Dangerous Lovers

by Becca Vincenza

  I drew in a nervous breath as Phoenix’s fingertips slowly moved down my sides. His lips leaned into my ear as his stare held mine in the mirror. “Skin pure as snow, lips that breathe fire, and eyes that carry the depths of the ocean…I was bewitched the first instant I laid eyes on you. I knew then I would move Heaven and hell to hold you.”

  He moved me to face him. “Your soul was frozen by evil, but now the fire is bringing forth rivulets, rivulets that will become raging rivers that enforce change. You are unstoppable, Genevieve.”

  “We are unstoppable,” I whispered.

  A wicked smile echoed on his lips just before they met my neck, and his arms tightened around me.

  Before the moment had a chance to carry us away, there was a knock on the door.

  “To be continued,” he whispered as he squeezed my hips and nodded to the door, which flung open.

  Jason was there. He looked to the bed, then found us just beside him. He smiled warmly as he carefully looked over me. “I see you followed the doctor’s orders and are on the mend.”

  “On, or past it?” Phoenix asked as he squeezed me closer.

  “Past the troubled waters. Until you have had a chance to join your energy more times, I would take it easy on testing her powers. I’ll let her brother know she is awake and moving around, that I suggested for her to do just that.”

  “Thank you,” Phoenix said as he nodded to him.

  Jason looked over me once more just before he bowed his head and left the room.

  “So, is that, like, the doctor for the supernatural or something?”

  That made Phoenix laugh. “He’s from Chara. Several people from there have gifts that seem extraordinary to most.”

  “Where is that?” I asked, wondering how far Jason had traveled to see me.

  “One day at a time, Love. There is so much I plan to show you.”

  When we reached the hallway before my room, I saw the oval table that always accented this hallway adorned with a breathtaking amount of red roses. Along with the roses, there was a pad of paper, a red ‘X’ taped to a line, and one of my brother’s trademark pens lying beside it.

  I was at the table within a beat, and my eyes flew across the words. This was the document that I had dreamed of signing, the one that released my inheritance to me, the one that released the manor to me, the one that gave me the powers to continue my parent’s work.

  I signed my name boldly as I felt the victory rush through me.

  Skylynn appeared at that instant. “I promised you this day would come, Indie girl.”

  “That you did,” I said as I reached my arms for her to come to me. “Thank you,” I whispered into her ear, knowing that she had saved me a million times over, that she had been the blunt voice of reason when I was spiraling out of control.

  She extended her arms so she could look at me. “If you ever—and I mean ever do something as foolish—” she held out her hand to block Phoenix’s glare before continuing, “as foolishly brave as you did the other night...” she let her hands fall and bowed slightly, “I request permission to fight at your side.”

  “You were there,” I said with a slight smile. “You helped me become who I am. You led me to this day, and I will repay you—one way or another.”

  She smirked. “Well, you can start by telling Mason that I have my eye on another drummer and I am not amused by his banter.”

  At that instant, Mason appeared at my side as if he had been called. He tilted his head slightly and let his chocolate eyes rain down over Skylynn. “I wasn’t trying to amuse you. Gavin is the funny one.”

  I had to smile at that. Gavin was entirely too serious to be considered funny, and as if he were beckoned too he appeared at my other side, letting his steel blue eyes pierce into Mason. “Now I’m the one who’s not amused.”

  That made me smile, really smile. I reached my arms out for them, and they both embraced me. With their touch, I felt the heat of their skin, I felt the phoenix inside of them.

  “Bad news, boys. You’re now stuck in immortality with me.”

  They both laughed as they let me go and glanced at Phoenix. I’d never seen so much respect in either of their eyes.

  “We can handle that,” Mason said, nodding once to Phoenix.

  Not knowing what else to say, I reached for a red rose and thought of the family tomb, the place where my grandmother’s remains were surely resting. After a rush of wind, I found myself there, staring at her name on the wall.

