Hidden Realms

by Dean Murray

  “I thought you had a plan, Ame. Why did Micah set this up? What’s going on? It’s been almost a week since I saw you. You’ve completely fallen off the grid.” His anger and frustration of not knowing and not being able to control himself to try to help was seeping through.

  “Stop, Aidan. Don’t beat yourself up.” I hung my head a little. “There’s so much you don’t know. So much I doubt I have time to explain. I was so stupid.” Seconds ago, I was on a high like no other. Now, I was falling faster than a comet plummeting to the earth, just waiting to create a giant explosion. Just like a comet, I had no idea exactly how much damage I would leave in my wake.

  I looked up to find Aidan patiently waiting. “Oh, no. Don’t do this, Aidan. Don’t be good to me. Don’t trust me. You’re going to hate me.” I choked on the last words. Tears filled my eyes, blurring his face ever so slightly.

  “Hey,” he whispered as he tilted my chin up with his finger and pressed a kiss to my lips. “I could never hate you, Amelia. I love you.” I was staring into eyes the color of the brightest blue sky and hearing the words I’d longed for my whole life, but I didn’t deserve them. I couldn’t have them.

  I pulled my hands from his and stood. He winced and dropped his hands to his sides when I didn’t return the sentiment. I had tried, so hard, during our reunion to show him exactly how I felt, but I couldn’t give voice to it. I knew what lay ahead and it would crush me to say those words knowing I could never act on them. That they could never be truly mine to give him.

  I started to pace in front of Aidan, finally stopping to help in the only way I could before I crushed him completely. “Aidan, no matter what else you hear tonight, I want you to remember to go to Cole. Go to him and show him what you are. He’ll help you, okay? Are you hearing me?”

  He sat staring at me and then stood, stopping my pacing by placing his hands on both of my shoulders.

  “Amelia,” he said, emotion choking his voice. “My life has been completely turned upside down since I met you. I have something inside me I can’t control and know nothing about. I know how you feel about me, but you won’t say it. Micah Clair is driving you to me in the middle of the night and you’re dressed like you’re on a spy mission. You are the absolute best part of my life, I promise I won’t hate you, but I need you to just say it.”

  The tears were back. I stood there, looking up at him, knowing these words were going to ruin the only perfect thing I’d ever had.

  “Aidan.” I dug my nails into my palms, reminding myself that I was strong and could take the pain. Then, I let the words fall out. “When I was born, I was betrothed to the prince in the Immortal court. I am an Elder, a Keeper if you want to be completely accurate. I found out five days ago that Micah is that prince. I tried to stop it. That was my stupid, grand plan, but the only thing I did was piss off his very psychotic mother who also happens to be our queen. So, tomorrow, I leave with Micah. As his fiancée.”

  Chapter 27

  There were so many reactions I expected but what I got was none of those. He simply looked at me and said, “No.”

  I watched him shake his head. His power rising in tandem with his emotions. My own power — both of them — beat on me from the inside out, screaming in my head. Wordless wailing assaulting me from all sides.

  I had to explain. To make him understand. “Aidan. Please. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. It wasn’t fair of me to start this thing with you knowing my destiny, but I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t stop how I felt. How I still feel. But, I can’t stop this. No one can. You have to let me go, Aidan.” I was grasping at his forearms and pleading with him. Finally, the tears started to fall as he backed away from me.

  “No,” he said again. “This can’t be happening. You can’t do this. They can’t make you do this.”

  I watched in awe as his eyes became even more iridescent than before. He stood straighter and seemed to grow taller before my eyes. I ran to him. “Aidan. Whatever is happening, please stop it. Just stop it!” I was sure I knew what was happening, but it couldn’t happen here. Not now.

