Category: giveaway

Healing Hearts by C.B. Clark Genre: Western Romantic Suspense

Reeling from loss and heartbreak, Stella King is desperate to escape painful memories. The position of nanny on an isolated ranch in British Columbia’s rugged Chilcotin Plateau seems the answer to her prayers. Cattle rancher, Dawson Wheeler, has worked hard to overcome grief and build a predictable world for his young daughter. The last thing he needs is the all-too-attractive Stella disrupting the smooth running of his ranch, especially now that disturbing incidents are happening on his property. Defending his land against those who want to gut it will be a challenge, but the biggest threat of all may be to his heart. Add to Goodreads Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo

Award-winning author, C.B. Clark has written six romantic suspense novels published by The Wild Rose Press. C.B. has always loved reading, especially romances, but it wasn’t until she lost her voice for a year that she considered writing her own romantic suspense stories. She grew up in Canada’s Northwest Territories and Yukon. Graduating with a degree in Anthropology and Archaeology, she has worked as an archaeologist and an educator. She enjoys hiking, canoeing, and snowshoeing with her husband and dog near her home in the wilderness of central British Columbia. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

The back of his neck itched. “You’re Stella King?” Of course she was. Who else would be
waiting here at this time of night? Once again he glanced at the photograph clenched in his
hand—gray curls, thick glasses, sixty years old. This was the Stella King he’d hired. The itching
amped up to a full-out assault.
She stood and held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Dawson.”
He stumbled back a step, his worst fears confirmed. This gorgeous woman was the nanny he’d
hired to look after Deirdre.
Her light blue wool sweater did nothing to hide the rounded mounds of her breasts. Her legs
looked a mile long in the white denim, skin tight, designer jeans tucked into a pair of knee-high,
high-heeled, black leather boots. Her perfume wafted on the evening breeze, a heady mix of
spring flowers and something subtle but decidedly feminine.
He struggled to swallow, but his throat was parched, his tongue as dry as old leather against the
roof of his mouth.
Silence stretched between them. An owl hooted from a nearby tree, crickets chirped in the tall
grass lining the ditch, and still he didn’t move as the ramifications of what he’d agreed to
engulfed him.

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The Four: Destruction of Honor The Mejuarian Chronicles Book 1 by Zola Blue Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

The Ercutians, an ancient race of spell casters that abandoned Earth long ago, have abandoned the ways of their elders. Their powerful magic they once used for good has been replaced with destructive spells and incantations, and their once thriving, wonderous lands have turned against them. The destruction of the Ercutian race is imminent. To heal their lands, and prolong their heritage, a sorcerer, sorceress, wizard, and wizardess combine their mystical powers to become the Great One, known to all as Thire- los. But not all is well within the Great One, for conflicting personalities brood within the single entity, and what was once Great threatens to become tainted, throwing all of Ercutia back into chaos once again. Add to GoodreadsAmazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo

Born in Florida, I am a resident of the US, but now I reside on a lovely island in British Columbia Canada. During the early years of my life, I worked in the business industry, thus reaching my goal of obtaining my degree in Business Management. I love to read, and over my lifetime, I have probably read hundreds of books. Now that life has given a bit more time to concentrate on my personal life, I am following God and writing fun, fanciful fiction stories, which blend over into the fantasy realm. My first amazing middle-grade fantasy series is now out, “The Four.” There are very little violence and no wars. This is my attempt to provide lovely fanciful readings to the young to stimulate their imaginations. God is the mentor of my life, and to Him, I give thanks for all things. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

“You can have your magic back,” she lied in hopes that once he and Thie were together again,
they would forget their differences and reunite Thire-los. There would be hope if Os came back
home. If he did not, there was none.

