Skin Deep (39 page)
I sighed.
A pair of strapping arms enfolded me within the warmest of embraces. I’d let Logan sleep. Now he was here, toasty warm. I turned in his arms, and stared into his eyes. Tiny flames flickered within their depths and I knew it wasn't just my imagination. His kiss was warm, and comforting. I'd held him at arm's-length for so long. It felt wonderful to be able to relax with him. The one person I could trust implicitly.
I snuggled closer, hoping to feel those flames again. I moved my arm around him, careful not to jar it. I would never be sure what gave me away. Logan's fingers closed around my wrist.
"What's wrong with your arm?" He lifted my hand, staring at the bracelet as if it had come alive.
"Nothing. It's just a bit sore." I tried to pull it from his grasp but he held firm and I winced. Any pressure I used on the muscle would hurt like hell so I tried to keep still. I'd put the armor back on after showering, afraid to even contemplate what the blue-green stain beneath my skin meant. It looked menacing, spreading out like a thousand veins. Before I knew what he was doing, Logan turned my arm over and began to un-buckle the bracelet.
It seemed odd to see him make such quick work of removing it when I'd struggled for days to simply open one buckle.
The bracelet clanked as it landed unceremoniously on the floor. Logan was horrified at the sight.
"What is this?" his face was like a marble statue, drained of every drop of blood. Only a few hours ago the blue-green veins had covered my forearm, conveniently remaining beneath the bronze metal. Now I stared at what had gotten Logan's full attention. My entire arm was covered with a network of tiny blue-green veins. My heart clenched and my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. "What in God's name is going on?"
"I'm not sure." I stared at the spindly patterns, perplexed. The web of dark lines had spread so fast, I was now very, very afraid.
"Why didn't you say something?" Logan had gone from tender and loving to bristling and angry in the blink of an eye. "God, you are the most frustrating person I have ever met."
I wanted to say something smart or funny, but the pain had worsened. I could no longer ignore it. I’d assumed I was tired from my portal travel, not to mention the emotional and physical roller-coaster ride I'd been through over the last week or so. But now, the frightening state of my arm robbed me of anything smart or witty I might have said.
"Let go of me." Suddenly I wanted him to stop touching me. I was stricken with fear this may be contagious and Logan may become infected too. But he held on. The tug-of-war for my arm tired me out, and made it ache more. Logan was going to make his point even if I got hurt in the process. My arm began to blaze with warmth. It went from lukewarm to sizzling and I looked at Logan sharply. I gave my hand one last painful tug and he let go.
Logan blinked at me, as if coming out of a trance. I rubbed my arm, tracing the warmth as it wrapped around my wrist. I looked at it, expecting to see a purple bruise layered over the poisonous blue, and gasped with shock and restrained delight. Where Logan had held me within his heated grasp, was now a band of clean, unblemished skin in the shape and pattern of his fingers.
"What did you do?" I breathed, staring at my hand in fascination.
"I have no idea." He ruffled his hair, scratching at his scalp as he thought hard. "I was concentrating, trying to imagine how the lines were moving around your arm and why. I was a bit pissed off too. And then I must have blanked out for a bit."
Logan lifted my hand in his, studying the cured area in silence.
"Did you use your powers to heal my hand?" I went still, waiting for him to confirm my suspicion.
"It's possible the Fire-magic killed the poison. It's not all gone, though." He turned my hand over as he spoke.
"Try again." I stuck my hand out in front of his face.
"I don't think it works like that. The last thing I want to do now is fry your arm to a crisp." Logan let go of my hand slowly, and it grew cool from the loss. "I need to learn what to do, Kailin. I have to learn how to control this."
I understood. Pain etched his face. To force the issue would be selfish. He had an incredible power within him. A deadly power. I wasn't about to push him into using it to cure the sword's poison before he was ready. I wanted to be free from the noxious blackness seeping through my veins, but not at the expense of Logan's confidence and self-respect.
I would wait. Logan would learn as fast as he could.
"Trust me okay? It will work. I just need to know how to use the Fire." I nodded. I was worried, about my mother. About Greer. "Look, you are not alone. You have me, and your father and brother and the whole Omega team to support you. Once your arm is fixed you can go back to Wrythiin with your own army and bring your mother back."
