Following her father’s dying wish, Ally Stanford discovers that everything about her life is a lie. When she’s targeted by demons, she’s forced to entrust her life to the tall, dark warrior who seems intent on doing everything within his power to keep her safe.
After mourning the loss of his Fated female for over a century, Draven, a warrior within the lore-legendary Guardians, is astonished at the primal feelings Ally invokes in him. Her small, lithe body, brilliant blonde hair, and lavender eyes awaken something deep inside, something he thought he lost forever. Keeping her safe becomes his top priority, and he’s willing to do anything for her. But when the truth of her existence comes to the surface, will it bring them closer together or separate them for all eternity?
Be Warned: violence.
“Ally, honey, I’m sorry,” Serin said through Ally’s bedroom door. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
Ally had only left her bedroom a few times throughout the day, and each time had been because she was starving. She’d go into the kitchen, grab something quick to eat, and go back to her room without saying a word to any of her friends.
Standing from her bed, she opened her door and glared at her best friend. “I’m still mad at you.”
“I know, but I brought you a present,” she said, producing a bowl of ice cream. “You can only have it if you forgive...” Her voice trailed off as she noticed what Ally was wearing. “Please don’t tell me that’s for the vampire.”
Ally stood in the short red dress that she’d changed into so she’d look her best for Draven. She’d gotten frequent bursts of comfort throughout the day and thought that maybe they had come whenever Draven thought about her. She hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind. As Serin stared at her, shaking her head in disgust, Ally grabbed her long, black jacket and put it on. “Ha!”
“Short skirt, long jacket? For a vampire?” she gaped. “I’m not sure we’re even friends anymore.”
Ally approached the door again, her hands outstretched. “Give me the ice cream.”
“No.” Serin held it away from her. “I’m not sure you deserve ice cream either.”
“Fine, I forgive you.”
The sound of glass shattering drew their attention down the hall. They heard screams and growls and Jake howling, which made both of them panic.
“Stay here,” Serin said, shoving the bowl into her hands. “I mean it.” She ran down the hall and came back seconds later. “Go out through here,” she said, sliding the window open. She pushed the screen out of the window and grabbed Ally’s hand. “I’ll be right behind you,” she whispered.
Ally ditched the bowl, and her eyes met Serin’s before she dropped to the ground. As soon as her bare feet hit the snow, they screamed out in pain. Serin tossed her legs over the windowsill, ready to follow her, but someone grabbed her and yanked her back in.
“Run!” she yelled.
Ally ran. She pumped her legs, as fast as she could though the frozen snow. More sounds erupted behind her as she reached her gate and bolted through the opening. Someone was chasing her. She could hear the footsteps. She didn’t know where to go or where to hide, but she had to keep going. Rounding the corner of the house, she headed into her front yard.
And skidded to a stop.
Men clad in what looked like fighting gear stood there, wielding weapons against…Cass and Kat.
Serin appeared behind her, fighting another man.
Ally nearly screamed out. They’d been after her, not her friends. She’d die if anything happened to any of them. But as she watched, she realized that her friends were fighting back, wielding weapons of their own. And they were good.
One of the men turned to see Ally standing there, and just as he charged her, Serin tackled him to the ground.
“Get out of here!” she yelled.
Ally stepped back, tensing to run again, but her back brushed against something big and hard. She whipped her head around and looked up. Her gaze met the same cold eyes she’d seen the night of her family’s murder. During one of their conversations, Draven had told her that he’d killed Clay, the shorter demon who had been at her parents’ house the other night. He’d also vowed to go after Q’s head, since he fled the scene that night.
So this was Q.
He threw his arms around her and held her tight, grasping her around her stomach as she started kicking and screaming. She couldn’t break free of his iron grasp even though she continued to struggle.
Serin, Cass, and Kat all tried to reach her, but as hard as they tried, they couldn’t get passed the others.
Q held Ally tighter in his arms. Her breathing became shallow as he kept a tight squeeze on her. Knowing that if she didn’t break free soon, she’d pass out from suffocation, Ally thrashed about harder. She screamed out when she felt a sharp pain shoot through her shoulder.
Q had just broken her arm.
Then everything went black.