$10 Amazon – 1 winner, ebook of The Four – 3 winners Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Collapse Dark Days Book 1 by Mark Lukens Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Horror

It started with rumors of a plague that turned people into flesh-eating predators. The governments of the world and the media tried to suppress it, but little by little the truth got out. The economy had been in a freefall, banks closed, protests turned into riots, people began hoarding and panicking. And then on a Friday morning, the collapse came. After the government office where Ray Daniels works shuts down, he just wants to get home to his wife and kids. On his arduous journey home, Ray gets a call from Craig, his supervisor, inviting him and his family to his home where the answers to the collapse and the Ripper Plague are waiting for him, but the phone call breaks up and Ray only hears the word Avalon. When Ray gets home to his family, the TV stations have been replaced with a loop of the President of the United States declaring martial law. The electricity and water are shut off soon after that. They hole up in their bedroom for the night – they have no weapons, little food, and no information about why everything collapsed so quickly. After Ray’s neighbor, Helen, holds a secret meeting to try to fight back against martial law, she asks Ray to help her blind daughter Emma, promising that Emma can help him and his family find the way to Avalon. But what is Avalon, and what does Emma know about it? Hours later, after soldiers in gas masks take Helen away, Ray has no choice but to flee with his family. Society has crumbled within the last twenty-four hours. Hordes of flesh- eating infected are loose on the streets. The police and military are doing their best to fight back, but they are losing the battle now. The collapse is here, and Ray wants the answers that Craig has, but he must keep his family alive first. Goodreads * Amazon Chaos Dark Days Book 2

Josh Hooper has always been a screw-up. He’s done his share of jail time and has battled drugs and alcohol throughout his life. But since moving to Pittsburgh with his sister, Josh has gotten clean and turned his life around . . . just in time for the apocalypse. As society begins to collapse on a Friday morning, Josh drives into the city to get some lifesaving medications for his nephew. When he tries to avoid the mass of panicked people and gridlocked traffic downtown, Josh is arrested, beaten, and detained. Josh and some of the other uninfected are taken to a FEMA camp miles outside the city as the Ripper Plague continues to spread. They are taken to the camp for their protection, but Josh soon realizes that the camp is not what it seems to be . . . he believes terrible things may be happening there. Not only does he need to get back to his sister and nephew, but he needs to escape the evil brewing in the camp. At night, while making his plans to escape, Josh dreams of a beautiful blind woman who calls to him, inviting him to head south to join her and others. And there’s someone else in his dreams, a man in the shadows with eyes that shine in the darkness, an evil man who will try to stop Josh and the others. But Josh can’t worry about people he sees in his dreams, people that he convinces himself aren’t real, because even though the chances of his sister and nephew being alive and uninfected are dwindling, he has to try to get to them. Goodreads * Amazon

Exposure Dark Days Book 3

Luke is not a nice man. He’s not a good person. But he’s a fighter . . . a survivor. A former MMA fighter who was sent to prison for attempted murder, Luke is accepted into a crime family run by Vincent, and during his years there he’s trained in weapons and the art of delivering pain. When civilization collapses, Luke is sent to protect Vincent’s brother and his family. Luke finds the family slaughtered and the brother responsible, already infected by the Ripper Plague. After killing the brother, Luke knows he needs to flee the city. But with martial law declared and Vincent vowing revenge, sending the assassin who trained Luke after him, Luke’s chances of getting out of the city don’t look very good. But Luke won’t give up, and with help from a woman who’s nearly as skilled and deadly as he is, Luke finds himself heading out of the city, on a new path, a journey south. In his dreams, Luke has seen a beautiful blind woman calling him south to be with her and the others. But there’s someone else in his dreams, a shadowy man of pure evil who is amassing an army to collect and control all the food and dwindling resources left behind. Not only will Luke and Wilma have to contend with the hordes of rippers on their journey, but they will have to run right through the shadowy man’s dark army. Goodreads * Amazon Refuge Dark Days Book 4