His arms curled around me, comforting, caring, supportive. I liked those words – I was not alone. Not anymore.
---THE END---
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Connect with Tee online at
http://www.tgayer.wordpress.com/
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Acknowledgments
Skin Deep is the first book I ever wrote. Born under the name of Second Skin, it represented my first foray into the writing world, complete with the usual self-doubt and inability to trust the story. Eventually you learn to listen to the voices in your head and only when I did that, did I really love this book.
I've always wanted to write but I have to thank SF writer Julie Czerneda who spoke at our local library in 2010. She gave me some special words of advice – do it. So I did. Thank you Julie.
This novel received a Commendation Award at the 2011 RWNZ Clendon Awards. Before I received the award I'd been convinced that this MS was an awful mess. The Award gave me the confidence to believe I could actually do this- Thank you to Barbara & Peter Clendon who inspired so many NZ writers to achieve their goals.
To Cassie Hart, Leigh K Hunt & Melissa Pearl. My support team who are always there for me. You girls are amazing!
It seems Skin Deep is also entwined with more of the downs in my life than ups. The release was delayed six month due to my illness and I'm thrilled to finally have it out. My thanks to Patti Larsen, Kimberly Kinrade, Melissa, Cassie and Kate –whenever I needed you, you were always there. You kept me sane even in my hospital bed!
Thank you to Michael Dadich- a special head case who offered me words of advice and a ready shoulder to cry on. Some days were brighter because you were there.
To J.C. Hart. Editor
extraordinaire. I really don't know how you do it. You are a total superwoman. Mother, writer, editor, counselor, teacher and friend.
To my amazing family. Mum & Dad, Vin and Namo. Thank you for
your support and encouragement. For making fun of me when I needed it and for cheering me on when it was hard to put one foot in front of the other.
To Sel, Dharsh and Dhivs. Thanks for putting up with me, reminding me to eat, dragging me out of the house against my will, giggling when I'm grumpy. For looking after me for months and showing me just how much a family can care about someone they love.
To Eduardo Priego- for being the most amazing artist – you always seem to bring the pictures in my head to life. I wish I knew how you did it.
And to Leigh K. Hunt- for your tireless suppo
rt and advice whether it be design or unrelated. Thank you so much for always being there for me.
***
More from T.G. Ayer
The Valkyrie Series
Dead Radiance – Book 1 in the Valkyrie series
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?
http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Radiance-Kindle
Dead Embers – Book 2 in the Valkyrie series
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 the worst enemy of all may be the person she trusts most.
http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Embers-Kindle
Dead
Chaos – Book 3 in the Valkyrie series
Coming soon
Everything seems to be falling apart for Bryn. She's lost her wings and she's losing Aidan. He's no longer the boy she loved. And then there's Joshua. Why does it feel so right to be with him?
As if she doesn't have enough on her mind, Bryn learns of a prophecy that predicts that she will be the reason for Odin's destruction. Bryn is desperate to find a way to change her future, and sets of to Yddrasil to speak to the Norns.
Can Bryn change her Fate? Can she help Aidan find his path, while making the choice between him and Joshua? And can Bryn finally save Brody from the clutches of the Frost Giants?
http://tgayer.com/the_valkyrie_novels.html
The
DarkWorld Series
Skin Deep – Book 1
Released 30th April 2013
Lost Soul – Book 2 coming
late 2013
Second Chance Book 3 coming
2014
http://tgayer.com/the_darkworld_novels.html
The
Hand of Kali Series
Fire – Book 1 coming mid 2013
Sixteen year old Maya Rao never wanted to wield FIRE. Gods and Demons were never part of her plan. She didn't even believe. Being normal was all she wanted.
But escaping her destiny is not an option. For she is The Hand of Kali. She is the wielder of FIRE, BLOOD & TIME- the three powers of the Dark Goddess. And she must learn to be the warrior that Kali needs.
Blood – Book 2 coming late 2013
Time – Book 3 coming 2014
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About the Author
I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognise that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practise given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes… I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It’s a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each other's loves – it works wonderfully…
My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands – I shall forever remain cross-eyed.