ctions as she stood in the center of a dense forest. The little smell of smoke teased her nostrils as the air crackled

bright amber eyes appeared out of the darkness, then another, and still another. With their sleek bodies hardly discernible in the l

eyes burning hotter. Around them, flames flared, encircling her in a ring of fire. Even though the hea

s weren't the cause. Something else, something o

d of teeth and claws, she sensed an odd warmth radiating through her fingertips. When she opened her eyes, she saw t

her palms were becoming blindingly brighter as she fell, plummet

ing shadows on the walls. As she attempted to get rid of the residual visions of wolves and fire, her heart raced. She

umbled into the bathroom after scurrying out of bed, almost stumbling over the tangled covers. She turned

her desperate rubbing, it didn't go away. Her voice was sh

he? The odd power she had unleashed, the hunters' charges, and now this-it was all too much. Tears pinched he

ing the strength of its occupants. With his boots resonating on the smooth wood floorboards, Lucas pushed open the hefty oak

an air of power that demanded respect because of his silver-streaked hair and piercing, calculating eyes. Lucas d

ern yet subdued voic

tious as he raised an eyebrow. "Th

oman. Moonridge, Tessa. They attempted to mu

he motioned Lucas to take a

the story progressed, Adrian's jaw tensed as he listened carefully. Af

derstandable why the hunters sought her if she is exhibiting magical talents. Recently,

were ready. They were certain that she was a witch and knew just

fingers on his chair's armrest. "

mselves with someone who has access to our world, whi

obvious that his thoughts were rushing over the options. "We must keep her safe," he finally stated. "The hunters will no

long until they target us if they are targeting her due to her a

conspiracy, I'll send out feelers. You watch over Tessa in the interim. She will

xpression on his face. "I'll st

n about it. But Lucas, watch out. The hunters will pur

the burden of responsibility bearing down on him, he turne

shaking hands. As she read them aloud for the third time, the words became hazy, and each time her heart sank further. Bri

he repairs alone, and now that the flower store was operating slowly and her costs were growing, she felt stuck in a never-ending

she wiped her hands on her apron. She had no expectations. She opened the door to see L

tation. He had a way of getting involved in her life at the exact moment s

ing," and closed the door after

e took three swift steps across the room and grabbed it. As he read it, his jaw

pped, "Because it's none of your bus

s on the counter and remarked, "Obviously

." Her neck began to flame up with shame. She detested being e

charity." "My best friend is you. I can't

he wanted to throw something, weep, and shout. She wanted to believe him above all

ll think about it," her voice was

der. "Tess, you don't have to do this alone. You

ugh Landon's offer was alluring, taking assistance seemed

The brightness of approaching headlights made it difficult to see, and the windshield wip

t you. The idea of depending on someone else made her stomach turn, even if she wanted to t

ge on the damp pavement. She tried to steady the wheel while her heart raced, but the automobile would no

ea, the sound of the rain beating down on the automobile was overwhelming. Her hands were shaking so

rt thumped in her ears as she froze. She looked up to see Lucas standing the

His voice pierced the c

ace?" With a shaky voic

belt and remarked, "No time for th

, "The car," but h

id, "Forget the car.

eak as soon as her feet touched the floor. As the car slipped closer to the brink and vanished into the nig

Tessa gazed at the location where her automobile had been. She

not respond. At last, he remarked, "I thought yo

sensation? That i

he declared, "It's the on

to press him farther. Lucas's whole body tensed as his head shot tow

heard above the rain as he

f the shadows. Tessa felt a chill run down her spine as Lucas

their posture relaxed. One of them muttered, "Lucas Greystone," in

Lucas said, "Leave

es, we will. when we'

ng everyone with his strength and speed. As he killed the hunters with ruthle

urned back to her when it wa

Her voice was hardly audible above a whisper as sh

you to," he added k