Eliza Gayle Witch Bundle (paranormal romance), Eliza Gayle [books suggested by bill gates txt] 📗

She took a deep, steadying breath before letting it out on a quiet exhale. “I know. Let’s go, today is my last day here either way I go. I’d rather die trying.”

He grabbed her hand and squeezed. “You aren’t dying on my watch.”

His confidence made her want to laugh or cry, she was never sure with him. He never could accept any situation would be impossible, no matter what it was. If he knew the truth, would he finally falter? Accept that some things could not be overcome?

She traveled over the first couple of beams before banishing Noah from her thoughts to concentrate on her task. Getting killed because she couldn’t stop thinking about a man like him would really piss her off.

Sweat broke out on her brow as she watched each beam get closer to her body as she passed. Over, under, and around she went, through streak after streak of red light. She dared a glance at Noah and saw one of his beams move. “Noah!” she shouted.

He froze and she watched the area for any other movement. “I saw your beam move.”

“Are you sure?”

She didn’t even dignify that question with an answer only a smirk.

“Then run.” He took off himself, cutting a path through the beams as though no longer concerned about the alarms.

Running behind him, she heard as well as sensed the energy crackling in the room. Pressure in the air built, depriving them of the fresh oxygen they needed. She held her breath and watched him fling a burst of flaming power at the door, breaking it open wide.

Drawing on a reserve of power she didn’t know she had left, she pumped her legs harder, jumping through the flaming doorway right behind him. She was prepared to drop and roll but found it unnecessary as she had escaped the flames untouched.

The dark of night enfolded her quickly as she stumbled, unable to see, to her hands and knees onto the wet grass. Her eyes were still dilated from the bright energy flash and would likely take her a few minutes more to adjust before she could continue on.

“Grab my hand, Jessie.”

Noah’s voice was right in front of her and she couldn’t see a thing.

“Now, Jessie. You have to trust me.”

She blindly reached toward his voice, seeking his hand. When their fingers grazed, Noah roughly grabbed and pulled her toward him.

A strange popping noise sounded behind them as he clung to her and moved quickly over the uneven terrain.

“Stop!”

Someone yelled, but Noah didn’t even break stride. Her eyes adjusted in the dark as things went from blurry shapes to sharper, more normal vision where she could at least see where they were going. She surveyed the area, taking in the fact that they were totally in the open, no cover at all. When a small spray of rocks and grit flew up into their faces, she realized the popping noises she heard were gunshots. Shit. The bastards were hoping to pick them off with no dirty work.

Up ahead was a dense grove of trees. If they could make the last twenty yards without getting shot, then they could disappear. More commotion and angry voices called out for them. If they didn’t make it now, they never would. Jessie’s racing heart roared in her ears, and her blood pumped adrenalin through her body. Time seemed to stand still as they raced towards the treeline, the cover they needed to get away.

Electricity buzzed around Noah as they moved. She could feel him open himself to his power and without her own—it spilled over to her, suffusing her with added strength. She absorbed it like a sponge, craving even more. Her stomach tingled and her breasts tightened with the dangerous sensation of his darker magick. Oh yeah, this is what her body had called out for all these many months since she’d left him. It was dark and delicious and oh so addictive.

More…More…her mind whispered.

Despite the danger they ran from, her mind swirled with thoughts of hard driving sex and something even darker…pain. Her senses sharpened around her. Her mind filtered out the voices and noises behind them and instead focused on the breath sawing in and out of Noah’s lungs, the energy buzzing through his blood.

Something deep inside her stirred once again, a longing she thought she’d gotten past. Seeing Noah—feeling his magick—brought it all back. Power or no power, her beast still wanted him, now more than ever. Her stomach clenched with need for him, and the fear coursing through her only fanned the flames.

With a quick burst and thrust of his right hand behind her, Noah unleashed his heat, engulfing some of the pursuers in a burst of flames. Screams tore through the night and the urge to turn and look filled her.

“Don’t.”

Noah’s one-word demand halted her distractions, reminding her just how in control he was of himself and every situation. Not to mention they couldn’t spare a second if they wanted freedom. Trees swallowed them as they ran into the dark thicket surrounding the estate, their feet pounding against the uneven terrain. He squeezed her hand and pulled her to the right, indicating she should follow him. Jessie complied, her lungs nearly bursting from the effort to keep up with him.

Minutes later, the ground became spongy and wet. A few steps more and her shoes were sinking into mud. They were headed to the swamp.

“Noah, where are we going? I don’t think anyone is chasing us anymore.”

“They’re following us, all right. At the very least, magickally. I can feel Scott’s power touching both of us.”

She cursed under her breath. Of all the times she could really use her power, this would be it. Instead Reverend Scott was using her own stolen magick against them, making it all the more difficult for them to escape.

The deeper into the bayou they moved, the deeper the water became until it was up to her knees. She was forced to move slowly and methodically, trying to avoid the pitfalls of the area that could hurt her. She shuddered to think of what wildlife they might