by Alicia Rades
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About the Author
Chosen by Grace
Alicia Rades
Copyright © 2018 Alicia Rades
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any matter whatsoever without written permission from the author except in brief quotations used in articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Published by Crystallite Publishing.
Produced in the United States of America.
Edited by Megan Linski.
Proofread by Emerald Barnes.
Cover design by Rebecca Frank.
Created with Vellum
To Megan. This series would be nothing without you.
Contents
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About the Author
1
Considering I’d been seeing demons my whole life, I should’ve expected one of those sons of bitches to attack someday. And maybe I would’ve—if I’d known they were real. I’d become so accustomed to assuming the cloaked figures were figments of my imagination that I eventually stopped noticing them. The problem with closing your eyes? Sooner or later, you have to open them again.
I squinted across the lawn toward the old white farmhouse. Music pumped from somewhere inside and reached us where we were parked near the road. Silhouettes of dancing teens passed the front window. A short distance from the house, a large group stood around a fire pit and threw their heads back in laughter. My eyes landed on a hooded figure immersed in the crowd.
My fingers froze against my dangly earring I’d been fidgeting with.
Usually, I didn’t notice the figures, but this was the first one I’d seen since moving to Eagle Valley. I thought I was starting to get over the nightmares of my childhood.
“Is something wrong?” Allie pulled her gaze from the rearview mirror to look at me.
I continued to stare at the crowd, but the hooded man I’d seen had vanished.
Just my imagination, I told myself. That phrase had become my mantra since I was eight.
“Ryn?” Allie prodded.
I turned to her. “Everything’s fine. I’m just waiting for you. You know, your reflection will be there when we get back.”
Allie laughed and tucked her lipstick into her makeup bag. “I would hope so!”
She stole one last look in the mirror. Allie had a natural beauty that came with her tan skin and sleek black hair, thanks to her Asian heritage. She’d expertly outlined her striking brown eyes with black liquid liner, and she’d even added false eyelashes for the occasion.
My version of going all out was borrowing a flowy purple top from Allie and letting her curl my hair. I hadn’t even bothered to swap out my tennis shoes for something fancy.
She finally abandoned her reflection. “Ready?”
I’d only been ready for the last two hours. “Yep.”
We stepped out of the car into the chilly Minnesota night air. Allie tugged down on her skirt and started down the long gravel driveway like she was walking down a runway. I followed beside her, but my hips didn’t sway in the same confident manner. It definitely had something to do with the four-inch heels she was wearing.
As we neared the fire pit, I noticed what looked like a freshman chugging a beer.
“Are you sure we won’t get in trouble?” I asked.
Allie shook her head. “Mike’s parents are away for the weekend, and we’re far enough out of town that no one will call in a complaint.”
The smell of pizza and alcohol hit my nose at the front door, and the music was so loud I could feel it vibrating through the walls. Allie took my hand so we wouldn’t lose each other. My eyes landed on several people on our way to the kitchen. A nervous sensation hit my gut as we waded through the crowd.
“Hey, you made it!” A tall guy with dark hair and a slightly crooked nose held an arm out to Allie.
She leaned into him with a smile.
“This is Kyle!” she shouted above the music.
She’d mentioned him before, how they weren’t officially dating but had a thing for each other. By the way she talked about him, you’d think he was a god. Even with his crooked nose, he was attractive enough to be mistaken for one, at least.
“How about a shot for my girls?” Kyle didn’t wait for an answer. He placed two plastic shot glasses on the kitchen island and poured each one full of a green liquid.
I eyed it skeptically. “I’m okay, thanks.”
“It’s sour apple. You’ll love it.” Kyle pushed the drink toward me.
“No, really,” I insisted. “My mom would kill me.”
Allie bumped hips with me. “Your mom’s not here, is she? Live a little!”
A smile crept across my face. Allie was right. Mom wasn’t here to tell me what I could and couldn’t do. I might as well take advantage of the freedom while I had the chance. I snatched up my glass and downed the shot in one gulp. It burned as it flowed down my throat. I gagged.
“That a girl!” Allie tipped the shot into her mouth and asked for another immediately.
Kyle poured her drink and then turned to the fridge and handed me a hard lemonade. “Maybe you’d prefer something a little tamer.”
I brought the bottle to my lips and welcomed the sweet flavor.
“Hey,” Allie called to a group of three across the kitchen. “Come meet Ryn. She’s starting at Eagle Valley High this year.”
