CHAPTER9
Gunner staredup at the yellow-eyed wolf from beneath its grasp.
The glowing white wolf reared its teeth, a low growl emanating from its depths, but he was startlingly aware there were no actual depths, for the wolf was nothing but energy, spirit.
Like a ghost of sorts.
An angry spirit, as luck would have it.
He pushed against the vengeful spirit with all his might. Harder and harder against the darkness, little wisps of fur dissipating like smoke as he pushed forward through it all.
The growls grew louder, but Gunner did not care.
There was something he needed to get back to...
No, someone.
The tether of the otherworld called to him, the familiar energy one he’d felt all throughout his life.
The energy of the Diviner.
Its iridescent energy sparkled in the dark like a star, and it called him home.
But when Gunner awakened, he was nothome.And it seemed he was under attack.
His hand reached out involuntarily, wrapping around the throat of his attacker.
“The fuck… are you doing?” The voice that spoke sounded familiar, although Gunner could not place where he’d heard it. His eyesight blurred in and out, white spots dancing in his vision, but he did not let go.
“Where am I? Who are—”
“Oh, for Heaven’s sake…” The voice choked and within seconds Gunner felt a shocking energy against the back of his hand, and he seized his hand back.
“The fuck—”
“Yes, I forgot about the disorientation, it seems. Very well, then.” The voice was low, sultry.
Somewhat hypnotic.
Gunner pinched the bridge of his nose, trying desperately to acclimate to his surroundings, which he could not see clearly. His head pounded, and the feeling left him rather vulnerable, and if there was anything Gunner tried to avoid like the plague, it was to appear weak and flawed.
A hand touched his shoulder, sending a shockwave through him once more.
“Fucking hell!” He jumped in response.
“If you sit still, perhaps I can actuallyhelpyou,” the sultry voice grumbled. A soft hand touched him once more, and this time the shock gave way to a rather soothing vibration through his tense muscles.
He opened his eyes once more and his vision started to clear. He settled his gaze on the woman in question, on the hand that touched his shoulder.
The first thing he noticed was her wrist—the underside of it to be exact. As she reached her hand out, fingers brushing his temples, long nails tracing his skin lightly, he noted the underside of her wrist bore a black crescent moon tattoo. Her skin was pale, almost unnaturally white, and in the candlelit glow of wherever they were, it looked as if it were smooth as pure marble.
Without thinking, he wrapped his fingers around her wrist, brushing the shape of the moon with his thumb. She felt smooth and slightly chilled. Like the air on a crisp, fall night.
It was her turn to jump, and Gunner noted a slight flush to her cheeks.
Suddenly the buzzing energy of the Diviner was loud in his ears, and the shockwave that coursed through his body as he touched her skin brought the memories back tenfold.
The woman from the speed dating party.