  I put my hands on his cheeks and pulled him down to me, smashing our lips together. His power was nothing I’d ever encountered. It wasn’t like Elias or Melinda, and it wasn’t like Micah or Cole’s. It seemed like it was overtaking my own and his fear was penetrating both of us. He stood still at first and it was like kissing a statue. I kept murmuring for him to come back to me and he slowly relaxed and started to kiss me back. Finally, everything felt normal. Just as I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Micah stepped into the clearing.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt, but we’ve already been gone far too long. We need to get back before anyone realizes and the guards change for the morning shift.”

  Aidan looked as if he might kill Micah where he stood. “GUARDS?” He yelled, his tone alarming. He almost shoved me away as he stalked toward Micah. “You have her guarded? Is that how you treat your friends, Prince? You think you can just take her from me? Maybe you could have, but not now.”

  I saw Micah’s face as soon as he registered the brightness of Aidan’s eyes. You couldn’t miss them. He looked at me, bewildered and I just shrugged. The next look I saw was panic because the blue ball of magic building in Aidan’s palm was aimed at Micah. I screamed his name as I rushed at Aidan and leapt at him right before he let loose. The magic blast took out a few trees, but missed Micah as he dove the opposite direction.

  I landed on top of Aidan and was immediately pleading with him to stop. “Please, Aidan. You just have to let me go. If you hurt him, the queen will find you. They’ll hurt my family. They’ll kill you.”

  My fear had turned my tears to sobs and I heard the release of his breath as he pulled me closer and tucked me into his chest. As we stood and righted ourselves, I thought I had finally gotten through. Instead, Aidan held me at arm’s length. He caressed my cheek and I leaned into his palm, savoring the warmth of him. As I opened my eyes and he dropped his hand, I could see that I wasn’t going to like what came next.

  Aidan took three steps back. I was standing the same distance from him as I was from Micah, positioned at the tip of our triangle. Aidan glared at Micah and his expression only softened slightly when it came back to me. Micah still hadn’t spoken and seemed to understand that he should just stand there.

  “Amelia,” Aidan started. “You didn’t choose this. You don’t have to go with him. We’re already this far. We can run and I can protect you. We can get Bethany and Cole and your dad and we can just go. They can’t hurt us if they can’t find us.” His love wrapped around me as his power still intertwined with mine, pulling and pleading internally as he did externally. I wanted him to be right. I wanted it to be that easy. The last intact parts of my own heart broke and crumbled as he begged me to go.

  I choked up as the tears clogged my throat. I tried to use my own power to strengthen my resolve but it rebelled against the very idea of what I was about to do, abandoning me to my own demise. Everything in me wanted to go to him, but I couldn’t. It would only make it worse. I rooted myself to the spot I was in. I couldn’t look away from Aidan. I could see Micah in my peripheral, but he was just staying quiet as he stood, waiting.

  “Aidan, I’m sorry.” My words came out much stronger than I thought possible. “It’s just not that simple. You haven’t lived in this world and you don’t understand. This woman is evil. I don’t have a choice, no matter how I feel about you. I have to go.”

  I started to turn to Micah as I heard his quiet words. “Pick me, Amelia. Please, pick me. Be the one who finally picks me.” My whole body seemed to cave in on itself as my soul ripped in half.

  Everything inside of me bellowed for me to run to him and let this love carry us as far as we could go, but I couldn’t make another selfish decision. I didn’t allow myself to turn back around and face him as I whispered myself, “I can’t. I’m so sorry. Goodbye, Aidan.”

  I walked to where Micah was standing an
d followed him from the clearing. My uncle Derreck had been right all along. The moment had come and I had chosen duty over love. Just as I had for Bethany.

  My destiny had been dictated from the very beginning and I would always have to choose my people over myself. The further I got from Aidan, the more it felt like very best parts of me were being shredded to pieces as our powers were forced to separate. The tears slowly fell and rolled down my cheeks. I didn’t bother to wipe them away. I swore to myself that these would be the last tears I cried, so I just let them come for all the days I would wish I had them back.

