Love's Deadly Touch

by W. Lynn Chantale

  Evernight Publishing

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2012 W. Lynn Chantale

  ISBN: 978-1-77130-154-1

  Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

  Editor: JS Cook

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  This is for my sister, Aleisha. Everyone should have a sister like you, but I’m glad you’re mine. I would like to take a moment to thank my editor, JoAnne. Thank you for all your hard work.

  And to my Tim, Josh and CJ. Haha.

  As always I thank God for blessing me with this talent.

  LOVE’S DEADLY TOUCH

  W. Lynn Chantale

  Copyright © 2012

  Chapter One

  She was a menace. Those words echoed through her head even as Dana stared into the swirling dark waters below. A menace, a threat, someone to be feared, all because she could no longer control one power. One silly little power. The foamy waves crashed and collided, fighting with the large rocks when the river receded enough for them to be visible.

  The Council compared her to the raging river. Worthwhile, beautiful, yet with a deadly calm lurking below the surface. She sniffled and swiped at the moisture drenching her cheeks. Even her brother, her twin brother, hadn’t come to her defense, instead choosing to remain passive.

  She lifted a slim shoulder and dashed at the tears dripping down her chin. Things would be better all around if she were no longer part of this world. Closing her eyes, she gripped the thick rail, the metal hard and cold beneath her palms. Somehow the wrought iron seemed an inadequate barrier to the chaotic river below. Anyone with enough will could easily climb over and step into oblivion.

  Crisp fall air lifted her chin-length hair and whipped it around her face. Half-turning, she stared at the traffic. Again, another tangle of wrought iron and chain-link fence seemed flimsy as a deterrent, but she guessed it worked.

  With a sigh, she pressed her fingertips to her temples. Ever since the meeting her brother Danny kept trying to talk to her telepathically and she ignored him, but the effort to keep him from her thoughts was wearing down her resolve.

  Everywhere she looked people were paired off. Groups of families, couples laughing or stealing affectionate kisses, even the homeless shuffling along the dim sidewalk had a partner to call his own.

  And her...

  She returned her attention to the water. Nothing. And after the fiasco at the Council meeting, her dream was even further out of reach.

  Reach.

  She stared at her hands. Her short, but slim fingers were encased in custom leather gloves. Specially made to keep her from hurting anyone. Yeah, thanks Danny. Despite the hand covering she could still feel the sizzle coursing through her veins, running beneath her skin like the current from a switch. If she could control her talent again, then she wouldn’t need to wear the damn gloves.

  Once more she faced the street. Life ebbed and flowed. Enchantment shimmered in the air as tangible as the bright glittering diamonds hanging from the black canopy of the sky. Filmy white tendrils splayed across the dull yellow moon, obscuring what little illumination it yielded. Brief flashes of color tugged at the corner of her eye and she glanced toward a mage demonstrating a light show with just the tips of his fingers. The spark and splendor was enough to garner ohhs and ahhs from the onlookers.

  Her lips eased into a smile, yet it didn’t quite reach her heart. Magic vibrated and hummed in the air. In a city where humans and Others co-existed, she lived on the fringe of being an outcast. Her talent, while rare, set her apart, and her recent inability to focus it left her a target.

  And there was no one to protect her.

  Dana shifted her focus to the water, again. To whom much is given, much is required, were the words her parents lived...and died by. A tear dripped from her lashes. Right now she’d give anything to have them back.

  A soft whimper floated on the breeze, the wind seeming to hold its breath as she swung one leg over the rail. Life just hadn’t been the same since her parents died. She hadn’t been the same. Her gift hadn’t been the same and the one person she thought she could count on...

  She tossed her other leg over the rail, balancing her weight on her hands and butt. Her feet dangled a few inches above the ledge.

  The buzzing increased. The effort required to keep him out of her head was making her temples throb and if she didn’t answer him soon, she was headed for a nosebleed.

  I really don’t want to talk right now, Danny.

  What are you doing? Tension and fear made his voice sharp and clipped.

  She looked up at the sky, not wanting her brother to find her too fast. At one time she thought it was cool that her family, her entire lineage were given such a high-ranking seat on the Council. Her family were protectors of the innocent, entrusted with the safety of humans and Others alike.

  The wind buffeted her face. But not her. Her talents didn’t extend to tracking and shutting down Others who abused their gifts or worse, vanquishing those who could not be redeemed. Oh she could read minds, and move things with just a thought, which was common. She even had some empathetic abilities or could bend someone’s will to hers. Those things she could handle.. She’d honed those skills until they required little effort on her part. But her talent, the one that set her apart was rare, coveted and deadly.

  I had my reasons.

  She rolled her eyes. So he was going to justify pulling his support with reasons. I don’t care. You made your choice.

  Dana.

  Danny. She infused as much weariness in her voice as she could. Just tell the Council I won’t be a problem anymore.

