Awaken
by Grace White
The Lilituria Prophecy #1
Publication Date: September 27, 2016
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance
EXCERPT
"You said something before, when we first met," I said.
"What?"
"You said you'd been the new guy once. What did you mean?"
"I moved to Decker on my thirteenth birthday. New town, new school, new friends." He shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal.
"Oh, come on." I nudged him. "Star hockey player, you couldn't have struggled to fit in that much."
Kai ran a hand through is hair. "I was in a bad place back then."
Something about the bitterness in Kai's voice silenced my reply. Instead, I said, "What's a girl got to do to get a drink around here?"
Kai laughed, a deep rumble vibrating from his chest. "This way, milady." He stood and offered his hand.
We collected orders from the rest of the group and made our way to the kitchen.
"What'll it be?" he asked from the refrigerator.
"Soda is fine."
"Why do I get the feeling you don't live life in the fast lane?" His head disappeared behind the door.
"Are you calling me boring?"
He reappeared. "I like it. I can't explain it, Daiya, but I feel like I've known you longer than a couple of weeks. Is that crazy?"
"I—"
Kai closed the door and placed down a couple of cans of soda. His eyes burned through me as he stalked forward, and I stepped back, my back hitting the counter that ran the length of the room.
"Kai, I …" My eyes shuttered, the flames building. I clutched the amethyst teardrop through my hoodie, and Kai's eyes dropped to my chest. When they met mine again, they were swirling with lust.
"Daiya."
I swallowed hard, my mouth dry.
"What is happening between us?"
My heart thumped against my chest so hard I felt a little lightheaded, but still, Kai's eyes didn't let up, and I was sure I would combust from the charged look he was giving me.
He inched closer and reached out for my hair. Pinching a strand behind his fingers, Kai smiled. "All I can think about right now is kissing you." His eyes dropped to my mouth. "I remember the way you taste."
"I …" My lips parted. I wanted this. I wanted to experience Kai's mouth on mine for real. Not like it had been in the bar or how it was in my dreams. But something held me back, and I pressed my hands against his chest, inhaling a strained breath. "We should get back out there." I released a sigh, hoping he could see that I wanted this, but I just wasn’t ready to cross that line.
Not until I knew what it meant.
Kai's head dropped to mine, and he let out a long breath of his own.
Why had I pulled away? This was what I wanted, wasn't it? But what if the prophecy was wrong? What if what Kai was experiencing was just a reaction to me? To my awakening?
"Hey." His soft voice brought me back to the room. "Come on."
I nodded and forced my lips into a smile. But the thoughts wouldn't leave. There were too many questions still. Too many outcomes. And one stood out above all the others: even if what Kai and I felt was real, there would come a day when he discovered who I was.
What I was.
And then what?
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