  I kept hearing her last words to me, the ones she spoke when we were both in the veil.

  “I did what you said…she is gone now,” I whispered as I kissed the rose and let it fall to the ground.

  Silence and calm immersed me for countless minutes as I thought of the woman she was, both in this life and the visions I had of her before…I would miss her deeply.

  “I’m sorry you missed the last goodbye,” I heard Ben say.

  I turned to see him in the doorway of the tomb.

  “I didn’t. I saw her, Ben. She told me I won. She told me to get Rasure out.”

  “And you did,” he said as he stepped closer to me. “Now, how you did that I have no idea.”

  “Some things shouldn’t be questioned, Ben,” I said, raising one eyebrow.

  “Like the angels that the patients at the hospital swear saved them? Like the fact that your boyfriend matches one of those descriptions? Or the fact that Rasure has vanished from the face of this Earth? Or are we just talking about the fact that you came back to life, ripped the tubes from your throat and arms, dressed yourself in the clothes you drowned in, and walked through a fire, managing to not even singe your clothes? That the car I was in was no less than twenty miles from the manor one instant, and the next at the front door? The fact that not only did you do that, but Mason and Gavin did as well?”

  I let my gaze fall to the stone floor. I could never explain what I went through or what I was to him, and I knew he would never force me to. We were Falcons, perfectly flawed beings that were taught to bend the laws of conformity and find our own path. I just happened to bend the laws of reality as well.

  “Yeah, just like that…someone was watching out for us, Ben. Let’s be grateful for that.”

  “I am,” he said as he stepped forward and hugged me tightly. “I felt you in that library. I felt you tell me you needed more time. I’m just thankful I was able to play my part, no matter how human that was.”

  I smiled against his chest and squeezed him. “Dare I say you are my favorite brother?”

  “I’ll take that as compliment,” he said, letting me go. “I want you to know that I am going to keep looking for Cadence and Rasure.”

  “Let them go, Ben. Let the non-humans deal with that.”

  His eyes questioned me, not sure how much of my wit had truth behind it. Then he reached in the breast of his jacket and pulled out a photo. “She has your mother’s camera and some wooden box, and your old friend Wilder is on her arm. She can keep your ex. As far as I’m concerned, you have upgraded your taste in companions, but that camera is yours, something Mom and Dad wanted you to have. She made this personal. Not me.” With that, he let his head fall and turned to leave, giving me time to finish my goodbyes to our grandmother.

  I gripped the image in my hand, feeling rage swell deep inside of me. Cadence literally looked right at the camera as she walked by. She wanted me to know what she had taken. She was blatantly daring me to come after her.

  All at once, the image erupted into flames and fear shot through me. In that beat, Phoenix was in front of me. He took the image squashing the flame as he pulled me to him.

  My hands were balled into fists. I was full of rage and had no idea why. I just kept seeing that dream, her killing my family—my guardians—without remorse, her freezing me, trapping me for God-only-knows how long, only to stand at my side in this life and dare to call me a sister.

  “Breathe, Love,” Phoenix said as he gently let his hands caress my back.
“This is the transformation. Whatever emotions you hold right now will be the center point of this existence. You’re too lovely to live a life full of sickening rage.”

  “You don’t understand what she did,” I said as his touch began to usher calm into me.

  “I do. The boys told me…you give me your anger, let me carry it.”

  “I don’t need you to fight my war. I’m not weak. I am not helpless,” I argued.

  Within that beat, we were out of that tomb and standing in the observatory against the forevermore burning fire. He gently pinned my arms behind my back. “Listen, Love. One of us has to be of sound mind, and it is not going to be me.”

  I was almost afraid of him for an instant, but then I saw a pleading in his eyes, almost a fear. Like he didn’t completely trust that what we had done was meant to be done.

