by Avril Sabine
“I would have escaped eventually,” Charles said.
He had to disagree with everything. Her eyes roamed the room, before being drawn back to her bloodstained hands. “I can’t do this anymore.” She headed for the front door.
“Where are you going?” Helen demanded.
She stopped, still facing the door. She didn’t have a clue. Where could she go? Turning, she faced Helen. “I’ll stay at your place until school finishes and then I’m gone. It’s not like you’re using it.”
“What do you mean, gone?” Kade crossed the room, reaching for her.
She sidestepped him. “I can’t do this anymore. It’s not me.” She held up her hands. “Look at them. Ten. I’ve killed ten people.” A sharp laugh burst from her. “I can count them on my two hands. How long before that’s no longer possible? How long before I lose count?”
“Amber-”
Again she stepped away from Kade. “I just can’t. I need to get away from all this mess.” She couldn’t meet his eyes. The words were hard enough to speak. If she looked into his eyes she knew she wouldn’t be able to say them.
“What about Topaz?” Jasper asked. “She has to go back Tuesday.”
It took her a moment before she could think what to do. “I’ll go with Ronan Tuesday and tell them you will make the exchange in future.” She started to turn away.
“I always knew you were weak,” Helen spat the words.
She met her grandmother’s eyes, anger pushing the pain away. Anger. She was sick of anger. That wasn’t her. The blood, the anger, the fear. She didn’t have a clue who she was these days, but that wasn’t her. Words began to form, but she changed her mind. Her grandmother’s comment didn’t deserve acknowledging. As she turned to the door, she caught Ronan’s gaze, a slight smile of amusement on his lips. She pointed a bloodstained finger at him. “And you stay out of my life.”
Ronan chuckled. “You know my number, kitten.” He vanished into the Void.
He was wrong. She was done. She strode outside, staring at the road. It was a long way to town and she wasn’t about to walk it. She’d have to fly. A panther would cause too much unwanted attention.
“Amber!”
She kept walking, trying to ignore how the tone of Kade’s voice cut into her.
He ran after her, stepping in front of her. “Don’t go.” His voice was soft, his words a plea.
She shook her head. “I can’t do this anymore. I have to go.” Could hearts break? Is that what the ache in her chest was?
“Please.”
She almost gave in. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath. Her lungs filled with the scent of him. Dragon. Forcing herself to meet his eyes, she said. “I can’t stay. If I do-” she broke off, looking to the side.
Kade reached for her, but she backed away. His hand curled into a fist as it dropped to his side. “Don’t do this. How can you even think about leaving? You say you love me. If you did, you couldn’t walk away. It would be ripping you apart.”
“It’s ripping me apart to stay.” She swallowed, finding it almost impossible. “It’s turning me into someone I’m not.” The blood was drying on her hands. How long would it take to remove those stains?
“Wait until the end of the year and I’ll go with you.”
She shook her head. “Don’t you see? You’ll still be a Gold Warrior. I can’t be a part of that.” Her eyes burned as she held his gaze a moment more before she stepped around him and kept on walking, images of blood filling the world around her. It looked like she’d have to walk. There was no way she could change form without the panther forcing her way out. And if she was going to do this, if she was going to take her life back, she needed to leave it all behind. The fire, the goshawk, the panther and most of all the dragons. Her eyes momentarily closed. The dragons. A dragon. That was the hardest part of all. But this wasn’t her. She needed to figure out who she was before she became someone she wasn’t.
Acknowledgements
As always, thanks to the usual crew. I dread to think how many mistakes there’d be without you.
About The Author
Avril is an Australian fiction writer who lives with her family on acreage in South East Queensland. She writes mostly young adult speculative fiction, but has been known to dabble in other genres. You can find more information about her at her website www.avrilsabine.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter to be kept informed about new releases, current projects, blog posts and exclusive news.
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Also By Avril Sabine
SERIES
Dragon Blood- Young Adult Urban Fantasy (with elements of romance)
Book 1: Pliethin
Book 2: Wyvern
Book 3: Surety
Book 4: Knight
Book 5: Mage
STAND ALONE SERIES
Demon Hunters- Young Adult Urban Fantasy/Horror (with elements of romance)
Book 1: Blood Sacrifice
Book 2: Retribution
Book 3: Tainted
Plea Of The Damned- Young Adult Urban Fantasy/Paranormal
Book 1: Forgive Me Lucy
Fairytales Retold (Short Stories)
Snow-White And Rose-Red
The Twelve Brothers
The Light Princess
Beauty And The Beast
Sleeping Beauty
Aschenputtel
YOUNG ADULT NOVELS
Young Adult Fantasy (with elements of romance)
Elf Sight
Earth Bound
Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Stone Warrior (with elements of romance)
The Jungle Inside
Young Adult Contemporary (with elements of romance)
Through Your Eyes
The Ugly Stepsister
Young Adult Contemporary/Paranormal
Whispers In The Dark (with elements of romance and same sex relationships)
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Dragon Lord (Preteen/early teens) (Fantasy)
The Irish Wizard (Upper middle grade) (Urban Fantasy)
SHORT STORIES
Urban Fantasy
Eternally Late
Dealings With Joe
Disclaimer
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
