Tempted (46 page)

The dock jutted out onto the lake, perfect for fishing. And, sure enough, there was a guy sitting on the end of the dock, casting out his line with a little
zing
and then a
plop!
as it hit the water.

It was strange. I didn’t know who he was, but suddenly a terrible panic intruded on my wonderful, beautiful day. No! I didn’t want to see him! I was shaking my head and starting to back away when I stepped on a twig and the
snap
had him turning around.

The big smile on his handsome face vanished when he saw me.

“Zoey!”

Heath’s voice did it. My memory rushed back. The sadness knocked me to my knees. He was up and running toward me so that he caught me in his arms as I fell.

“But you don’t belong here! You’re dead!” I sobbed against his chest.

“Zo, babe, this is the Otherworld. It’s not me who doesn’t belong here—it’s you.”

Memory crashed over me, drowning me with despair and darkness and reality as my world shattered, and everything went black.

The End for Now
Stay tuned for more in the next installment of the House of Night
Burned