  “When I came home, found our home—our life—burning, rage consumed me, despair consumed me. I carried those emotions into the life of Phoenix. That blunt humor that you love so much about me barely made it into this personality. Everything was focused on finding you, seeking vengeance on whoever or whatever took you from me. It was natural for me to feel that way. My energy is as dark as the night. Yours, well yours is the sun, as bright as the first snow. You fall into vengeance, and we fall apart. The balance that gives us love, power, and passion will destroy itself. Cadence is counting on that. She knows you all too well.” He let my arms loose and put his hands around my waist as he pulled me to him. “Do you trust me to carry the weight of your rage? Do you love me enough to believe that I will never hold you back, never stand in the way of what you want, that ‘weakness’ is not a word that I would place next to you?”

  I knew he was petrified, terrified that this was far from over, that I would vanish from his arms at any moment. Or worse: disappear slowly before his eyes as rage engulfed me.

  I wasn’t going to let either of those things happen. “I love you. Forever.”

  With that, his powerful lips met mine and his arms embraced me. I felt passion, life, and victory absorb me. I would relish in this now. I would hand my vengeance over to him, but I would not stand idly by in the war of balance. I would face the coldest evil and send the lost souls home. I would win this war of balance one way or another.

  The End for now…

  Where To Find Jamie Online:

  http://authorjamiemagee.blogspot.com

  Facebook

  Twitter

  Playlist

  Florence The Machine – Seven Devils, Heavy In Your Arms, Never Let Me Go

  Genevieve – Sugarland

  Born to Die – Lana Del Ray

  Almost Lover— A Fine Frenzy

  The XX – Hot Like Fire

  Placebo – I’ll be Yours

  Breaking Benjamin – I Will Not Bow

  Ellie Goulding – I Know You Care, Anything Could Happen

  Imagine Dragons – Radioactive

  Katie Costello – Stranger

  I am still eternally grateful for every soul that encouraged me to write/ publish my debut novel Insight.... thank you once again.

  I also want to thank my husband, Lem, for listening to my random thoughts and ideas as each of these stories came to life, he is not only the love of my life but the man who keeps me sane on this insane adventure. I want thank my children who inspire me to become more than I am today with a simple glance, and the echo of laughter and joy that surrounds me constantly.

  I want to thank all of my wonderful beta readers : Sabrina Wells, Crystal Meyer, Alysia Kurtz, Jamie Love, Jennylynne D’Andrea, Michelle Dain, and Steffini Walker, Mallory Edwards, Carrie Porter, Amber Catlin, Elke Simmons, Elle Bautista, Heather Schad, Jennifer St Onge, Kristen Allen, Laura Shipp, Linds Kasher, Michelle Farrell, Sabrina Himebauch, Shawna Meekins, Tara Gehler, Theresa Kauffman, Cindy Alexander, and Enrique Rodriguez.

  Chelsea Rafferty for suggesting the wonderful name this book is titled

  Marek Purzycki has got to be the most patient, talented graphic artist I have every met, thank you for giving my series a face.

  GWE along with Todd Barselow for editing my daydreams.

  Most of all I want to thank every-single reader for sharing this adventure with me! I love you all and I am eternally grateful for your time and support :)!

  About the Author

  Jamie Magee has always believed that each of us have a defining gift that sets us apart from the rest of the world, she has always envied those who have known from their first breath what their gift was. Not knowing hers, she began a career in the fast paced world of business. Raising a young family, and competing to rise higher in that field would drive some to the point of insanity, but she always found a moment of escape in a passing daydream. Her imagination would take her to places she’d never been, introduce her to people she’s never known. Insight, her debuting novel, is a result of that powerful imagination. Today, she is grateful that not knowing what defined her, led her on a path of discovery that would always be a part of her.

  The fun Bio: I’m an obsessive daydreamer. Lover of loud alternative music. Addicted to Red Bull. I love to laugh until it hurts. Fall is my favorite season. Black is my favorite ‘shade.’ Strong believer in the saying: there is a reason for everything, therefore I search for ‘marked moments’ every moment of everyday...and I find them. Life is beautiful!

