Waking the Dead (The Second Rising Series Book 1)

by Amber Garr

  “Whoa. Are you okay?” Noah’s large hands grasped my arms before I tripped again. His laugh reverberated deep within his solid chest, a sound that I wanted to bottle up and save just for me. Instead I stared as he continued to laugh. “Do you remember me? From last night?” He stepped back, dropping his arms and leaving me feeling alone.

  I shivered with the coldness that suddenly enveloped me like a shield when we broke contact. “Yes. Noah, right?”

  His smile grew, the lavender eyes catching a hint of the sun in them. In the daylight, he looked even better. And taller. With a jeans and dark sweater combo only male models could pull off, I wondered what Noah’s profession might be. Incubi did well in the superficial entertainment industry…

  “You remember,” he stated.

  “Sure.” Who could forget you?

  Noah shifted from side to side as I hoisted up my bag again. “Well, I hope you don’t mind me meeting you here—”

  “How did you know where I was?” I interrupted, not really caring about the answer. He came here to find me?

  “I overheard your friend talking about this college. I kind of put two and two together…” his voice trailed off into a smile that could convince a flock of geese to fly north in the winter. Flecks of amethyst glistened in his eyes and I swear an energy pulsated around him—like he belonged in the sun. All of the time.

  “Okay,” I said, not sure what kind of a response he was looking for.

  “Well, I wondered if you’d like to have breakfast with me?”

  “Now?” I asked before I could stop myself.

  Noah’s eyes widened in amusement, and I felt myself blush. Never in my life had I been so…smitten by a guy I didn’t know. He wanted to have breakfast. With me. Right now.

  “Yes,” he said with a chuckle. “Unless you have another class?”

  I shook my head, mouth still hanging open and eyes still admiring this creature in front of me. “No. I mean I don’t have another class until noon.”

  “Good,” Noah stated. “I passed this place around the corner—”

  “Hey Cressa!” As though knowing exactly what he was interrupting, Randy jogged over to my side, sizing up Noah while he sauntered behind him to stand closer to me. Randy’s gaze never left Noah’s as he continued to speak to me. “We missed you at the apartment last night.”

  “Sorry,” I said with a shrug. “Morning class.” As if needing to emphasize my excuse, I lifted my bag slightly to demonstrate that I had my books in there.

  “I think Brit’s still there,” Randy said for no particular reason. The fact that he would say that in front of a stranger set my nerves on edge. “Hey, do you want to grab a coffee?”

  My eyes darted to Noah and quickly back to Randy. Was I giving off some kind of special pheromone today or something? “Uh, thanks. But I can’t right now.”

  “No?” Randy asked, seeing my focus shift to Noah. He stepped in front of me and held out his hand to his perceived competition. “I’m Randy. Weren’t you at the Spider Hole last night?”

  Noah stood a little straighter, his impressive height dwarfing Randy. But to Randy’s credit, he didn’t back down. Noah finally stepped forward and shook Randy’s hand. “Yes,” he said quickly.

  “And you know Cressa?”

  When Noah’s eyes met mine, the electricity that slammed into my chest caused me to let out a little gasp. I stumbled backward, trying to interpret the sensation as either pain or ecstasy. Had Noah done that on purpose? Could he do something like that?

  Randy’s hand wrapped around my wrist, the pulsating waves of energy still rushing over every inch of my body. “Are you okay?”

  Randy’s backpack suddenly slammed to the ground, right on top of his foot, making him cry out in pain. It was enough of a distraction that he let me go so he could figure out what had just happened. His books now lay in a pile on the sidewalk, his bag seemingly ripped open on the side. The air shimmered with magic, a slight smell of ozone filling my head.

  “What the…” Randy looked around, hoping on one foot like a child.

  “Cressa and I were just about to have breakfast.” From the way Noah’s voice sounded strained, I could tell he was holding back his laughter with every ounce of self-control he could obtain.

