Cassandra stood inside the conference room staring at the many maps pegged with colored stick-pens only moments after her group of women, the “Wardens” as they’d begun calling themselves, wrapped up a meeting. Pride filled her that in only a month the Wardens had found a definite trend to the abductions. They had worked through Caleb to set up civilian and military alert systems to act on those trends, and they were only getting started.
Michael’s mother was here too, quickly becoming a part of the scientific team. Her father… well, he was missing. The government swore they hadn’t heard from him, but none of the Renegades were convinced that was true. She tried not to think about it. And the crystal—locked away somewhere rather than destroyed. Caleb wasn’t willing to relinquish a weapon that might one day be needed to save the world.
As for the effects of lifebonding, Cassandra had yet to develop any special gift, like Ava’s ability to brainwash others, but she would welcome any skill she could use to aid this war against Adam.
“I have something I want to show you,” Michael said, appearing in the doorway, his big body shrinking the small space. She inhaled at the sight of him, always amazed at how easily he impacted her senses every time she saw him. Surprised to find him without his army fatigues, he was dressed in faded jeans and a snug blue T-shirt that hugged his broad chest.
“You aren’t dressed for work,” she said.
“I took the afternoon off,” he said, holding out his hand.
A few minutes later, they were at the peak of a magnificent mountaintop at the edge of the Grand Canyon, a blanket beneath them and a picnic lunch that Emma had packed for them ready to enjoy. Cassandra looked out at the view with wonder, thrilled at the world that wind-walking was allowing her to enjoy.
“It’s magnificent,” she said, forgetting the war raging around them and embracing this moment with the man she loved. She laughed. “Somehow I doubt anyone but me would believe you would pack a picnic lunch.”
He didn’t laugh as she’d expected him to, and she did so love making him laugh. Instead, he eased her onto the blanket and leaned over her, raw emotion glistening in his eyes. “You have changed my life in ways I cannot ever explain.”
She touched his jaw, her heart squeezing with emotion. “As you have mine,” she promised.
He kissed her then, a gentle kiss that filled her with love. Michael made her whole.
Acknowledgments
There are so many people who helped me make this book and this series come to life. First and foremost, thank you to Deb Werksman and the entire Sourcebooks team for their enthusiastic support. It has shown in every step of the process from submission to print. Rachel Dawn Carrington and Cathryn Fox—you are great friends who make the twists and turns of publication a straighter path. Thank you to Janice for living the deadlines with me and reading my work over and over. You make it better. And finally, importantly, a special thank you to Donna Grant for the many special ways she helped this book make it to the shelves. You rock, that’s all there is to it.
About the Author
Award-winning author Lisa Renee Jones has published more than fifteen novels in several different languages, spanning multiple genres of romance: contemporary, romantic suspense, dark paranormal, and erotic fiction. Her awards include first place in the Romantic Times Aspiring Writers Contest 2003. Before becoming a writer, Lisa lived the life of a corporate executive. Her successful company LRJ Staffing Services was recognized by Entrepreneur magazine in 1998 as one of the top ten growing women-owned businesses. She often uses her sales and marketing background for consulting jobs within the publishing industry. She currently lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Table of Contents
Front Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Glossary
Part 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Part 2
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Back Cover