  A shudder of sadness rolled through her. His gasp was enough to kick at her guilt, but he had Telly to watch over him.

  Before he could send any more thoughts, she disconnected their link and slammed the door shut.

  “I’m sorry,” Dana whispered.

  The wind picked up, tugging at her clothes like invisible fingers jerking at the back of her jacket to keep her from going over the edge. She paused. This wasn’t Danny. A flutter of joy sang through her veins and she quickly squashed it. No. There was no match for her, no man willing to brave her wayward gift.

  Even if she could regain control, why should she? The price of using her powers left her vulnerable and with it being so near to Halloween she couldn’t afford to use her gift, at least not this year.

  Then don’t.

  Startled, she nearly fell off the rail. Once again she had the sensation of hands holding her in place. Definitely not Danny. Her brother was powerful, and most of the time protective, but this, this energy left her edgy, expectant and craving more, like something she’d missed her entire life and was now getting a glimpse of. A flutter of hope knocked at her heart and she dismissed the notion. There was no one for her, no matter how much she yearned for someone.

  A ripple, a presence—not unfamiliar, but definitely unexpected—brushed her mind, embraced her. She was helpless to resist his allure, but she fought anyway.

  Get outta my head.

  He chuckled, the soft sound unfurling, chasing away her earlier melancholy and warming her right down to her toes. If she could bask in the sensation for longer than an eternity the time still wouldn’t be enough.

  Not until you get
off the ledge.

  The pull at her back was more insistent and Dana tightened her grip on the rail. How had he known where she was? She glanced around. No one was paying her a lick of attention, yet she felt his presence.

  And if I don’t? She tilted her chin in defiance.

  Energy crackled and swirled around her. She sucked in her breath. For a second the image of a man wavered before her vision. Her heart skipped a beat.

  Broad shoulders encased in black, his shoulder-length ebony hair was held back at the nape with a leather tie. A sigh parted her lips. Very few were able to astral project and given her state at the moment she was surprised he attempted.

  Still, as his strong square jaw and slightly crooked nose formed beside her, her pulse quickened. He’d defended her.

  “Simon?” She spoke aloud, too stunned to do otherwise.

  He nodded, the wind teasing a loose lock of hair. She longed to reach out and smooth it back in place.

  “In the flesh.” He grinned. “So to speak.”

  She looked away. Now that he was standing next to her, could she go through with her plan? She edged closer to him, inexplicably drawn to him in this form even as she had been earlier in the evening. What was wrong with her? There was something about being in his presence which gave her peace. She pursed her lips. That couldn’t be right.

  “I can read your mind.”

  She glanced at him, then at the water. “Thank you for what you said.”

  He nodded.

  “How did you find me?”

  He smiled, his teeth bright against the bronze of his skin. “You touched me.”

  She cringed. Every time she used her gift a little piece of her remained, at least for a little while. He shouldn’t still share a connection with her, at least not enough where he could find her at will. There was one other possibility, but once the seed settled in the back of her mind, it was hard to uproot. Maybe if it were someone else, a human or an Other not on the Council.

  But Simon? God. He was the reason the Council went nuts on her and her brother didn’t even put up a fight. That was probably the most damning of all. Even her brother didn’t think she was worth protecting.

  “I’m sorry.” The water seemed much more inviting.

  “Dana.” He switched to telepathy. Please. His bright green eyes implored her.

  She squeezed her eyes shut. If he hadn’t been so powerful, if the Elders and the Wise Widows hadn’t been present. If she had control of her gift.

  It wasn’t your fault.

  But it was. If she hadn’t touched him, he wouldn’t need to astral project right now.

  I wouldn’t be here period.

  Her eyes snapped open at that.

  You gave me a second chance. If you hadn’t grabbed me, I would’ve fallen to my death. His words held a ring of truth. Whenever the Council met, it was always on the edge of the city. The ancient meeting hall where they convened had been built into the side of a cliff with a more modern balcony that overlooked jagged rocks. With the recent rash of storms, the supports to the balcony had weakened and Simon had fallen. Since she was the closest, she had to save him. He was part of the Council.

  I should’ve worn my gloves.

  I’m glad you didn’t. Warmth caressed her cheek and she went still. His touch was reminiscent of a dream, a recurring dream. One she’d had since her parents died.

  Shaken, she swung her leg over the bar, straddling the metal. Once she stood on the sidewalk again, his image dissolved until there was nothing left.

  Thank you.

  Nodding, she stepped away from the rail, jammed her hands in her pockets and headed toward home. Had he been in her dream? And why wait until now to reveal who he was? The same gentle stroke whispered against her skin. She hesitated. Maybe because it was so close to Halloween, she questioned what she dreamed. She resumed walking.

  Even as she worried about her dream, hairs rose on the back of her neck. Faint footsteps scraped and echoed on the pavement behind her. She whirled, her hands balled into fists just in front of her face while she shifted her weight to the balls of her feet.