  I raised my brow, asking him the silent question yet only getting a slight smirk in return. Had he knocked the backpack to the ground? “Yes, Randy. I need to go,” I said in a daze.

  “Well then,” Randy stuttered, “how about drinks later?”

  I stepped over his books and moved closer to Noah who put his hands in his pockets and winked. “I can’t. I already have plans,” I answered.

  “Maybe tomorrow?” Randy asked, not getting the hint.

  I sighed. Why wouldn’t he just let this go? “We’ll see,” I said, and started to walk away.

  Noah followed behind, his presence caressing me like a second skin. Without turning around, I knew he was there. Like a magnet, my energy gravitated toward him.

  When I turned right at the corner of the building, Noah cleared his throat. “Are we still on for breakfast?” he asked with a grin. Dirty blond hair blew across his forehead, and he brushed it out of the way.

  Pausing for a moment so that I could think again, I said, “Yes.”

  “Then we need to go this way,” he jerked his head in the opposite direction, mischief written all over his face.

  I couldn’t speak, even when he laughed at me. But I kind of liked it. It felt like we’d known each other longer than five minutes and it was okay if he wanted to joke around with me. It was okay if he wanted to do anything with me.

  “What class are you taking?”

  Again, I found myself pulled back from my imagination. Only this time, my imagination was leading me on a path to another night of Noah thoughts and sexual frustration.

  “Um, economics.”

  “Sounds thrilling,” he said with a hint of sarcasm.

  I nudged his shoulder, noticing how solid he felt underneath the tight fitting sweater. “It is. But I need it for my major.”

  Our bodies continued to bump into each other as we migrated through students rushing to their next class. I savored every touch.

  “I always thought college would be fun,” Noah mused.

  “You don’t go to school here?” A fleeting thought that got smashed by my hormones wondered again how he’d found me then.

  He shook his head and dropped his gaze, hands still firmly fixed in his pockets. “No,” he said quietly.

  “Why not?” He looked down at me and I instantly felt the need to clarify. “I mean, why are you in town then? You look too young to be a career professional, no offense,” I added when his sharp gaze met mine. “I guess I assumed you went to one of the colleges. Why else would you be in this horrid place?”

  Noah stepped in front of me and opened up the door to the café I hadn’t even noticed. Embarrassed by my questions and utter lack of situational awareness, I nodded my head and stepped inside. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee inundated my senses, giving me goose bumps and a strange longing I didn’t know I had. The caffeine called out to me.

  “Find a seat and I’ll grab us something,” Noah offered.

  A take charge kind of guy. I liked that. “Okay,” I said. When I turned to survey the options, I keenly observed all of the females staring at Noah like God himself had just walked into the room. God with a kick-ass body and face to match. A part of me soaked in the jealous vibes. Did that make me a bad person? Maybe. Did I care? Not really.

  Finding the only unoccupied table left in the back corner, I set my bag on the floor and took the seat that faced the doorway. My scars tingled and I wondered if it was just my imagination or if my nerves were acting up. Was I on a date? With Noah? The smile that slowly spread through my lips made me hope that this was more than just a one-time meeting.

  Moments later, Noah eased his way past the gawkers and back to our table. Hands full of two oversized mugs, he careful
ly set them down, unaware that he drew more attention than anyone else in here. I smiled again, especially when I got a whiff of the drink.

  “How did you know?” I cooed, hands soaking in the warmth of the mug and the aroma of what was inside.

  Noah smiled. “Huh?”

  “This is my favorite kind.” The sweet wisps of chocolate couldn’t hide the cinnamon and coffee flavor waiting for me. Noah ordered exactly what I needed this morning.

  “Lucky guess,” he said, lifting his mug and tilting it in my direction. “Here’s to a lovely meeting with a lovely lady.”

  I knocked my mug against his, admiring the small dimples in his cheeks and that odd coloring in his eyes. But when I sipped my specialty coffee, all other thoughts dissipated into the back of my mind. Caffeine snaked its way into my bloodstream with just one gulp and I suddenly felt more alive than I had all week.