“Hi.” I waved to two girls and a guy nervously. I’d already forgotten their names by the time introductions were over.
Allie had dragged me to this party so I could get to know people before school. I’d be attending Eagle Valley High my senior year while Allie was enrolled in the private school in town, Galen High.
Mom and I never stayed in one place for more than a year, so I never let myself get too attached to anyone. The only reason I spent time with Allie was because I’d moved in next door last month and she insisted we hang out.
Allie took a beer from the fridge. Her eyes instantly lit up when the song changed. “Oh my God. I love this song. We have to dance!”
She grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward the living room.
“Don’t have too much fun,” Kyle called after us.
“Don’t worry,” I laughed. “I’ll bring her back in o
nce piece.”
Allie rolled her eyes.
“What?” I asked over the music.
She took a sip of beer. “Kyle. He’s so protective.”
“When are you going to make it official?” I swayed my body to the music.
Her brows shot up. “Ask him.”
The room was so crowded that Allie and I nearly touched as we danced. Her eyes darted across the room.
She did a double take. “Creep alert, nine o’clock.”
I glanced to my left. My eyes fell on a tall guy with ruffled brown hair standing alone in the corner. The music and chatter faded as our eyes connected. He had the strong jaw and perfectly symmetrical features of a movie star. Even from this distance, I could tell his electric blue eyes were worth getting lost in for hours.
Hot Stuff wore a leather jacket over his broad shoulders like he was some kind of badass biker dude. His lips curled into a slight smile the longer I held his gaze. He leaned against the wall as if amused and stuck a hand into the pocket of his tight jeans.
All I wanted him to do was turn around so I could see what those pants looked like from the back. He could get rid of the pants for all I cared.
My cheeks flamed at the thought. I turned back to Allie before I could completely undress him with my eyes.
“Cute guy? Leather jacket?” I asked.
“No, closer.”
I checked my left again and found a muscular guy in a backwards baseball cap staring at us while he danced. As soon as he saw us look, he began making his way through the crowd.
“Do you know him?” I hissed in Allie’s ear.
She shook her head. “I’ve seen him around. He goes to your school.”
I quickly searched for an exit while Allie tried to work her way through the crowd casually, but we were squeezed too tight. The guy reached us far too soon.
“Hello, ladies.” He dragged out the words and eyed us up and down.
“Um, hi,” Allie said shyly.
Maybe I was too quick to judge, but based on what looked like a homemade tattoo on the guy’s arm and the strong scent of alcohol on his breath, I could tell he wasn’t the kind of guy either of us wanted to get involved with.
“Sorry, not interested,” I said boldly.
Allie and I turned our attention back to each other and continued dancing like we never noticed his approach.
“Your friend here is feisty.” He draped an arm around Allie’s shoulder. The cup in his hand nearly spilled over the front of her blouse.
I cringed.
I grabbed Allie’s arm and pulled her away from him, though there wasn’t really anywhere for us to go. “Sorry, but she’s taken.”
“I don’t see anyone claiming her,” the guy challenged with a laugh.
Allie shot me a pleading expression, begging me to save her from this guy. I did the only thing I thought would make him get lost. I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into me. She continued dancing like the guy didn’t bother her.
I gave him an extremely fake, exaggerated expression of apology. “Like I said, she’s taken.”
He glanced between us like he was trying to figure out if we were for real. “A two for one deal? That’s hot.”
I wanted nothing more than to slap the ugly smile right off his face. “That’s not how this works.”
“How can you not want a piece of this?” He gestured to his body, which wasn’t very impressive.
My jaw tensed, but my serious expression never faltered. “I’m not interested in dicks.”
I wasn’t talking about anatomy, either.
Douchebag huffed and walked away like he’d never been turned down before.
As my eyes followed him, I noticed Hot Stuff had made his way halfway through the crowd. He stared straight at me like he’d planned on stepping in to teach Douchebag a lesson. I shot him a small smile to let him know we were okay and didn’t need his help.
“Thank you.” Allie breathed a sigh of relief. “That was brilliant.”
I couldn’t suppress my laugh. “Did you see the look on his face?”
She nodded. At the time, we both thought that was the end of it.
It wasn’t until we were leaving that we spotted Douchebag again. Allie had so much to drink that I finally cut her off and told her we were going home. I’d have to figure out how to sneak her past her dad’s room later.