Ray, Emma, and Mike are on their way to Doug’s cabin in the woods, their hope of refuge, when they drive into a trap in a small mountain town in West Virginia, a trap set by the Dark Angels, a gang controlled by the shadowy man they’ve seen in their dreams, the man who calls himself the Dragon. Just when things are bleakest, Josh helps save Ray and the others. Josh is shocked when he sees Emma, the woman he’s seen in his dreams, the woman who has helped him along the way. And Josh has also seen Ray and Mike in his dreams. And he’s seen Luke and others. He knows that they are all meant to be together . . . if they can survive. Miles away, Luke has made his way south from the Camp, but he gets trapped in the small town of Heaven, West Virginia, hunkered down in a building, the place surrounded by Dark Angels. But Luke has weapons and ammo to hold them off for a little while. A Dark Angel calls out to Luke on a megaphone, trying to convince him to surrender and promising that he has a surprise coming for him. After a nearly-deadly encounter with a horde of rippers, Ray drives Josh, Emma, and Mike right into the battle in Heaven, West Virginia. And soon they are banded together with Luke. But now they are trapped together, making plans to escape, as the surprise the Dark Angels have promised comes into town. Will they make it to their refuge, the cabin in the mountains? And if they do, is the refuge truly the safe place they’ve been dreaming of . . . or is it even more dangerous? Goodreads * Amazon

Aftermath Dark Days Book 5

Kate Crawford’s world was shattered when the Collapse came. It seemed like one moment she was a university professor of Anthropology, and the next moment she was hiding in her home from the Ripper Plague, tortured by nightmares of a shadowy man with shining eyes. And then the Dark Angels came to her neighborhood, marking front doors and searching homes – she had no choice but to leave. She planned to travel west, back to her hometown in the mountains of North Carolina, back to an oppressive family she vowed never to return to . . . but she has nowhere else to turn now. Before she can even make it out of the city, she’s stuck on the roof of a building with a possible madman, the streets below overrun with tens of thousands of rippers. But she knows she needs to get out of the city, because the blind woman in her dreams tells her to head west, telling her that there are others like her, that they will all be together . . . they just need to find each other first. Goodreads * Amazon

Survivors Dark Days Book 6

Ray, Mike, Emma, Luke, and Josh think they’ve found their refuge at the West Virginia cabin, but it all falls apart when Luke finds tracks in the snow at the edge of the woods. Someone has been watching them. A ripper? A Dark Angel? Someone else? Soon they find their stalker, a young woman, but is she who she says she is? Can they believe her story? To the south, in North Carolina, Lisey brings a horde of rippers to Kate’s parents’ home where Kate, Brooke, Petra, and Max are holed up. They don’t have time to pack their truck as they try to get away from the mob of rippers. But even if they get away, they don’t realize that something is waiting for them in the shadows of the woods just down the street. Each group faces its own challenges, yet they are getting closer and closer to coming together. They need to be strong because the Dragon and his evil forces have ramped up their game, herding them where he wants them, ready for the final attack. Goodreads * Amazon

Mark Lukens has been writing since the second grade when his teacher called his parents in for a conference because the ghost story he’d written had her a little concerned. Since then he’s had several stories published and four screenplays optioned by producers in Hollywood. He is the author of many bestselling books including: Ancient Enemy, Sightings, Devil’s Island, The Exorcist’s Apprentice, Followed, and more. He is a member of The Horror Writers Association. He grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida. But after many travels and adventures, he settled down near Tampa, Florida with his wonderful wife and son … and a stray cat they adopted. He loves to hear from readers! He can be found on Facebook at Mark Lukens Books, on Twitter @marklukensbooks, and you can follow his blog at www.marklukensbooks.wordpress.com. He can be reached by e-mail at mark@marklukensbooks.com. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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False Gods The Prophet Trilogy Book 1 by Don Newton Genre: Epic Fantasy

How many gods do you really need? Erador has more than its share… In a strange multiverse ruled by magic and immortals, the last remaining souls, fleeing the destruction of Earth, struggle to survive. The Draggons want them dead. The gods want more power. But the humans want to live, and there’s only one sorceress who can make that happen. The fate of humanity is in her hands – so, no pressure… Gods always want more power… The Civil War fractured their world, and the gods just made it worse. Now their followers are split into four separate factions, and they all hate each other. Riots and bombings force further divisions among them, and the leaders are at a loss about what to do. Most of them, anyway. Heroes are sometimes girls… Alisha Callus rose through the sorceress ranks, mastering the Orphic currents and learning to bend space and reality to her will. Now, she’s the last Adeptus Supreme on Erador, and she has to kill a god. But she’s not sure she can. Gods don’t like to be killed… But sometimes, they deserve it. Can one Sorceress, two Draggons, four warriors, and a god crush this evil influence from existence? Follow this ragtag band of heroes on an epic quest to free their world from an immortal’s vicious grasp. Who knows, they might do it… **Only .99 cents!!**Goodreads * Amazon

