. “How long do you think you’ll be in town?”
Amber shrugged. “Boney’s place comes with a reaver hunt attached. So at least until that’s done. Two, maybe three days, and then a week at the apartment.”
“Reavers?” Chelsea winced even as she said it. She’d sworn off monster hunting.
Amber, bless her, didn’t even flash a knowing look as she answered. “A type of vampire. Like the exact opposite of a nightling: animalistic, solitary, and ugly as sin.”
Chelsea’s hair whipped in the hot storm winds as she stomped across the empty quad. The dark clouds and thunder matched her mood perfectly. She flew through the doors of the tiny student-run coffee shop as heat lightning raced overhead
It’s a new Chapter in the Chelsea Childling story: Chelsea and Amber.
Back at college, Chelsea is trying to forget about monster hunting, especially the parts of it regarding Jackson Hawk.
A new threat and an old friend might make that impossible.
Her vision reduced to a slim sliver, Chelsea ignored the shelves digging into her back and tried not to breathe loudly. As she stared into the darkness in the kitchen, doubt wormed into her stomach. It was all well and good to hide in here, but what, exactly, was her plan?
Chelsea killed the engine. The last thing she wanted was to run out of gas. She’d been tapped as the getaway driver.
So why aren’t they getting away?
Even worse, why was the house so still and quiet? No lights had snapped on, no signs of violence.
“It’s time, Chelsea.” The bright, white winter sun flared behind his back, leaving Jackson a dim outline in the doorway.
“Where’s your young man?”
Chelsea gasped and jumped at Sister Mary Clarence’s voice. She spun around, heart thumping. “You scared me, sister.”
“Obviously.”
Chelsea slid her hands up his arms. “Only one shot, Jackson?”
“Monsters aren’t known for their mercy.”
Amber whistled as she spun in a circle, taking in the warehouse apartment. “Jack did this?”
Chelsea nodded, her face warming a bit. “Yeah, he set it up…”
The monster hunter turned, hands on her thick hips. “Jackson?”
“Yes.”
“Jackson ‘I didn’t catch her name’ Hawk got an apartment, to share, without being prodded, in any way?”
“Close your eyes.”
Chelsea stood and did as commanded, but couldn’t help the snicker as freezing wind made her hair flutter. “Can I trust you?”
From the darkness, Jackson Hawk’s breath rose gooseflesh as it snaked along her neck. “Oh, my little nun, you should know better by now.
Words That Burn Like Fire 