  As we got in the Acura and Micah backed out, I saw blue eyes shining from the trees. Moments later, I heard the most bone-chilling howl. I couldn’t stop the audible gasp and from my peripheral, I saw Micah’s eyes flash as we watched Aidan drop to all fours.

  Neither of us looked away, but the red of Micah’s eyes shone in the dim lights of the interior as his power reacted to the perceived threat.

  “Did you know?” It wasn’t accusatory. It was barely a whisper between us in the dark. I could only shake my head as Aidan completed his shift, snarled in our direction, and loped away. I had wondered. I had guessed. But I hadn’t known. I could only hope he had heard what I said. That he wouldn’t try to go it alone.

  I finally turned to look at Micah as he said, “Then no one else needs to.”

  The story continues in Bound by Spells!

  About the Author

  Stormy Smith calls Iowa’s capital home now, but was raised in a tiny town in the Southeast corner of the state. She grew to love books honestly, having a mom that read voraciously and instilled that same love in her. She knew quickly that stories of fantasy were her favorite, and even as an adult gravitates toward paranormal stories in any form.

  Writing a book had never been an aspiration, but suddenly the story was there and couldn’t be stopped. When she isn’t working on or thinking about her books, Stormy’s favorite places include bar patios, live music shows, her yoga mat, or anywhere she can relax with her husband or girlfriends.

  http://www.stormysmith.com

  Seventeen year old Kris Young is on the run from a throng of superhuman golden-eyed freaks hell-bent on seeing her dead, and she doesn't know why. Good thing she has her guardian angel to protect her...sort of.

  Kris is aided by Nathan, the mysterious man that ends up being anything but angelic when he rescues her for the fourth time in fourteen years. Even if the handsome hero illusion is shattered by his harsh treatment of her, he knows how to fight this strange enemy and is determined to keep her safe at all costs.

  As the body count rises in their wake, Nathan introduces Kris to a world in which not everyone is human and the battle lines between good and evil are clearly drawn. Kris's piece in the puzzle is something neither is aware of and, as they uncover the truth, neither is prepared for what they find. Overcoming twists and revelations that shatter both of their lives, they discover that nothing is as it seems and nothing, least of all their hearts, are safe.

  Ignited

  by Desni Dantone

  Copyright 2013 by Desni Dantone

  Ignited

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events is entirely coincidental.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the author is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  Cover Design by Georgina Gibson

  All rights reserved. Copyright © 2013 Desni Dantone

  CHAPTER 1

  I couldn’t escape the worst night of my life.

  The screams and the sound of shattering glass sent a ripple of fear coursing through my body. I felt the dizzying disorientation and the flip-flopping of my stomach as the car somersaulted end over end. I heard the merciless roar of the river and felt the bite of the cold water that spilled over me. I saw the lifeless bodies of my friends, their souls already departed behind their sightless eyes.

  It was all so real, so vivid, for a dream. Then again, it wasn’t so much a dream as it was a memory. The outcome never changed. He saved me.

  That was the point at which I usually woke up. Not this time.

  This time, I lay wet and cold on the riverbank, the deafening rush of the water behind me, the river and the car it had swallowed out of sight. My nails dug into his skin, my desperation as real now as it had been that night, as I pleaded with him to stay. His eyes were mournful as he peeled my fingers from their grip on his arm. He turned to say one last thing. What, I never knew.

  The blackness engulfed me and I woke up.

  The scream rose in my throat, but didn’t reach my lips. I choked it back with short ragged gasps as I sat up and struggled to breathe. With one satisfying breath, the panic attack was snuffed out before it began.

  My abrupt awakening had not gone unnoticed. Probably because I wasn’t at home in bed, but seated in the middle of my seventh period English Literature class. The teacher stood frozen, chalk in hand, at the front of the room and twenty sets of curious eyes turned to me. It wasn’t the first time I had dozed off in class, but it was the most embarrassing. Because it was me, no one laughed. They stared and waited for the meltdown they all expected.

