of tequila shots and beer bottles. Ted didn’t wait for her to place them on the table and grabbed a shot glass off the tray. He needed more liquid courage and the sooner he finished the drinks the quicker she would bring more.
Ted tossed his head back, letting the liquid burn his throat before a pleasant numbness stole over him. If he could always feel this way, maybe he’d stay drunk for the rest of his life, which might not be much longer if Bob had any say in the matter. He raised his hand again, happy to see the bartender already refilling their order.
Keep up with all of Elle Boon’s new releases via her website: www.elleboon.com
About the Author
Elle is a wife, mother, and author who loves to escape into the worlds she has created, whether it’s the Ravens of War, the Mystic Wolves or the all new Smokejumpers. She burst onto the scene with her first two Ravens of War books becoming Amazon best sellers, and has just released book four.
As a Cancer survivor, Elle made a bucket list. At the top of the list, after surviving, was becoming a published author. She’s marked that off and is onto her next item.
Find out more about her current projects at www.elleboon.com or follow her on:
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Excerpt from
Destiny of Three
Love of a Shifter Series, Book Three
by Bryce Evans
Chapter One
“Do you know who I am?” Sullivan Grayson looked at the man in the black robe and shrugged.
“I don’t care. You’re name isn’t important, but your money is. If I do this and you don’t pay me then you will know who I am. You got me!” Sullivan spit down at the ground inches from the man’s shoes.
Sullivan wanted to jump back when the man’s eyes turned so red they almost glowed. He knew who the man was but it didn’t matter. What mattered was this money could make the difference in saving lives of thousands of his people.
“Ahh, I see. You only want the money. That’s good. Well now, let’s get started.” The man walked over to his vehicle. “My name is Regis Yulson and I’m a collector of sorts. I’m looking for something that many before you couldn’t find. I’m looking for the Powerful Three.”
Sullivan snickered and scrubbed his hand over his face. “You and everyone else in the world,” Sullivan could sense the dread coming on again. He had been feeling it ever since he got the message from Mac that someone wanted to hire him. “I have heard about the Powerful Three ever since I was a boy and still nobody knows who they are or where they are. Furthermore, who knows if they have even been born yet?”
Regis’ laughed at his answer giving Sullivan a prickling sensation all over his body. He had heard about Regis Yulson and his quest for every supernatural artifact known. Rumor has it that he found the Seal of Solomon, which was sought after by every known tomb raider. If this was true then it makes him a very dangerous vampire. This man was also a historian, which made sense that he would know all about the talisman and what was known of the Powerful Three. But why hadn’t he looked for it?
“I understand you are a Tomb Raider and a respected tracker.” Regis’ black eyes sparkled. “They say you can track and find people, and I’m looking for three particular people.”
“I don’t mind taking your money Mr. Yulson; however it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. As I said before, nobody knows if the Powerful Three have even been born yet, or if they are men or women. I don’t think I would be of any use to you.” Sullivan started walking off.
“But you see I do.” Regis said cutting through his words, sounding intense.
Sullivan stopped in his tracks and dropped his head. He knew he should have told Mac that he was taking a vacation, but the money was too good to pass up.
Sullivan turned around and faced the vampire. “You know where the Powerful Three are at?” His voice was mild, and he hated that he couldn’t hide his curiosity. This man would pounce on it if he showed how much he was interested in folklore. This was something that the Elders in his old pack would teach the pups. He would sit and listen while his friends would sneak out every chance they got. Not him, he would rummage through all the old scrolls his grandmother had and read every myth that had been written.
“I’m a Seer, Mr. Grayson and I have seen the Powerful Three. I need to know now if you will take this job. I will give you half the money up front and the other half when you locate them. All I need for you to do is find them and I will do the rest. Do we have a deal?” Regis asked.
The man was going to give him one million dollars if he found the Powerful Three. He would pay all his expenses as well. This was too much money to turn down. He could retire on this, which would allow him time to finish writing down all the myths and folklores that were known about paranormals. Putting all of them in one place, would finally allow people to de
termine what was myth and what was true, and might allow them to cure some of the diseases that were plaguing their people. The lives of his people depended on him getting this money. Nobody had ever attempted this. This money would allow him the freedom to do that. The only problem he had was why he wanted him to find the Powerful Three.
“You only want me to locate them and then tell you where they are?” Sullivan asked curiously.
“Yes, that is all I want you to do.” Regis Yulson gave him the creeps. He had seen many things in his time but never had he seen a vampire as large as he was. He put off a certain amount of magic that worried him.
“Why don’t you find them? Obviously you have the resources and money.” Sullivan asked, but the vampire acted as if he had never heard his question. Something didn’t feel right about this. His wolf was telling him to leave now.
Sullivan knew he was making a mistake and apparently Regis knew he was about to turn him down when he sweetened the deal. “If you take this job I will give you an extra five hundred thousand dollars. This will give you one point five million dollars Mr. Grayson.”
Sullivan closed his eyes and smiled. He stuck his hand out to certify the deal. “I’m in Mr. Yulson.” Before Sullivan could pull his hand back Yulson turned it palm up and bit down into his wrist. Sullivan tried to knock Regis off but his guards grabbed a hold of him and held him while he sucked his blood. He couldn’t move as the vampire drained him of his life. The wolf in him wanted to rush forward but he was too weak from the blood loss.
Sullivan thought his legs were going to drop to the ground when Yulson let his hand go. “When you make a deal with me Mr. Grayson, we do it in blood. Your blood.” Sullivan was too weak to pull away when Yulson pulled him closer to him and whispered in his ear, “When the Powerful Three came to me in my dreams, I couldn’t see their faces, but I could tell they were two women and one man. They live together where it snows. I saw a beautiful log cabin behind them and they were playing outside in the snow. Whoever built the cabin has a lot of money. This was no ordinary cabin. This is all I know.” Regis started to walk off. His guards still had a hold of him as his eyes tried to focus. The vampire had taken a lot of his blood. He stopped and turned back around. He still had blood dripping down from his teeth and mouth. “Your half of the money is in your vehicle. Don’t disappoint me Mr. Grayson or it will be your last adventure.”
Revealed (The Found Book 1) Page 24