  Nothing but air.

  A shiver ran down her spine as a thin laugh trilled on the wind.

  She cast a glance around and breathed deep, a surge of adrenaline giving her powers a quick boost. All she needed was a target. Nothing moved, not even the shadows. She concentrated, examining each person in the vicinity with a light and easy touch. Everything was as it should be, and she resumed walking. So why did her surroundings seem off?

  Dana didn’t breathe easy until she was safely ensconced in her loft apartment. She traced the intricate design of eagles’ feathers forming triangles within a circle on the back of her door, an old protection symbol someone had carved into the wood.

  She looked around her home. Every room, every door, every window held a protection symbol of sorts, even her bed. A dreamcatcher hung above the headboard, while symbols were woven into the thick blue and pink bedspread. No matter what went on during her day, the moment she slipped beneath the covers, all her worries drained away and she slept with peace.

  A grin tugged at her lips. Well, if meeting a dream lover could be considered sleeping. Her smile faded. Dream lovers couldn’t replace what she wanted in reality, what she needed. A sigh eased past her lips.

  Halloween was just around the corner and as that day approached everyone would feel a power surge, including her. She stared at her hands, now rid of the protective gloves.

  After that the Council would make its decision about her, unless... She shed her clothes and padded to the bathroom for a shower. There was one way to get the Council off her back, but the idea was so farfetched, it wouldn’t happen—at least not in time to save her and then if she was wrong, the risk was too great.

  All she had to do was endure the party at her place and hope no one else decided to get hurt or worse, dead. Whatever happened, this holiday would be her last in this existence.

  Chapter Two

  “I can’t believe you spoke up for that girl. She’s a walking contradiction,” Amos said. He paced the room, his heavy footsteps echoing on the polished marble. “And look at you, she nearly killed you.”

  Simon shifted in his chair and grimaced. Holding a hand to his side, he leaned forward to grab the glass of whiskey. It would be another day or so before he was fully healed, and in the meantime he had to endure the momentary discomfort whenever he changed positions. He regarded the other man a moment. People were so quick to condemn Dana for her actions, but without her, he wouldn’t be sitting in his leather chair sipping a whiskey.

  “What possessed you to grab her hand? If you’d been injured, there were enough of us there to heal you. Danny should’ve done something about his sister a long time ago. She’s a menace, an absolute menace. One of these days she’s going to kill someone. Is that what it’s going to take to get the Council to listen to reason?”

  “You wouldn’t be thinking of the daughter Dana couldn’t save, are you?”

  By the way the other man flinched, Simon knew he’d struck a nerve.

  “So this vendetta against Dana is just a way for you to get even? Have you even considered that the young lady in question was injured herself and too weak to tend to your daughter? Or that your daughter refused any help?”

  Amos turned an interesting shade of red. He opened his mouth and Simon waved a hand, cutting him off.

  “You were there. And yet you condemn her?” Simon stared at him. “Help me understand.”

  The older man’s shoulders slumped and he bowed his head. “She should’ve brought her back.”

  “Dana is governed by the rules of the Council just like everyone else.” Simon set his glass aside. “I imagine what she does can’t be easy, giving a piece of herself each time she uses her gift.”

  “How would you know?”

  Simon gazed out the large window on his right. How could he tell this man what he felt when she grasped him? The fear and lonelin
ess he’d read in her eyes as she clutched at his clothing, the small balcony crumbling beneath his feet. Even he found it a little difficult to explain the way her life force seemed to wrap around him, and the power emanating from her seemed to invigorate him as nothing else could when she pulled him to safety.

  Yet all that paled in comparison when her very essence seemed to mend the missing part of his soul. He’d wanted to enfold her next to his heart and never let her go.

  When he reached for her, she’d scrambled away, her mouth and eyes wide with shock or horror. After he looked down to discover he was bleeding, he figured it to be the latter. A piece of metal pierced his side. She hadn’t done anything to hurt him, not physically. Of that he was certain, but trying to get the rest of the Council to listen to his story, well....they had their own agenda.

  Many were afraid of her, opting to allow ignorance to run rampant instead of embracing their heritage and history. One with the touch was a very special gift indeed. A long time ago many people had the ability of resurrection, but their numbers dwindled until one only came along every hundred years or so. Even then it seemed as though they lived far longer than any Others, but maybe longevity was the catch for bringing life and death with a touch. Healers were plenty, but one who could bring life—well that was a coveted talent indeed.

  “If she’d broken the rules, I’d have understood,” Amos was saying.

  “And I’d be having this conversation with someone else. Regardless of the godlike powers we possess we are not allowed to take freewill from anyone. It is their right to choose whether they live or die.”

  A loud sigh passed the man’s lips and finally he slouched in one of the chairs. “You’re right.”

  Simon nodded, pursing his lips. “Someone else hurled that piece of metal at me.”