Genre:
New Adult, Paranormal Romance,
Urban
Fantasy
Date
of Publication: November 27, 2012
If
there is one thing eighteen-year-old Aurora Sky wants, it's to get
off the iceberg she calls home. Being kissed before she graduates
wouldn't hurt either.
Then
a near-fatal car wreck changes everything. Government agents step in
and save Aurora's life in exchange for her services as a vampire
hunter. In Alaska. Basically she's a glorified chew toy. All thanks
to her rare blood type, which sends a vampire into temporary
paralysis right before she has to finish the job... by hand.
Now
Aurora's only friends are groupies of the undead and the only boy she
can think about may very well be a vampire.
Volleyball
had been replaced by badminton while I was in the hospital. Mr.
Mooney let me get away with sitting out class the first two days, but
by the third he decided to diagnose me as fit for participation.
“Sky,
ready to jump back in?”
I
paused on my way to the bleachers. “I’m not dressed.”
Besides,
everyone was already paired up.
“Fane!”
Mr. Mooney called. “Get out here. You can be Aurora’s partner.”
I
tried not to flinch or show signs of distress. My last memory of Fane
involved his tongue tracing his upper lip in lewd gesture.
Fane
stood up and gave Mr. Mooney a glare so dark it sent a shiver down my
spine. It was the first real sensation I’d experienced since the
accident. When his eyes moved to me I momentarily forgot to breathe.
Fane
held my gaze a moment longer then slipped out of his leather jacket.
I watched, transfixed. This was history in the making. Fane Donado
taking off his coat.
All
of his imperfections breezed out the door as soon as I got my first
look at the six-pack straining against his cotton tee. My eyes must
have been playing tricks on me. For a guy with such a slender build,
Fane was surprisingly muscled.
Fane
took deliberate steps down the aisle of the bench, straight to the
edge. He jumped from the bleachers, causing them to rock in his wake.
I
swore I felt a thud inside the pit of my stomach when he landed.
Mr.
Mooney nodded at Fane. “You two are playing Clayton and Tyler.”
Fane
walked past me and took two rackets off the floor. He handed me one.
I took it from his outstretched hand then followed several steps
behind.
Part
of me was relieved he didn’t say anything. All I could think about
was the obscene gesture he’d made right before my world turned
up-side-down. I hardly noticed his hair. I was too distracted by his
lips. And now his abs. Luckily, I wouldn’t have to look at either
while we played side by side.
At
the far court, Clayton and Tyler bounced birdies up and down on the
strings of their rackets.
Clayton
nudged Tyler as we approached. “Oh great. Goth boy and zombie girl.
This should be fun.”
I
took my place beside Fane. He held his racket loose and lazy. I
barely held mine at all. Clayton pelted the birdie at me. I tried to
shield my face and ended up dropping my racket.
“Oh,
come on!” Clayton shouted.
I
picked up the birdie and threw it over the net.
Clayton
served the birdie to Fane, who smacked it over the net with the flick
of a wrist. Tyler launched the birdie at me. It hit me on the
shoulder, but I swung anyway as it bounced to the floor.
“Hello?
Earth to Aurora,” Tyler called across the net.
“I
think she’s still in a coma,” Clayton said.
“That’s
game,” Tyler said. “Your serve.”
I
picked up the birdie and handed it to Fane. It’s a good thing it
wasn’t a real bird. Fane crushed it in his hand. Only for a moment.
Only I saw. He relaxed and looked across the net. I felt that odd
shiver return.
Fane
smacked the birdie as though it were a fly. He walloped it right
between Tyler and Clayton so fast neither boy had time to react. When
they did manage a return hit, Fane gracefully flicked away any stray
birds that came at me. I watched in fascination, fully engaged for
the first time since the accident.
The
boys tried to hit the birdie back. Fane had them racing across every
corner of their court. By the end of the period they were out of
breath. They took off without a backwards glance when Mr. Mooney blew
his whistle signaling the end of gym.
As
I walked past Fane I felt a twitch. Not my own. I felt the twitch of
his hand wanting to stop me.
“Hey,
you. Are you okay?”
If
I had any emotion left I’d laugh. He didn’t even know my
name—that or it wasn’t worth saying.
He
studied me carefully. “I’ve seen that look before.”
Now
I was curious.
Valerie
jumped down from the bleachers. “Fane!”
He
didn’t pay attention to her. I held my breath waiting for him to
tell me what he saw.
Valerie
sashayed her way over to Fane, red hair blazing down her shoulders.
She held out his jacket. “I’m ready to blow this joint. Let’s
get a bite.”
Her
last words grabbed his attention, and he forgot me completely.
Valerie looped her arm around Fane’s and they walked toward the
double doors. I was right behind them, silent as a ghost. When I
reached the hall entrance leading to the locker rooms I stopped. I
saw his head start to turn. I knew he was going to look back, but by
the time he did I’d be gone.
Nikki
Jefford loves fictional bad boys and heroines who kick butt. Books,
travel, TV series, hiking, writing and motorcycle riding are her
favorite escapes. She loves meeting people from all walks of life,
from around the globe, and wouldn’t trade her French husband in for
anyone – not even Spike!
She’s
a third generation Alaskan, born & raised in Anchorage, now
living in northern Washington. Crazy about her dog, Cosmo. (Writer’s
best friend.) The dark side of humanity fascinates her, so long as
it's balanced by humor and romance.