  Noah’s chuckle forced me to open my eyes. “Looks like you want to be alone with your drink for a while.”

  “I might,” I said.

  “So, Randy…” Noah’s voice trailed off with an unspoken question.

  I groaned as his words pulled me from my temporary bliss. “Did you have to mention his name?”

  With a small smile, Noah conceded. “Sorry. Just checking.”

  I rolled my eyes. “He’s not important. Trust me. Randy doesn’t like my kind.” I froze, wondering if Noah heard my slip up.

  “Your kind?” he asked with a smirk.

  Crap.

  “An independent woman,” I quickly added. “Randy doesn’t like to be emasculated.”

  Noah almost spit out his drink, making him even more attractive then he already was. “And I bet he doesn’t like knowing that you can raise the dead.”

  Fear grabbed my throat and squeezed with an icy grip. Noah hadn’t flinched, and in fact seemed quite comfortable calling me out in a room full of strangers.

  “Excuse me?” I said between clenched teeth.

  He lowered his mug and lifted his right hand, palm facing me. “It’s okay, Cressa. I’m one of you.”

  “Excuse me?” I asked again, only this time my voice shook with fear of who this man might be. Had I just walked into the claws of the Imperium? Had I been tricked by a pretty face?

  Great, my whole life would be ruined by my unmanageable hormones.

  “I’m not the Imperium,” Noah said. “In case you were wondering,” he added when I pressed my lips together and narrowed my eyes. “I promise you,” he said at the same time the salt shaker slid across the table and into the palm of his open hand, “I am just like you.”

  “I doubt it,” I said. Sitting back into my seat, I crossed my arms and tried to slow my frantic heart.

  His smile spread, dimples popping out and purple eyes sending calming waves across the distance. I watched as he passed the salt shaker back and forth between his hands without even a flicker of movement. Telekinesis was a trait of only a handful of magic users. And none of them were the kind of people I wanted to associate with.

  “I should go,” I suddenly said, an empty space filling my gut at the thought of having to walk away.

  “Cressa, wait,” Noah pleaded. His hand grabbed my wrist and a surge of electrical energy powered through every nerve. “I want to help you?”

  “Help me with what?”

  “Help you save your mother.”

  When I fell back into my seat, the chair screeched across the floor like nails on a chalkboard. Several pairs of eyes darted in my direction. I didn’t care. All I felt was a surge of anger powerful enough to blow through this entire room had I been a Caster like my mother.

  “You can’t help me with that,” I whispered. “No one can.”

  “But I can,” Noah insisted. “And I want to.”

  “Why?” I blurted out. Again, I attracted the attention of those sitting closest to us, but with one warning glare, they all turned around in their seats and pretended not to listen to our argument.

  Noah shifted in his chair, hand releasing mine and eyes flashing several shades of gold for a brief moment. It didn’t go unnoticed.

  “What are you?” I demanded.

  “It’s not important.”

  “Like hell it isn’t!” I leaned forward across the table and waved my finger in front of his face. “I have people watching my every move. Just waiting for me to screw up so they can lock me up with her. Why is it that you, a…whatever the hell you are…suddenly show up and offer me your help without any explanation?”

  Noah glanced down at my finger and bit his bottom lip. It looked so damned attractive it only made me angrier. “I made a promise to someone,” he finally said.

  “Who?”

  “I can’t tell you that.”

  “Well, then we have nothing else to talk about.” I jumped to my feet, knocking over the chair and spilling some of my wonderful drink in the process.

  “Cressa, please don’t leave,” Noah said, but my attention had already shifted to the front door of the café.

  As though having a special talent to know exactly when he wasn’t wanted, my brother sauntered into the small space. Our eyes met, and while his turned up in amusement, mine narrowed in anger. I glanced at Noah fearing this all really had been a setup. With a stab of pain deep in my bones, I knew I had been betrayed.