Draggons The Prophet Trilogy Book 2

Revenge is always sweeter face to face… The false god, Zaril, died in a blazing bolt of light, victim to the wrath of an Adeptus Supreme. Now, it’s Kat’s turn for some payback. All she can see through the red tinge of hate that fills her eyes is the face of her lover’s killer. The fact that he’s also her father barely weighs on her mind. He chose his side, and now he’ll pay for his decision. Goodreads * Amazon

Judgement The Prophet Trilogy Book 3

The Draggon King, Darkonus, died at the hands of his daughter – the cold steel of her dagger taking his life, and the void-wraith trapped within sucking his soul away. Now Kat has ascended to the Draggon throne and become their Queen. Goodreads * Amazon

The Trial of Sa’riya Prelude to The Prophet Trilogy

Draggons are the worst… The war with the Draggons is raging, and only the battle-hardened Na’Geena warriors can stand against them. They have the weapons that can kill them, and the Griffins they ride are the mortal enemies of the lizards. There’s a chance they could be defeated, but they have allies in the Eradorians, and a secret mission could turn the tide and destroy the Draggon King. Only a god can make it work. But will he help? Ok, her twin sister was killed, but it was an accident… When the Carolonian sun exploded, Zi’anna was caught in the blast- wave, and even her immortality and the powers of the K’Pa couldn’t save her from certain death. Now, the immortal’s Elder Council wants her sister, Sa’riya, to pay for that loss, with her life… But not all of them… Follow along as the trial unfolds. Will they find her guilty? Would you? “When you know the right question to ask, the answer will be obvious.” – Yin, The positive aspect **Get it FREE!**Add to GoodreadsWebsite

Don Newton is a writer and armchair philosopher, author of the science fantasy trilogy “The Prophet”, and short stories too numerous to count. Don has been in love with science fiction and fantasy his entire life. The first alternate world he created was the result of a sixth- grade essay assignment, and he’s been hooked ever since. That world has grown and transformed into an entire multi-verse of possibilities to explore. Don’s not just a writer though, he has hobbies too: like making up funnier lyrics to popular songs. He sings them to himself when no one’s around—especially in the car. Don has a degree in Nursing and he’s a certified Paramedic. Six years in the Army sent him to places as diverse as Hawaii and Germany, where he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal for conduct above and beyond the call of duty. Having lived in nine different states and two foreign countries, he now calls the desert southwest home. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

