Betwixt (29 page)
Authors: Melissa Pearl
Harrison never expected to talk to the strange Hart girl, but after a brief encounter he can't stop thinking about her. He begins a campaign to chisel away her icy veneer and is met with unexpected consequences. As he slowly wins this girl over, he enters a surreal world that has him fighting to keep his newfound love and his life.
GOLDEN BLOOD
They were an enigma. Throughout the ages there had only ever been rumors of these mysterious people who appeared out of nowhere and disappeared just as quickly, whispers of swirling gold dust, unexplained piles of abandoned clothing left in dark alleys. Only a select few had glimpsed the reality and they chose not to speak of it. They knew the truth needed guarding. These people were special… chosen. Created for the sole purpose of changing history.
Chapter One
St. Augustine, Florida - 2011 AD
Gemma Hart pulled on her jeans and zipped the fly. Grabbing her shirt off the toilet seat, she threw it on and struggled to do it up. Her hands were shaking and still rippling with pins and needles. She bunched them into fists and shook them out before attempting her buttons again. Her fingernails shone gold, but that would only take another moment to fade.
She straightened her shirt, pulled on her black hoody and quickly assembled her long hair into a ponytail. Smoothing back any lumps, she fisted her hands for the last time. Flexing her fingers, she held them steady in front of her and examined the red knuckles on her right hand. They were still swollen, but the grazing was already healing. She ran a light finger over them, still feeling the man’s jaw crunch beneath her fist.
She frowned. It had been her only choice.
The phone in her back pocket dinged. With an irritated huff, she ignored the tone of the message and replied.
IM FINE. WHEN IS DEBRIEF.
She touched SEND and drew in a deep breath. The bell would ring soon and she didn’t want to be late for class. Gathering her bag from the floor, she checked her phone and made a mental note to be home by 5pm. Being late to class was one thing, but being late for a debrief was not worth the drama.
Unlocking the door, she peeked her head out of the stall and crept into the bathroom. She washed her hands and leant against the basin, studying her weary reflection. She knew her body would soon be fully energized again, but it felt like the older she got the longer it took.
She snorted out a cynical laugh. Seventeen and already worrying about aging? Yeah, she had issues.
The bathroom door banged open. Gemma’s body snapped straight and her gaze dropped to the floor. She could feel the curious glances. No one ever just skimmed over her. She was always studied from a safe distance; never approached. But that was her fault, right? She wasn’t exactly the friendliest girl at St. Augustine High School.
Clearing her throat, she lifted her bag, grabbed her binder and turned to look directly at the two bug-eyed freshman. They both looked to the ceiling. Gemma rolled her eyes and squeezed past them. What was the point?
Golden Blood can be sampled and purchased digitally through
Smashwords
,
Amazon
and
Barnes & Noble
.
It can also be purchased in paperback through
Amazon
and
Zealous Design
.
If you like YA Paranormal stories, you may also want to check out the Valkyrie Novels by T. G. Ayer.
Bryn Halbrook had always seen the glow. But it is only when her best friend dies that she discovers the meaning of those beautiful golden auras — Death. Alone, lost in the foster system, she struggles to understand who she is and why she was cursed with the ability to see the soon-to-be-dead.
The new foster kid, Aidan, isn’t helping any. Mr. Perfect seems to fit in no matter what, making her feel even more pathetic. But when his affections turn to her, Bryn finds him hard to resist. Impossible actually. A mystery himself, Aidan disappears, leaving behind a broken heart and a mysterious book that suggests Bryn might not be entirely human.
Bryn stands at the threshold of a journey of discovery. Will destiny help her find herself, find her purpose and her place in a world in which she’d never belonged?
Valkyrie-in-training Bryn Halbrook just can't catch a break. With her boyfriend stuck in Hel and the taunting laughter of Loki still ringing in her ears, she struggles to concentrate on her training and duties in Odin's realm. The last thing she expects or wants is more adventure—but then treachery, a shocking abduction and a chilling discovery send her forth on another perilous, globe-hopping mission.
As the ultimate battle, Ragnarok, draws closer, it's a race against time for Bryn, Fenrir and their team to discover who kidnapped her foster brother from the halls of Asgard and what's causing the mysterious deaths of so many of Odin's chosen warriors.
In the exciting sequel to DEAD RADIANCE, Bryn encounters dwarfs and dragons, new friends and old foes—but worst enemy of all may be the person she trusts most!
If you like time travel novels, you may like to check out Screwing Up Time by C. M. Keller.
Mark Montgomery is a slacker content with his life. He’s a senior at New Haven Prep, has a great friend, and after graduation he’ll get a brand new sports car from his parents, assuming he stays out of trouble. Then, she comes into his life—Miranda with her I-just-escaped-from-a-Renaissance-Fair clothing. Only, she hasn’t. She has come from Bodiam Castle in the Middle Ages and demands a secret ingredient and a book of recipes for traveling through the treacherous colors of time. Although Mark has never even heard of either before, he must find them, or Miranda will die. To save her, Mark must break into a psych hospital to visit his grandfather who once tried to kill him, pass through the colors of time, take on a medieval alchemist, prevent Miranda’s marriage to a two-timing baron, and keep it all hidden from his parents. The sports car is definitely in trouble.
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