I supported her weight on the way back to the car. A cool breeze sent my hair dancing in the wind.
“Hey,” someone called when we passed the fire pit.
I didn’t realize they were talking to us until they called again. We turned.
Douchebag stepped forward with a beer in his hand.
“Well, would you look who it is?” He covered his mouth with his fist, and the word bitches slipped out between coughs.
A few guys around him laughed.
“That’s not very nice,” Allie slurred.
“It’s not nice to turn down a nice guy like me, either.” He shifted his weight rather unevenly between his feet.
“You,” Allie pointed, “are not a nice guy.”
“Me?” he feigned. “You never gave me the chance. You don’t know what you’re missing.”
Allie opened her mouth to say more, but I pulled her away.
“Come on,” I whispered in her ear. “Let’s get you home.”
I thought ignoring him might be enough, but his footsteps followed. I slowed, not wanting to lead him to the car. My fists clenched at my sides.
“Come on, Tad,” one of the other guys said.
“Where are you going?” Tad insisted. “Take me with you. We could throw a party for three.”
Allie whirled around and stumbled over her own feet before I caught her. “That’s how I know you’re not a nice guy.”
Tad stepped toward Allie and lowered his voice. “So maybe I am a bad guy. If you take me for a test drive, you might find out you like the flavor.” He reached out and placed a hand on her exposed thigh.
My heart lurched in surprise. Before he could get his hand up her skirt, I slapped it away. Noises erupted from the guys around us. I couldn’t tell if they were on my side or Tad’s. I had the overwhelming urge to barf and punch the guy at the same time. I was not going to let him touch my friend like that.
The anger I’d been suppressing bubbled to the surface. My skin heated and sizzled with rage, and the air around us suddenly seemed charged with energy. I let Allie go and raised my arm, but before I could throw the first punch, everyone went silent.
Fear entered Tad’s eyes. He backed away but tripped over his own feet and fell to the ground.
Everyone gaped at me. Even Allie, who had fallen to the earth without anyone to support her, stared at me wide-eyed.
“What?” I snapped.
Before anyone could answer, I glanced down at myself and noticed for the first time what they were all staring at.
A white glow danced across my fist and lit up my arm like an electric charge. I opened my hand and tried to shake the substance off of it.
Bad idea.
A luminous white orb the size of a softball rose from my palm. My first thought was that I was hallucinating again, but I could tell by everyone’s faces that I wasn’t imagining it.
As soon as the shock overcame me, the orb disappeared, and my hand returned to normal. I scanned the crowd, hoping someone might be able to tell me what was going on. A dozen stunned faces stared back at me.
I noticed one guy in the back cloaked in a dark hood. A shiver ran down my spine, but I didn’t have time to worry about whether I was imagining him or not. I had to get away from all those eyes and figure out what the hell was going on with my hand.
I turned to Allie and bent to help her up. Before I got her to her feet, a heavy weight crashed into me. The air left my chest, and I tumbled to the ground.
2
I rolled over to find Tad straddling me. Squeezing my eyes tightly shut, I expected the blow to come any second n
ow.
Suddenly, his weight disappeared. My eyes opened, and I stared up at the dark, starless sky. The moon peeked out through the clouds.
I rose to a sitting position and immediately became alert when I saw two guys fighting in the grass to my left. The first thing I noticed about the second guy was his broad shoulders and leather jacket. My heart flipped in my chest.
Hot Stuff threw a punch. Before he could get in another one, Tad scrambled to his feet and ran off toward his friends.
My savior hurried over to where I sat and offered a hand to help me to my feet. In a silent mutual agreement, we both took one of Allie’s arms and supported her weight as we distanced ourselves from the fire pit. Darkness enveloped us, leaving nothing but moonlight to guide us down the long driveway.
“Are you crazy?” he hissed. “In front of all those people? It’s going to be fun explaining that one. You’re lucky they’re all drunk enough that we can convince them it was a trick of the light.”
“What are you talking about?” I bit back through shallow breaths. “You think I did that on purpose?”
“You know you can’t use essence to intimidate people. Have you not learned anything?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“That. Back there.”
Oh, wow. That’s helpful.
“I don’t—ow! Allie, that was my foot,” I complained.
She muttered an incomprehensible apology.
We reached the car, and I opened the back door. Allie climbed inside and melted into the seat.
I slammed the door and spun back toward him. “Who are you?”
