“Balen.” I collapsed to my knees and he went with me, his arms still holding me to him.
He’d returned. He held me in his arms. He was here.
“Danni,” he murmured into my ear, causing a sprinkle of shivers to spark over my skin.
He slowly turned me so I faced him. He cupped my chin and tilted my head up and I met his brilliant green eyes. He stole my breath away.
His thumb wiped my tears with a tender caress, and then he leaned forward and placed a light kiss on my quivering lips.
That was all I needed.
I crumbled into his arms, burying my head in the crook of his neck, breathing in his familiar scent. He stroked my hair, his fingers entwined in the strands, holding me to him.
He rocked me back and forth. “Fuck, I missed you.”
I pulled back so I could look at him. I needed to see him, make certain he was real. I reached up and ran my fingers down the side of his face. I’d memorized every detail, knew every crevice, every texture, every angle. But to touch him, feel him beneath the pads of my fingers . . . it was salvation.
“Tell me you’re here to stay. Please,” I whispered, my breath hesitating as I waited for his answer.
The flash of his grin was all I needed. “No one gets to be with you but me, little one. Told you that.” His mouth crushed mine and we fell back into the snow.
From: [email protected]
Meet you at the compound in five days. Midnight. Don’t be late, asshole.
Glossary of Terms
Center World Other (CWO): For thousands of years, numerous organisms that survived the Ice Age remained hidden until a hundred years ago when they emerged to the Earth’s surface in the form of insects. Intelligent. Can inhabit a recently deceased human body, possessing them body and soul. Transformation occurs within seven days, depending on the species. Immune to Wraiths’ powers. Protected by heat and minerals from the Earth’s core.
Deaconry, the: Assembly comprised of four Wraiths, two Scars, and one witch. Decide laws and punishments for all who live under the Goddess Azzurra.
Deep Sleep (DS): A state of sleep which one can be contained for short periods.
Grits (CWO): Derived from the common cockroach. Odorless. Difficult to track. Able to heal within seconds. Means of destruction: decapitation.
Assumes the bodies of attractive males with a strong presence. Will lure women to bed with the intent of siphoning the air from their lungs to live longer in their human states.
Goddess Azzurra: Goddess of the realm. Created the Scars and Wraiths. Also is the Goddess of Witches.
Ink: A tattoo on a Scar that can be called to life.
Lilac (CWO): Lepidoptera order of insects. Assume the bodies of females. Known to be strikingly beautiful to lure their targets. Their skin emits a powdered substance that smells of lilacs. Able to trap prey in webbing. Victims are stored in cocoons which are later used as sustenance.
Long Necks (CWO): Derived from the common beetle. Known as followers. Have unusually long necks. Characterized by bad acne, substantial bulk, and foul odors compared to rotten garbage.
Maite: Husband or wife of a Scar
Pests (CWO): Derived from the common mosquito. Spawn from swamp, or marsh-like areas near gravesites. Emit a buzzing only Sounders can detect. Possess excellent eyesight. Skin emits an itching agent.
Realm, the: An otherworldly dominion where the Wraiths reside and Deaconry convenes.
Rest: A coma-like state of mind a Scar is placed when punished. Length of rest determined by the Deaconry.
Scars: Immortal warriors with capabilities derived from the senses: Trackers, Sounders, Healers, Tasters, Visionaries, and the rare Reflectors.
Evolved in 1610 in Zugarramurdi, Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. In order to combat the devastation of the masses, five witches swore fealty to the Goddess Azzurra. In exchange, she granted them immortality, unique abilities of the senses, and an Ink that could be called forth for protection.
Scar Healers: Females with the capability to heal other Scars and humans. In rare instances, capable of healing animals and other entities. Able to envision the injury and heal the wound from the inside out. Experiences the pain of the injury.
Scar Reflectors: Possess a strong empathy toward emotions. Can alter emotions of others.’ Characterized with stronger telepathic abilities.
Scar Sounders: Able to detect high frequencies from long distances.
Scar Tasters: Able to detect others’ emotion by a distinct change in molecules in the air which affects taste.
Scar Trackers: Posses the ability to track shed skin cells.
Scar Visionaries: Able to see through certain objects. Some are able to read in hyper-speed or burn through objects.
Sublymns: Children living in the Realm who have died horrible deaths on Earth.
Talde: Group of Scars, similar to a covenant.
Taldeburu: Leader of a Talde of Scars.
Tracing: Ability to teleport to a past location.
Wraiths: Four witches, who had been burned at the stake, were offered a reprieve by the Goddess Azzurra. Each spirit was resurrected as a Wraith with the power of one of the four elements—Earth, Water, Fire, and Air.
Live in the Realm, but may walk the Earth for short periods of time.