The Pack-Retribution (28 page)

Nickel stomped his foot. “We can’t leave Dad like that. We gotta do the Zukar ceremony of death. We have to do it or he won’t rest.”

“We don’t have time, Nick. They’ll be here soon. We stayed to long already,” Daniel said sternly as he pushed Nickel toward the door.

Nickel resisted. He stumbled against Daniel’s hard pushes on his back and head to force him forward down the hallway. “No! No, I’m not leaving unless we do it. It’s our Dad!”

Faulk looked solemnly at Daniel. “Look, man. I’ll pack the car. Give the kid something to remember—a chance for him to say goodbye.” With that, he grabbed the bag and left the house.

Daniel gave in and walked with his brother to stand in front of his father’s fallen body. “Okay Nickel, let’s do it.”

They chanted and prayed the Zukar death ritual over their father. Daniel snatched his knife out of his belt and cut off a lock of his hair. He turned to Nickel and did the same. Nickel gathered the pieces and plaited it into his father’s long braids.

There was a moment of silence, and finally Nickel dropped down and hugged his father goodbye. He took a deep breath and swallowed hard, trying to be brave. “I’m ready.”

Daniel put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. He lifted him up and threw him over his shoulder. He tickled Nickel, hoping their old game of capture would take their minds off the grave road ahead of them.

“Put me down! Stop! I’ll get you!” Nickel yelled and squirmed.

Daniel slapped him on the leg, a smile tickling his lips. “Keep fighting. You squirt. You’ll never be big enough to beat me.”

“When I turn eleven, you’re going down—you just watch,” Nickel replied with a firm smack to Daniel’s head. He laughed out as Daniel seized him with another tickle attack.

“Is that so? Then maybe I need to get all my licks in now,” Daniel chuckled and slapped Nickel’s backside. He forced it out and pushed down the conflicting emotions raging in his chest.

More Releases From LM Preston

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THE PACK, 2010

Shamira is considered an outcast by most, but little do they know that Shamira is on a mission. Kids on Mars are disappearing, but Shamira decides to use the criminals’ most unlikely weapons against them, the very kids of which they have captured. In order to succeed, she is forced to trust another, something she is afraid to do. However, Valens her connection to the underworld of her enemy, proves to be a useful ally. Time is slipping, and so is her control on the power that resides within her. Yet, in order to save her brother's life she is willing to risk it all. Look for book two of the series,
THE PACK – RETRIBUTION in 2012

EXPLORER X - BETA, 2012

Barely escaping their captors, Aadi and Eirena are determined to save their dying friend. After their final confrontation with the species that tortured them, they've changed-unfortunately, not for the better. The changes caused by a terrible experiment force Aadi to accept the possibility that he may never be fit to go home, and that holding onto his sanity, or leading his friends to safety will end in failure and may rip his friendship with Eirena apart, forever. Time is slipping away and the possibility of losing his friend is not an option, but the foe that awaits them may be worse than the one they left.

About the Author

LM. Preston was born and raised in Washington, DC. An avid reader, she loved to create poetry and short-stories as a young girl. With a thirst for knowledge she attended college at Bowie State University, and worked in the IT field as a Techie and Educator for over sixteen years. She started writing science fiction under the encouragement of her husband who was a Sci-Fi buff and her four kids. Her first published novel, Explorer X - Alpha was the beginning of her obsessive desire to write and create stories of young people who overcome unbelievable odds. She loves to write while on the porch watching her kids play or when she is traveling, which is another passion that encouraged her writing.

You can find out what LM Preston’s up to on her blog:
http://lmpreston.blogspot.com
and new releases
http://bookpartylmpreston.blogspot.com