From: The Trial of Sa’riya – Act One
The southern face of Krasus Cauldron was aglow with the reddish-tinged light of the morning suns: the
red sun now peering above the horizon, following the yellow on its daily trek across the sky. Darryl stood
at the edge of the rock ledge flanked by two Griffins, pointing the tip of Sinreaver at the two Draggons in
front of him. The Draggons looked at the sword and Griffin claws and froze. “That’s wise.” Darryl
grinned. “Carion, Shera, if they move, kill them.” The Griffins made a trilling sound and took one step
toward the Draggons, their heads down and the tips of their wings trembling in anticipation. The
Draggons backed up. Darryl turned to check on his brother’s progress with the Council guard. Karl raised
Bloodrender above his left shoulder and swung down hard; the blade carved a sharp flashing arc through
the air—stray drops of Draggonfire flying from the edge. The Draggon tried to dodge, but the tip of the
sword cut a flaming gash across its right thigh—roaring in pain, the fire in its eyes intensified, focusing
on the Na’Geena Chieftain. The Draggon made the mistake of breathing fire upon the sword: it was
legendary, and all the Draggons knew what it could do. Bloodrender was dangerous even when it wasn’t
on fire; all three of the Na’Geena swords were: they might absorb and redirect Draggonfire, but they were
also one of only three things which could cut Draggonskin. The beast circled Karl, limping to his left,
trying to find an opening in the Chieftain’s defense—there was none. “You’ll let me inside this Council
chamber,” Karl growled at the Draggon, “or I’ll go through you.” The Draggon shifted into its human
form: the scales and teeth and the twenty-foot lizard body morphing into a young man grimacing in pain.
He clutched the bleeding-smoldering gash on his leg and shook his head at Karl. “Markus would kill me,
or Darkonus…” “I could kill you right now,” Karl said, “and save them the trouble if you like, but I’m
still going inside.” The Draggon limped to the cliff wall and leaned against it, waving Karl past with one
hand. “Be my guest…”
Karl glanced at Darryl. “Don’t worry.” Darryl pointed toward the archway carved into the side of the
mountain. “I have this covered, go. These Draggons are right where I want them.” Karl sheathed
Bloodrender and stepped through the arch. The pain made him scream. It felt like he was being pulled
apart one molecule at a time: fire ran through his veins and nerves, through every muscle fiber, burning
all the connections. The reverse was true on the other side where his atoms smashed together again,
reforming the burned and ripped apart body into a whole once more. He wound up on his knees on hard
black granite, his hands clutching his chest, out of wind and half-dazed; smoke belched from his lungs
when he finally caught a breath. “Humans really shouldn’t use that…” He looked at Nu’reen as his vision
cleared; she had a look of mild concern on her face. Sa’riya ran to him and picked him up from the floor,
her hands on his cheeks pulling his face to hers. “Are you Ok?” Karl shook the cobwebs from his head
and threw his arms around her. “I’m fine, or I will be.” “You shouldn’t be here.” Darkonus stepped
toward him. Karl drew Bloodrender and aimed it at him—the blade still burned with Draggonfire: drops
of it fell from the edge, igniting the stone where they landed—sizzling plumes of molten granite rising
into the air between them. “Ok, maybe we can overlook this…” The Draggon stepped back and took his
seat. “What gives you the right to abduct my wife?” He faced the Council, examining their faces. “Why
shouldn’t I kill you all right now?” “Because it would be ridiculous to believe you could, for one.” Jurak
bounced up from his chair. “But, by all means, give it your best.” “Order!” Nu’reen slammed the gavel
against the wood and pointed at the D’jinn. “You sit down.” Jurak spun and glared at her. “Don’t speak to
me with that tone.” “You’ve all agreed, my decisions are final. Now sit down and shut up!” Nu’reen
shifted into a much-older version of herself: gray hair and wrinkled skin, but the silver fire in her eyes
grew brighter, and a luminous halo circled her head. The light from the halo ran down and lit her robe,
making it fluoresce in the dim light of the Council chamber. “Is this better Jurak? Do you accept my
rulings in this form?” Jurak took his seat and stared at the floor, his arms across his chest. Nu’reen looked
at Karl, the softness returning to her face. “Sa’riya, take him out… and explain,” she pointed at the
archway, “and then return.” “You can’t let her go!” Markus jumped to his feet and turned on Nu’reen.
“She’s given her word, and that’s all I need.” The silver flame intensified again as she stared at the
Draggon, the halo pulsed in time with her breathing. “Are you going to challenge me as well?” Markus
looked at Darkonus, who tilted his head to one side and raised his eyebrows. “Not yet…” Markus said.
“Well, you let me know when you change your mind.” She banged the gavel. “In the meantime, let’s take
a twenty-minute recess until Sa’riya gets back.”

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The Atlantis Bloodline by C.A. Gray Genre: YA Fantasy

When sweet Ada Edwards meets the mysterious Kaison Hughes, lead singer of the biggest band in the world, she can’t understand what he sees in her. Despite everyone’s warnings about him, she’s rapidly falling in love. But it’s obvious he has a secret, and he’s not all he appears to be. Kai’s life isn’t his own, and his fame isn’t the half of it. As a member of a secret organization known as the Elioud, descended from the Atlantean daughters of the Pleiades, he’s been commissioned with a task: to reintegrate the lost line of Maia into their ranks. It just so happens that Ada is the one they’ve been looking for. He doesn’t know what they intend to do to her, and he doesn’t care. All he wants is the prize for a successful mission: one unqualified wish, which he intends to spend on his beloved sister’s freedom. There’s just one problem: Kai’s falling in love with Ada, too. Add to GoodreadsAmazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo

