Category: Fantasy Publisher: Cluster Publishing
ISBN-10: 0987962508
Pages: 88
Copyright: May 1, 2012
ISBN-13: 9780987962508
Payton thought she had a normal, everyday life. When a mysterious man suddenly appears, he shatters her world telling her that her entire life has been a lie. She is a god with the Guardians having lived for 1000's of years. The Anords know where she is and he needs to protect her at all costs. Payton holds the key to saving humanity. However, a mysteriously familiar woman complicates everything.
Excerpt
Damn! Damn! Damn! She thought to herself. Concentrate girl! It wasn’t that good. Or was it?
Payton stood looking in the mirror. Just staring at herself. ‘Gotta get ready for work.’ She had a hard time putting her eye liner on. The stranger she helped the night before had her stomach in knots. He just popped out of nowhere while she was digging for her keys in front of her apartment block. His face bloody, clothes torn, and he could hardly walk. He scared the crap out of her!
“Help …. Please” he whispered. Then he collapsed.
Payton helped him to his wobbly feet and into her apartment. Tried to lay him on her sofa gently but her arm slipped and he fell on it with a thud. His moan made her wince. “Sorry” she said. ‘What the hell am I doing?’ she yelled in her head. ‘Some street bum asks for help and you let him in your home? For all you know, he’s a nut case!’
She looked down at him. ‘What happened to you?’ she thought. ‘Never mind – I don’t think I want to know. Let’s get you cleaned up. No, wait. I should call for an ambulance.’ She reached for the phone on the coffee table, when his hand grabbed hers. “No, don’t!” he said. “I’ll be okay.” “But you need help!” Payton protested. “No … you can’t” he said, starting to pull himself up, slowly.
She could see the pain he was in. “Can I get you anything?” she asked.
“No, thank-you. May I use your washroom to clean-up a bit?”
“Uh, yeah … yeah.” She replied. “It’s this way.”
Helping him to his feet was no easy task. He was tall and built – well built, she could feel his muscles under his torn t-shirt. Kind of heavy for her 5’6” frame to hold up. She helped him to the washroom, sitting him on the edge of the bathtub.
“Thank-you,” he said “I’ll be out in a while.”
“Okay.” she hesitated, then shut the door.
She went back to her front door to lock it and then to her living room to wait, fingers tapping on the coffee table. ‘What’s taking him so long?’ Thirty minutes had gone by. ‘Maybe I should check on him.’ Just as she rose to head for the washroom, the door opened up. The stranger walked out quietly, calm and looked no worse for wear. ‘Wow!’ she thought as she stared. Clothes were clean, not a scratch on him! “I just needed a little time to re-generate.” He said with a slight grin. ‘No kidding.’ She thought, still staring. This guy was your typical “Adonis” type. Tall, dark, slightly longer hair and dark, almost black eyes. Rugged features and muscles – god – would you look at that! He looks like a god!
“Hello?” he said. His voice snapped Payton back to reality.
“Uh, sorry for staring, but with the shape you were in when I brought you in … and now. How’d you do that? Never mind. Not sure I want to know.”
Actually, she did want to know, just didn’t want to interrogate a stranger. She didn’t know who this guy was or what he was capable of.
His dark eyes stared at her; the slight smile on his lips did not fade. “It’s okay.” he said. “I thank you for your help. I’ll let myself out.” He started for the door. “Wait!” Payton shouted. He turned. “Are you sure you’re alright? I mean. No offense, but you looked terrible just 30 minutes ago … and now … it’s like nothing happened!” she stuttered a bit. “How …?”
“You need not concern yourself with that Payton,” he said quietly. His voice was quite soothing, soft, his stare gave her shivers.
He walked slowly toward her, leaned down and softly kissed her lips, turned and walked out her front door.
He kissed me! A kiss – what … hey!
How the hell did he know my name?
Sleep that night? Not bloody likely. Payton tossed and turned all night long. When her alarm went off, she slammed her hand down on it, hard. Almost broke the clock – again! She wasn’t in good spirits when she had no sleep. Coffee. Coffee was a good thing. ‘Get up and move your butt!’ talking to herself. Coffee was still steaming on the vanity of the washroom as she finished her hair and make-up.
“Presentable” she said, looking at the reflection in the mirror.
Payton never realized how beautiful she really was. If anyone gave her a compliment, she’d smile and say thank-you, but in her thoughts, she’d always think of so many more women in this world more beautiful. Then forget about the whole thing and move on.
Walking to her car that morning was no different than any other morning. It was a nice sunny day, warm, inviting. The kind she wanted to spend outside, go to the beach, maybe the park. Not inside her shop doing someone’s hair and listening to local gossip, or listening to the woes of her clients, while doing the latest highlight technique found in this season’s hairstyle guide.
Valiant escapades, wicked battles, and heart wrenching loss await readers in this fourth installment of the bestselling Dragoneer Saga. Hold onto your dragon!
