Finding Valor by Charlotte Abel

Author:Charlotte Abel [Abel, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B00DL6JLI2
Goodreads: 18130168
Published: 2013-06-23T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

BETRAYAL

Channie floated in the twilight space between sleep and wakefulness. She tried to take a deep breath, but her chest refused to expand more than a few inches. She tried to open her eyes. Her brows arched, but her lids remained closed. A tingling sensation tugged at her heart…magic…Josh.

“Please, Channie. I need you.”

Love rushed out of her heart as Josh’s love poured into hers. But it was followed by an overwhelming sense of despair. Something’s wrong.

Their connection snapped. An involuntary gasp filled her lungs. The clean scent of wet pine tickled her nose. It must have rained while she was asleep. No. The air was too dry. She tried to open her eyes again, but they refused. She took another deep breath. Something was off. Not only was the air too dry, it felt…lighter?

She licked her chapped lips and tasted Burt’s Bees spearmint lip balm. The honey-mint flavor reminded her of Colorado and…Josh.

She pushed a wave of love and concern towards him and felt his love in return, but he felt so far away. How long had it been since they’d strengthened their bond?

Channie’s eyes fluttered open but her vision was so blurry she could barely see. She locked her gaze on Josh’s sapphire blue eyes and reached for his face, but he jerked out of reach before she could touch him.

Her vision cleared. It wasn’t Josh’s face looming over her, but the hideous face of a monster. She screamed.

The monster frowned and stepped back. “I’m not going to hurt you, as long as you cooperate.”

It was a man, not a monster. Channie sat up and squinted, as if narrowing her vision would lessen the impact of the man’s disfigured face. It didn’t. “Who are you?”

“Call me Vince.”

Vince wasn’t a power-name, but the man was obviously a mage. He had his emotions locked down, but power radiated off him. Vince must be a nickname.

Without magic, Channie couldn’t mask her emotions. She tried to steady her breathing and slow her heart. “Do you work for the Veyjivik clan?”

The man’s mouth contorted into what would have been a snarl, if he’d had any lips. “I don’t work for anyone.”

“Then why did you take me?” There was a price on her head, so even if he were free-lancing, he was probably planning on turning her over to Dominance for the reward money.

Channie glanced around, looking for an escape. She was in a loft, much like her own room at home, except this one was very well-built. Even if she managed to sneak out the window, the polished logs fit together too perfectly. There were no chinks or knots in the logs to provide finger and toe holds. And no trees close enough to climb down.

“I didn’t take you. I hired a tracker to find you.”

Channie’s heart stopped, then made up for lost time. Josh. Hunter. Shep. “What happened to my guards?”

The man’s face contorted as he laughed. “Your so-called guards need to find a different career. All my tracker had to do

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