  “Why did you do this to me?” I whispered to Noah, my glare fixated on my brother as he walked toward us. In his stupid long, brown duster and black hair that was about three years past needing a cut, he looked like someone who hadn’t left his house in decades. Yet despite his scraggly, street urchin appearance, there was certainly no denying that we were related.

  “Why what—?” Noah’s question ended the second he followed my gaze to the man walking our way. I felt him tense, the electricity in the air sparking to a new level.

  My eyes blurred, tears just waiting to show my weakness. I’d worked so hard trying to do everything right. It wasn’t fair that one night would ruin it all. And I hadn’t even used necromancy on purpose. I had been forced. Well, almost forced.

  My brother slithered his way through the patrons, being sure to return a few of the smiles from idiotic females who didn’t see him for the horrible creature he was underneath his relatively attractive skin. For all I knew, he’d covered himself in a chimera spell to make himself look more appealing.

  “Cressa, it’s so good to see you.” When he got within touching distance, he leaned forward and wrapped his snake-like arms around me. “Give me a hug, people are staring,” he whispered into my ear.

  I looked around the place and sure enough, people were staring. I’d already caused a small scene with Noah, they probably thought the sparks were going to fly now that another guy had joined us. And depending on what he had planned, I may just give them what they wanted.

  As soon as I could step away from my brother, I did. “River, what are you doing here?”

  “I’m here to see my beautiful sister,” he said, knocking the side of my nose with his thumb like he used to do when we were kids. The move disgusted me as much as his fake smile and the putrid scent of incense that surrounded him like a cloak. He always smelled that way when he cast spells, leading me to believe he used his Sorcerer magic on a regular basis. One of the perks to working for the Imperium, I guess.

  “What do you want?” I asked again.

  River pointed to my empty seat and gestured for me to sit. Without even asking the table next to us, he grabbed their empty chair and spun it around. Long legs straddled each side as he made himself comfortable, arms resting on the back of the chair like he had all the time in the world.

  “Please sit, Cressa. And introduce me to your friend.” River’s dark eyes assessed Noah, taking in every inch as though committing it to memory.

  “This is Noah,” I whispered. Fear coiled in my gut, threatening to strike me down with one move. Whether it was fear for my safety or Noah’s, I didn’t know.

  “Noah, huh? Have a last name?” River a
sked. He grabbed the tiny red straw from my drink and started to chew on it. The move angered me even more for some reason.

  “Noah Hawke.”

  River extended his hand to Noah and after a slight hesitation, the two men shook. I didn’t doubt that River would notice Noah’s electrical pulses, and when the corner of his mouth twitched, I knew he’d felt it. Would River know what Noah was?

  “River Ravensdale. Tracker for the Imperium.” As though anticipating some kind of response, River watched Noah with a sharp gaze. But Noah didn’t give him anything to work off of.

  “A tracker, huh?” Noah asked. “Must be an exciting job.”

  Continuing to chew on the straw, River cocked his head and studied Noah a bit more. His years as an interrogator seemed to be suiting him well as the two men stared at each other. “It can be,” River finally answered, eyes finding mine. “So, Cressa. How have you been?”

  “I’m fine,” I said curtly. “What are you doing here, River?”

  He started to tap the back of the chair in an annoying rhythm. The sound grated on every ounce of patience I had, but I couldn’t react, and River used that. He always knew which button to push. Some days I hated that I’d taught him so much. He was such a weakling—always scared of everything even though he was supposed to be the protective older brother. It wasn’t until our mother disappeared that he finally started to grow some balls. And then the Imperium got to him.

  “Have you been following the rules, Cressa?” River asked in a way that made my skin crawl.

  “Of course, brother.”

  He slapped his lips together over the straw again, chewing and twisting. Chewing and twisting. “And have you…Noah was it?”

  I snapped my head to look at Noah. Did he know about the registration? What about the permits? If he hadn’t checked in, River could take him away now. But then I attempted to slow my brain waves into one cohesive thought. Of course Noah would know the rules. He was one of us.