Beautifully Unnatural: A Young Adult Paranormal Boxed Set (101 page)

“What?” He looked baffled.

“It’s
not
possible. You can’t do all that and not want me.”

He blew out his breath. “That’s what this is all about? A guy would have to be dead not to be attracted to you. That’s all there is to it.”

“And I understand that. But you’re trying to convince me that you only like me as a friend. That I don’t mean any more to you than Ashley or Maya. But I know your feelings run deeper than that. I know this like I know your kiss, the color of your eyes and hair. Denying it doesn’t change what I know. It’d be nice, though, if you admitted it.”

He folded his arms over his chest. “Keep talking. Three minutes left.”

“You think it’s easier if you leave and pretend you never felt anything and I’ll get over it. You think you’re protecting me, protecting yourself and you’re saving us both a lot of pain. But it’s not easier. Sometimes easier isn’t easier.”

“Don’t go into philosophy.” He smirked. “No one would understand you.”

“You know what I mean. It’s like when you don’t want to do your homework. You think it’s easier not to do it. But later, when you get grounded for getting an F, it’s so much harder and you wish you’d taken the time when you had the chance.”

“How does that have anything to do with us?” He moaned and sat at the other end of the couch.

“I’m getting there.” I got up to pace. “You think you’re doing me this huge favor by pushing me away. You think it’s honorable, but it’s actually stupid. According to you, the plan is to walk away in the end, go our separate ways. And you
know
that’s going to hurt. Your rejections have hurt me more than anything else you could ever do.” I stopped in front of Zack as he absorbed that, his face softening. “And it hurts you too. I know it does. So what if we’re together, then we have to split up because one of us has to run? Okay. We knew it could happen. Separating is a risk in any relationship. But for the next few weeks, we can live every possible moment like it’s all we’ve got.”

“It’s too dangerous, Autumn. It’s not safe for you to be around me. What if the scouts realize what you are?” He stood up and we were toe to toe. “Don’t you see? Everything I’ve done, I’ve done for
you
.”

That was probably as close to an admission as I was going to get. It was good enough for me. I laid a palm on his cheek. “You would have left me believing that you didn’t care enough. It’s unthinkable.” I sniffed as a tear escaped, remembering one of his lectures. “You have to do what’s right, even if you’re afraid of the consequences. Otherwise, life isn’t worth living.”

He hung his head and sighed. “You’re impossible.”

What did
that
mean? After all my effort, would he still blow me off? How much of the last three minutes did I have left?

“You have no idea how exhausting it’s been.” He looked into my eyes. “I tried to hate you when we met and I was doing pretty good until you wore that damned purple dress.”

I grinned. Zack was finally mine. And he knew it. I leaned in and snaked my arms around his neck.

“Autumn.” He held my shoulders, like he was about to push me away. “This doesn’t change anything. I’ll still be leaving in a few weeks and you won’t be able to come with me.”

“Then we don’t have much together. We’d better make it count.”

“This is crazy.” He snagged my waist and pulled me closer. “It’s stupid to risk your life that way.”

“Haven’t you listened to anything I said?”

“Shhh.” He laid an index finger across my lips. “I heard you, but I need to make sure you’ve considered everything.”

“I want to be with you.” I turned his hand toward me, then dropped a kiss in his palm.

He rested his forehead against mine, then squeezed me tighter and buried his face in my hair. “You just couldn’t give up on me, could you?” he whispered.

“No.” I savored being this close to him. “Believe me, I tried.”

He drew back slowly. “We can’t afford to get weaker. I can’t risk your life by putting myself in a position where I’m incapable of protecting you.”

Zack, thinking of me first, as he always had. “We’ve kissed before and it didn’t affect our powers,” I reminded him. “We can do all of that we want.”

He smiled, a dimple appearing, eyes lighting up. “I can live with unlimited kissing.”

So could I. When I rose up on the tip of my toes to get started, he held me back.

“One question,” he said.

“Zack, I know I forced you to talk to me, but no more talking now, okay?”

“I’ll be quick.” He laughed deeply, his firm abdomen moving against mine. That made me want him more. “Do you still want to wear that dress you have wrapped up in your closet?”

“You mean…” My eyes narrowed.

“Would you go to prom with me? As my girlfriend. Officially.”

Now
that
was worth the interruption. I beamed. “Yeah. Now, don’t open your mouth again, unless it’s to kiss me.”

Holding his grip on me, he backed up and we tumbled to the couch, me on top.

“Easy,” he warned. “I’ve already used up my resistance against you.” Entwining my legs with his, he turned us and maneuvered our bodies so I lay sandwiched between him and the back of the couch. “There. Now you can’t get away.”

Like I wanted to. I was about to tell him to zip it when his warm, soft lips covered mine. Yeah, that was what I’d been waiting for. Only this time, I wasn’t worried he’d leave me. I melted against him as his hands grasped my hips and he pulled me closer. Hot tendrils of sweet sensation spread through me as I snaked my hand under his shirt. I wanted him with a yearning like nothing I’d ever felt before. All of him.

I wished this perfect moment, this perfect kiss could last forever. But we needed to stay strong. I had to resist. I could do it. I
would
do it.