C.A. Gray is the author of three YA Amazon bestselling trilogies: PIERCING THE VEIL (magic and quantum physics meet Arthurian legends), THE LIBERTY BOX (dystopian metaphysics and mind control technology), and UNCANNY VALLEY (dystopian coming-of- age with neuroscience and super intelligent A.I). She starts with some scientific concept that she’s interested in learning more about herself, and then creates lots of epic chaos and high-stakes action to go along with it. Her stories are free of gratuitous violence, language, and sexual content, and she abhors depressing endings… but they’re not all kittens and rainbows either! She also listens to and reviews audiobooks on her website (www.authorcagray.com), Goodreads, Instagram, and on her podcast, Clean Audiobook Reviews, where she also occasionally interviews other authors. By day, C.A. Gray practices naturopathic medicine, podcasts, and writes medical non-fiction under her maiden name (Lauren Deville). She lives in Tucson, AZ with her husband Frank, and together they maintain an occasionally contentious film review blog (under her real name: Lauren Baden. Three names. Yes.) She’s kind of the queen of multitasking–so in her spare time, she creates whatever meals or crafts she found most recently on Pinterest, drinks lots of coffee (Aeropress btw) and occasional wine (reds–and she saves the corks for craft projects), works out (while listening to audiobooks), and studies the Bible (about half of the podcasts on Christian Natural Health are scripture meditations). …She does sleep, too. Join her newsletter for best-of-the-month reads, freebies and giveaway information, as well as new releases! http://eepurl.com/F3rof Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Pinterest * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

I slid into the chair across from Kaison, accidentally splashing a bit of latte on the metal table. Aaron
hadn’t bothered to put a lid on it, and my hands shook.
“Hi,” I said, self-consciously tucking a lock of hair behind my ear that had escaped my ponytail.
“Hi.” Kaison stood and offered me that muscular hand to shake, turning the smolder on me. I hated
myself for it, but my heart skipped a beat as I slipped my hand in his. The contrast between my pale skin
and his deep olive tone drew my attention—perhaps because everything about this moment felt
heightened. Surreal.
“I heard them call you Ada.” He held my hand too long. He wasn’t even shaking it.
I nodded, feeling my cheeks heat up. “Yes. Ada Edwards.”
He absorbed this for a moment. “Very pleased to meet you, Ada Edwards.” He actually brought my hand
to his lips and kissed it. I heard myself giggle involuntarily, and hated myself even more. “I’m Kaison
Hughes.”
“Yeah, I figured that out.”
“But please, call me Kai.” He finally released my hand, and gestured at the chair as he sat down himself.
“Oh-kay…” I sat, and he sipped his mocha, completely at ease. I waited for an explanation, but he didn’t
seem to be in a hurry to give me one. “So… I’m sorry. Do we know each other?” I knew the answer of
course, but it was the only way I could think of to address his bizarre behavior.
“If we did, then introductions would hardly be necessary, would they?” His eyes twinkled at me. He was
enjoying this.
“It’s just—why did you single me out like that?”
He tilted his head to the side. “Really?”
“Really, what?”
“You can’t think of any reasons why a guy might see you across a crowded room and think, ‘I’ve gotta
meet that girl’?”
I frowned, a little annoyed now. I knew what he was implying, and even if he’d been an ordinary guy, I’d
have had trouble buying it. I had no illusions about my looks. I was cute— pretty, even. But not gorgeous,
and certainly not in the league of Lara Benanati and Amelia Rogers.
“That’s not why.”
“How do you know?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “I saw you at the park last night.” It came out more of
an accusation than I’d intended.
He laughed. “I should hope so, I wasn’t exactly hiding!”
I blinked, confused. “But… what were you doing there?”
“Same thing I’m doing here. Looking for you.”
I blinked, waiting for him to add ‘just kidding.’ He didn’t; he just watched me with that amused smirk of
his.
“And you don’t think that requires an explanation?”
“Oh, I’m quite certain it does, and I’ll tell it to you eventually. But it’s fun watching you try to figure it
out in the meantime.” He shrugged, and took another sip of his mocha. “So how about it. Any theories?”
“None,” I answered honestly.
He looked disappointed. “Oh come on. Humor me. Make something up.”
I opened my mouth and closed it again like a guppy. “You’re… here for a show, and… fancied a stroll at
night? In… the… worst part of town?”
“I already told you that I was looking for you, specifically. Your theory must include that crucial fact.”
“You… think I’m your long lost sister?”
“Oh, Lord, I hope not,” Kai leaned forward, his eyes twinkling. I felt my face grow hot, and couldn’t hold
his gaze.
“Uhh… you’re looking to cast a particular look for your next music video, and I fit the bill? Even though
I can’t imagine why a hundred other girls wouldn’t also…”
“Boring!” he announced, grinning at me. “Think bigger. More… supernatural.”
“Okay, is there a hidden camera somewhere?” I made a show of looking around. “Please tell me I’m not
gonna be humiliated on some viral YouTube video…”
Kai suddenly became serious. “Sorry. I’m just messing with you. Tell me something. Tell me about your
family.”
I blinked. “My… family?”
“Yes, your family. What do your parents do? Any siblings?”
“Uh, it’s just my papa and me. No siblings. My mom died when I was young.”

