Shadows & Dust Excerpt
Havoc stumbled, losing her balance as the world spun wildly around her. Her legs buckled, and she tumbled to the ground. She swiftly clambered back onto her feet, frantically searching for her sword, when she realized her surroundings had changed.
Gone were the familiar streets and blocks of houses.
Eyes wide, she whipped her gaze about, scanning her unfamiliar terrain. She stood on a cobblestone clearing surrounded by trees. Looked like some sort of sparring area.
She had been transported somewhere.
The mysterious stranger stood a few steps away, his eyes shut, and his hands intertwined behind his back. As flirty winds weaved through his lengthy blonde hair, an air of tranquility radiated from him, highlighting his astounding beauty.
“Where did you drift me, shifter?” she grumbled. “What is this place?”
“A sanctuary of sorts—a place where we can get more acquainted without worrying about anyone else getting hurt.”
“Anyone else?” she muttered sadly.
He briefly opened his piercing ocean-colored eyes and nodded toward his right. “Retrieve your blade, huntress.”
Something glimmered in her peripheral. Stuck firmly in the cobblestone, her katana was a little more than ten steps away. Heart racing, she eased towards it, refusing to take her eyes off him. “Why are you doing this?”
He arched an eyebrow. “To be quite honest, I was bored. Then I found you, and now I’m intrigued. I see you’re struggling with that force of yours. I want to help you.”
Her breathing quickened as she approached her weapon. Once within arm’s length, she slid her fingers over the leather-bound hilt. “I didn’t ask for your fuckin’ help,” she spat, snatching the sword from the surface.
The second she whipped her weapon in front of her, her blade clashed with his. The blow sent shockwaves coursing through her body. He had moved in on her so fast she barely had time to react.
Sparks sprung from the screeching blades as a seductive grin slid across his handsome face. “Lucky for you, you didn’t have to ask.”
Firmly gripping the handle, Havoc stood her ground and braced against his imposing force.
He brandished a lustrous black blade. Its slightly curved and elegant design was reminiscent of a scimitar and a katana. It was a majestic weapon—beautiful and powerful, much like its owner.
Oh God, am I gushing over this dude in the middle of a battle? What the actual hell?
“You’re being consumed by rage. For an Andausian who wields chaos, that’s a recipe for disaster.” He abruptly drew back, lifting the weight from her blade.
She staggered and skipped backward to put some space between them, but no amount of distance offered her respite.
He flashed forward. Once again, their blades collided, ringing out in harmony. “While we’re getting acquainted, why don’t you introduce yourself? I’d like the name of the hunter I clash swords with.” His aura expanded in waves, and his eyes beamed, radiating a brilliant sapphire glow that engulfed the atmosphere. “I’ll go first. My name is Dante Bithanos.”
Bithanos?! Was he kin to the ruthless demon vampire Demetri Bithanos? No, that couldn’t be. If he were, she would already be dead.
The earth quaked beneath her feet as a force unlike any she had ever known washed over her. Panting and growling, she dropped to one knee. The breeze condensed around her, ripping the air from her lungs. Her spiritual power surged in response. The scarlet chaos crept down her limbs like tentacles, tickling her skin. Then, it suddenly stalled.
Strange. It would be bursting out of her in an uncontrolled tide by now.
“What’s your name?” he crooned as if he wasn’t spiritually choking the shit out of her.
Every muscle in her body strained against his overwhelming strength. She wanted to scream, but she could hardly breathe. It wasn’t just his brute force. His immense power threatened to completely smother the life out of her spirit energy.
Seeming to enjoy her struggle, he smiled and tilted his blade. The sharp edge came dangerously close to her throat. “One word from you is all that stands between life and death, my dear. If you tell me your name, I promise not to behead you.”
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