  SWITCH

  By

  Janelle Stalder

  Copyright 2013 Janelle Stalder

  All Rights Reserved.

  ALSO BY JANELLE STALDER

  EDEN SERIES

  EDEN

  (BOOK ONE)

  EDEN-WEST

  (BOOK TWO)

  EDEN-SOUTH

  (BOOK THREE)

  EDEN-EAST

  (BOOK FOUR)

  NEW WORLD SERIES

  SWITCH

  (BOOK ONE)

  MASKED

  (BOOK TWO)

  To all my wonderful Book Bloggers,

  Your constant support and enthusiasm is what keeps me going. I am amazed by all that you do, not just for me, but for all the authors out there. You make our dream possible, and for that I am eternally grateful

  This one’s for you.

  Hugs and Kisses

  Janelle

  War makes rattling good history; but Peace is poor reading.

  THOMAS HARDY, The Dynasts

  Prologue

  London, 2035

  They were destroying everything.

  Feathers floated in the air from the ripped couch cushions. Broken glass littered the floor, cracking beneath the heavy soles of the soldiers’ feet. Charlotte knelt beside her mother, her eyes trained on the floor while she watched them out of her peripheral vision. They had stormed their home, their voices shouting orders as their hands forced them roughly to the ground. Her mother had yet to say a word.

  Where was her father? She hadn’t come to expect much from him over the past years, but surely he wouldn’t stand by and watch their home be torn apart in some attempt to find evidence that wouldn’t be there. She could hear the other soldiers outside, raging through the streets, destroying homes. The smell of burning lumber saturated the air. Would there be anything left of Leigh when they were done? Charlotte doubted it. When the New World army came, nothing survived.

  “Where is he?” one of the soldiers asked, turning to her mother. Charlotte kept her gaze glued to the scuffed hardwood floors.

  “I don’t know,” her mother said firmly. “I’m not my husband’s keeper.”

  Charlotte glanced up at the man to see his reaction. He wore the customary uniform of the New World army. Black cargo pants, with tall, heavy black boots, and a tight black, long-sleeve shirt with a thick vest overtop that had a star on it, signifying he was the squad leader. Charlotte could see the definition of the man’s muscles beneath his shirt. Everyone knew that the young men of the army were well trained. This one looked not much older than her sister, Bridgette. His face reflected utter distaste as he glared at her
mother.

  “If you think you can hide him,” he said slowly, “think again. We know your husband is involved with the rebels. We will find proof here, and then you and your family,” he continued, nodding his head at Charlotte, “will be nothing more than dirt under my feet. I can help you and your daughter if you give me your husband’s whereabouts.” He waited, letting his offer lay between them. “I’ll tell Roman you knew nothing of his dealings.”

  Rebels? That’s what this was about? Charlotte was well aware of the resistance movement – those who were bent on destroying the New World government and returning the world to its former glory. They were all idiots in her opinion. How could they possibly try to fix something that was so broken it could never be put back together? More than half the world’s population and land had been destroyed. What was there to save?

  She looked over at the other two soldiers that were methodically tearing apart the room. The house she had grown up in looked nothing like it had only moments before, and yet she couldn’t bring herself to feel outraged about it. What did that say about her? This was how the world was now; you had something and then you didn’t. Charlotte had learned long ago to be prepared for this. What she wasn’t prepared for was the possibility that her father was a part of the rebels. The two of them had no love for each other; a sentiment lost a long time ago along with her sense of security in this hard, new world. As her father drifted away emotionally, so had she. What was the point anymore? Things like this happened, and when they did, it would only hurt more to care about the loss. She was done hurting. She was done watching everything be obliterated before her eyes. Nothing horrified her. At sixteen she had seen more loss than she could have ever imagined. It just didn’t register anymore.