  The only sound came from the legs of my chair as it slid across the floor. I tossed my book bag over my shoulder, and hurried out the door as excited whispers erupted behind me.

  The bathroom was a quick sprint away and, to my relief, empty. Frustrated by the lack of a lock on the entrance, I punched the door. More tears sprung up in my eyes, but the pain in my hand was only an excuse. The true source was a pain that wouldn’t fade anytime soon. I splashed cold water on my face, washing away the tears, but the ache in my chest remained. Blotting my cheeks with a paper towel, I frowned at the stranger staring at me in the mirror.

  Weeks of restless sleep have given her the appearance of two black eyes. Red rimmed the amber in the middle, making them appear drab and weak. Her skin was pale and puffy. Even the tiny freckles that speckled her nose looked washed out. As if all of that weren’t bad enough, it looked as if someone had acted out their psychopathic tendencies on her face with a serrated knife, leaving her forever marred by a red puckered line angled across her forehead.

  In reality, it hadn’t been a knife, but shattered glass, and it hadn’t been a psychopath, but a speeding Cavalier and a patch of black ice on a bridge. It was the reminder of the night I would carry with me forever. I hated it, so I avoided it.

  I checked the time on my cell. Only a few minutes left before the bell, and then one more class to go. Physics. Normally, I looked forward to the challenge. Not today.

  It was the first week back from winter break, and almost four weeks since the accident that had claimed two of my friends. It had been a rough week. I was tired and emotional. Really, I just wanted to go home.

  When the bell sounded, I retreated to the last stall to ride out the three minute break. I didn’t want to see anyone. They all looked at me the same, like I was some freak because I had survived what I shouldn’t have. Some said it was luck. Some called it a miracle.

  I knew the truth, and it was neither.

  That didn’t mean I knew why I had been saved. Nor did I know who my savior was. Not really. Granted, that night had been the third time in fourteen years he’d come to my rescue in one way or another. On paper, and by that I mean my journal that is dedicated solely to him, I knew every detail of his appearance—short brown hair, steel blue eyes, tall, buff. That part was easy. The guy met the definition of hot and, well, he never changed. Not one grey hair, one wrinkle, or extra padding around the middle. It wasn’t because of good genes or plastic surgery. It was because
of something unusual, something I couldn’t explain.

  There wasn’t much about him I could explain. Hence the journal full of questions I was dying to ask him if I ever had the chance. He never hung around long enough for me to ask anything, except the night he brought me here, to live with the old lady the whole town called Gran, when I was eleven. Unfortunately, I had slept for most of the car ride, and had woken up in a strange bed, in a strange house, with a strange lady hovering over me, and my hero gone.

  While I couldn’t deny the weirdness of his unchanging good looks, my obsession with him ran far deeper than physical. I knew nothing of his motives or what he was doing in my life. I didn’t know whether he was my guardian angel or a very clever—or very confused—enemy. It was enough to keep me up most nights, and many professionals would probably say I needed therapy. But then, I would have to break my promise to not tell anyone about him, and I didn’t want to piss off the guy who literally held my life in his hands. Lying on a leather couch, discussing his existence with someone who wouldn’t believe me anyway didn’t sound like the smart thing to do. So I endured the dreams, suffered through the nightmares, and pretended my journal was a skilled therapist. It helped. Most of the time.

  The second bell rang without anyone invading my hideaway, and I emerged from the stall. The peace was brief, interrupted by an unexpected late arrival bursting through the door. I started to scurry into hiding before I recognized the voice calling my name.

  “Kris? You in here?” Callie Sanders has been my best friend since the second day of sixth grade, when I not-so-accidentally smacked the class bitch in the back of the head with a volleyball in gym class. Callie had promptly given me a high five, which had earned us both a trip to the principal’s office. We have been inseparable ever since. Seeing me now, she entered, letting the door shut behind her. “You okay? Hannah said you freaked out in class.”