Kai gave a tiny nod. “I’m sorry.”
I shrugged. “It was a long time ago.”
“Doesn’t mean it can’t still hurt.”
I dropped my eyes, feeling even more off-balance. What was going on here?
“May I ask… how she died?”
“She was murdered,” I answered, looking up at him boldly, as if daring him to have a come-back to that.
“By some people she was trying to help.”
“I’m so sorry,” Kai said again. But he didn’t seem surprised. “I know this might seem strange, but do you
have an unusual birthmark, perhaps?”
I froze, taken aback. “What kind of a question is that?”
Kai’s expression cleared, and he looked almost smug. “Because if you do,” he emphasized the word, “I
don’t think it’s really a birthmark.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Show me.”
“No!” I cried at once. No way was I going to voluntarily reveal my most shameful feature to Kaison
Hughes, of all people.
“Ada.” His expression softened, and he reached across the table to take my hand. I reflexively began to
pull it away, but he grabbed it before I could. Then, methodically, he flipped it over, straightened out my
curled fingers, and began to massage my palm with his thumb. I’d had two boyfriends, but even including
every encounter I’d ever had with them, this was, hands down, the most sensual experience of my life. I
couldn’t speak. Honestly, I had a hard time breathing.
Kai took his time, raising his eyes to mine only once he knew I was putty in his hands.
“Please?”
I swallowed. I couldn’t believe I was about to do this—it was like I was under a spell or something. But I
turned my head, lowered the collar of my white shirt, and lifted my ponytail to reveal the angry red
geometric-looking birthmark at the nape of my neck. Ever so gently, Kai brushed his fingertips against it,
and—
I gasped and jerked away from him, severing the connection.
“What was that?”
He knew what I meant—the moment his fingertips made contact with the birthmark, there was a kind of
explosion in my brain. I suddenly realized I was panting. His mouth twisted into that smug smirk again.
“Like I said,” he murmured, in that sexy bedroom voice of his. “Not a birthmark.”
“Then what is it?”
Kai bit his lip, and cast a glance inside. “Your break is probably about over, right? What are you doing
tonight?”
I blinked, trying to down-shift. “Uhh…”
He stood up, and I did too. From inside his jacket, he produced a couple of tickets. “Ever heard Bloodline
play before? We’re playing Sprint Center tonight. These are backstage passes, in case you want to invite a
friend along.”
My mouth still hung open, and Kai’s grin grew wider. He reached for my hand, and placed the tickets in
them. Then he leaned in next to my ear and whispered, “Traditionally the appropriate response is, ‘Thank
you. I’ll see you there.’” He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, though he was close enough to
kiss me. “So will I?”
“Sure,” was all I could manage.
“Good.” He took another step back, raising the hand holding the tickets to his lips again. He kissed my
fingertips this time, slow and lingering. “Until tonight, Ada Edwards. I’ll be counting the minutes.”

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