My head buzzed with questions and worries. Like what was Zack going to do about Charles? Could he really survive on his own without a pack? Were my parents shape-shifters or had I been adopted? I wasn’t going to get any answers just yet, but right then, I didn’t care. I locked away those mysteries in a corner of my mind for later. For now, Zack was finally
mine
. And I would find a way to keep him.

THE END

Acknowledgements

I cut my Young Adult teeth on
My Wolf’s Bane
and, actually, wrote it before
Something Witchy This Way Comes
and
A Bite’s Tale
. It’s my favorite of all my titles — maybe because it was my first YA and a big step toward accomplishing my dream. Or maybe it’s because I fell in love with Zack! : ) Whatever the reason (or combination thereof), it’s been an amazing journey with too many revisions to count and a never-ending supply of frustration in order to perfect this baby.

I’d like to thank my sister-in-law Allie who inspired me to write
My Wolf’s Bane
; Susan Hatler who is the greatest critique partner ever; Katie McGarry for her encouragement and sweet words; my cousin Danette for her valuable insight; Suzanne Lazear for her fantastic feedback; Erica for her moral support; Niki for making me laugh; fellow authors Sarah Billington, Robin Haseltine, Carol Braswell, Becky Lees, Lynn Marshall, Lea Nolan, Felice Fox, and PR Mason for all their wonderful suggestions; proof readers Starla LeBarron and Samantha Gaudreault for making me look good; beta readers Samantha H, Mandy, Mary, Calyn, Sausha, Jen B, Karie, Jyl B, Kat, Hayly, Athena, Celine, Norma, Lee, Courtney, Juli, Jen W and many others whose enthusiasm for my work keeps me believing in my writing.

And a heap of gratitude to my special peeps (you know what you do and it means everything to me) Megan D, Julie W, Ashley D, April P — you gals rock! And a huge hug goes out to Kat who keeps my head on straight during the crazy times.

A warm and fuzzy thank you to my mom who reads my very scary first drafts, Sara E who is ALWAYS there for me; a very special nod to Rose Nomura for her FABULOUS cover design!!! Lastly, my wonderful husband who exercises superhuman patience when I’m working frantically to meet a deadline and forget he exists. Baby, you’re the best in all the land!

Also by Veronica Blade:

Wolves at the Door
(Shapes of Autumn, Book 2)

Their forbidden love could cost them their lives...

Autumn’s just learned she’s a shape-shifter — something her parents should’ve told her long ago. Unless they adopted her and didn’t know she wasn’t human. Either way, learning the truth has the same outcome: her parents lied. Zack is the only one she can count on, but he’s a werewolf and the king’s decree forbids contact between the species, let alone love. Zack’s planning to leave after graduation, but letting him go isn’t an option. He’s becoming more a part of her every day, a part she would fight for, give up everything for — even kill for. If she’s not killed first.

If Zack’s experience with his own kind has taught him anything, it’s that werewolves can’t be trusted. He’d rather die free than live in a pack under the rule of the werewolf king. So, instead of preparing for college like any other senior, he’s planning to go on the run after graduation. Escaping won’t be easy with the werewolves guarding him. But until that day comes, Zack knows he’s endangering Autumn every moment he’s around her. If it’s this difficult staying away from her now, how hard will it be to leave her behind in just a few weeks?

AUTHOR BIO

Veronica Blade lives in Southern California with her husband and whichever of their kids — or someone else’s kid — decides to drop in. By day she runs the family business, but each night she slips away to spin her tales. She writes stories about young adults to relive her own childhood and to live vicariously through her characters. Except her heroes and heroines lead far more interesting lives — and they are always way hotter.

You can visit Veronica Blade on Facebook, check out her website at
www.VeronicaBlade.com
or follow her on Twitter @VeronicaBlade. You can even email her at
[email protected]
. She loves hearing from readers!

Rise From Darkness

by

Ciara Knight

Rise From Darkness

Copyright © 2014 Defy the Dark Publishing

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this book. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

Other Titles by Ciara Knight:

Battle for Souls Series

Love’s Long Shadow

Rise From Darkness

Fall From Grace

Ascension of Evil

The Neumarian Chronicles

Weighted

Escapement

Pendulum

Sweetwater County Series

Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall

The Gremdon Chronicles

In loving memory of Helen Brooks Hanson.

Beloved wife, mother, sister, teacher, mother-in-law and grandmother.

You will be missed.

1941-2014

Rise From Darkness

by

Ciara Knight

Chapter One

Seagulls squawked above the endless blue sea and skimmed over the ocean, before landing on the empty beach. Gabby sighed and returned to her work. With her already stained finger, she smudged the gritty edge of the blue charcoal blob on her paper, mixing it with white in an attempt to create the crest of a wave. Nothing helped. It still looked more like a dark alley than a serene ocean. The picture lacked flare. She glanced down at her castoffs, fluttering in the sand around her feet. All the pictures did. Everything she’d created in the last year was flat, devoid of energy or life.

Dejected, she stared down the beach, searching, hoping
he’d
be there today. She’d only spotted him a few times. The image of his heavenly blue eye winking at her as he jogged by, his light hair framing an arched brow, made the twinge of loneliness disappear. He appeared around her age, sixteen, or maybe seventeen.

Funny, she’d never had much time for boys since they moved so often, but there was something different about him, a little ray of sunshine to brighten her dull day. But hope as she might, the beach remained empty, except for the seagulls.