center,
as expected.
When she opened her eyes, she discovered her violet-streaked
long black hair dripping around her. Looking down at her black corset, she
found it completely soaked and dirt particles marred her flesh. “That’s it!”
she shrieked to the sky above. “I’ve had enough!”
“You can either get in or stay wet. Your choice.”
At the low, velvety voice, Bryanna jerked her head toward
the car, looking at back door of the black Dodge Challenger, which was open. Get
in the car with a stranger? Or stay in these soaked clothes, with a broken heel
on my boot?
The right decision was glaringly obvious.
With her continuing limp, Bryanna approached the car, then
settled into the backseat. “Thank you for stopping.” As she leaned against the
back of the seat, she noticed she was dripping dirty water along the expensive
black leather. “Perhaps this was a bad idea. I’m ruining your seat.”
“It’s only a car,” the driver stated.
Glancing up from her soaked clothes, Bryanna examined her
savior. He stared out the front windshield, but then looked at her in the
rearview mirror, and she sucked in a harsh breath. It wasn’t his appearance
that worried her. His short dark-brown hair, the broad set of his shoulders and
even his nicely defined arms filling his pale-blue T-shirt looked incredibly
nice. But it was what lay in the depths of his coal-black eyes that terrified
her.
A demon.
“The name is Zeke.” He flashed a grin that, if she hadn’t
been frightened, might have been sexy. At her silence, he chuckled, put the car
in gear and then drove down the road. “Surprised to see a demon?”
She gulped, stunned speechless.
Demons were underworld creatures, stealers of souls and
spawns of Satan. What kind of trouble had she landed herself in?
“Stop the car!” she shouted, blindly grasping for the door
handle that seemed to have disappeared. She might have looked down to assist in
her much needed escape, but that meant she would have to take her eyes off the
demon, which she wouldn’t dare do. “Let me out. Don’t eat my soul.”
Zeke barked a shout of laughter. “I might be a demon by
right, but I have chosen a different life for myself. I won’t eat you.” His
chuckling faded. “And I’ll even send a tow to get your car later. What’s your
name?”
His reply knocked her off her axis and made her pause. Was
what he suggested even possible? Could a demon deny his heritage? “Bryanna.”
She managed to look away from him and noticed they approached a town. “Where
are you taking me?”
“Charmstone.”
Once he passed through the metal gates at the entrance,
Bryanna spotted an old wooden sign that hung on a wrought iron stand. Charmstone was carved into the wood with Established in 1839 written below.
As the car traveled down the curvy paved road, shops of all
kinds appeared. First, Duncan’s Dungeons, then Scaredy Cat Café and even Little
Shop of Potions. The town had a historical feel, with aged stores that only
built more character. It didn’t look decrepit, but had an incredible charm. One
of those places so memorable that if she left, she’d definitely return.
After Zeke rounded a corner, he brought the car to a stop.
Dragging her gaze from the eclectic shops and the few shifters who walked along
the street, she exited the car and stared down the street to her right. She
then looked to her left, totally mesmerized.
The shops were all huddled together with no sense of
organization. They were nothing like she’d seen in Shreveport. It even smelled
different here, almost like gingersnap cookies. Every shop appeared to be a
little house and each had a different style that somehow made each one special.
“What a charming little town.” She glanced over her shoulder
at Zeke and her mouth instantly went dry.
At some point, he had joined her and he was dark, dangerous,
but gorgeous. He towered over her, staring down at her in a way that should
have sent her running. Instead,
as expected.
When she opened her eyes, she discovered her violet-streaked
long black hair dripping around her. Looking down at her black corset, she
found it completely soaked and dirt particles marred her flesh. “That’s it!”
she shrieked to the sky above. “I’ve had enough!”
“You can either get in or stay wet. Your choice.”
At the low, velvety voice, Bryanna jerked her head toward
the car, looking at back door of the black Dodge Challenger, which was open. Get
in the car with a stranger? Or stay in these soaked clothes, with a broken heel
on my boot?
The right decision was glaringly obvious.
With her continuing limp, Bryanna approached the car, then
settled into the backseat. “Thank you for stopping.” As she leaned against the
back of the seat, she noticed she was dripping dirty water along the expensive
black leather. “Perhaps this was a bad idea. I’m ruining your seat.”
“It’s only a car,” the driver stated.
Glancing up from her soaked clothes, Bryanna examined her
savior. He stared out the front windshield, but then looked at her in the
rearview mirror, and she sucked in a harsh breath. It wasn’t his appearance
that worried her. His short dark-brown hair, the broad set of his shoulders and
even his nicely defined arms filling his pale-blue T-shirt looked incredibly
nice. But it was what lay in the depths of his coal-black eyes that terrified
her.
A demon.
“The name is Zeke.” He flashed a grin that, if she hadn’t
been frightened, might have been sexy. At her silence, he chuckled, put the car
in gear and then drove down the road. “Surprised to see a demon?”
She gulped, stunned speechless.
Demons were underworld creatures, stealers of souls and
spawns of Satan. What kind of trouble had she landed herself in?
“Stop the car!” she shouted, blindly grasping for the door
handle that seemed to have disappeared. She might have looked down to assist in
her much needed escape, but that meant she would have to take her eyes off the
demon, which she wouldn’t dare do. “Let me out. Don’t eat my soul.”
Zeke barked a shout of laughter. “I might be a demon by
right, but I have chosen a different life for myself. I won’t eat you.” His
chuckling faded. “And I’ll even send a tow to get your car later. What’s your
name?”
His reply knocked her off her axis and made her pause. Was
what he suggested even possible? Could a demon deny his heritage? “Bryanna.”
She managed to look away from him and noticed they approached a town. “Where
are you taking me?”
“Charmstone.”
Once he passed through the metal gates at the entrance,
Bryanna spotted an old wooden sign that hung on a wrought iron stand. Charmstone was carved into the wood with Established in 1839 written below.
As the car traveled down the curvy paved road, shops of all
kinds appeared. First, Duncan’s Dungeons, then Scaredy Cat Café and even Little
Shop of Potions. The town had a historical feel, with aged stores that only
built more character. It didn’t look decrepit, but had an incredible charm. One
of those places so memorable that if she left, she’d definitely return.
After Zeke rounded a corner, he brought the car to a stop.
Dragging her gaze from the eclectic shops and the few shifters who walked along
the street, she exited the car and stared down the street to her right. She
then looked to her left, totally mesmerized.
The shops were all huddled together with no sense of
organization. They were nothing like she’d seen in Shreveport. It even smelled
different here, almost like gingersnap cookies. Every shop appeared to be a
little house and each had a different style that somehow made each one special.
“What a charming little town.” She glanced over her shoulder
at Zeke and her mouth instantly went dry.
At some point, he had joined her and he was dark, dangerous,
but gorgeous. He towered over her, staring down at her in a way that should
have sent her running. Instead,
Similar Books
