Title: Exaltation
Author: Jamie Magee
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult
Release Date: February 10th 2015
Summary:Fate is a twisted b*$#@, at least his was.
Was one soul worth the lives of millions? The quandary was one that Rydell King had no choice but to face. No matter the answer, the truth remained—innocence was created to destroy him. She was beautiful…extinguishing her to save his people seemed impossible, and maybe it was. As an immortal, his focus was to destroy the curse upon his people, as he devoured the emotion that bore him—exaltation, no matter the cost. She made him question everything.
Mercy had never been crueler.
Raven was not known for having a long attention span and apparently the Veil did not hinder her virtue, or curse, depending how you saw it. She heard music, a guitar.
Raven took a step toward it and as she did she felt a wave of electrical energy come over her. Her entire body was humming. She felt like she was waking up from a thick, languid dream. Like she was coming home. She had to get closer. Needed to get closer.
Right as she started to move toward a wicked cool looking house her father clasped her elbow.
“Raven. Focus. Any more questions?”
“Can I find the dead musician? Oh. My. God. Is Elvis in here?”
If there was one thing Raven could do it was make her father laugh. She loved doing that. But right then she was doing it so she could slowly edge toward that sensation she was feeling. It made everything move slower yet intensified everything. She had butterflies for the first time in her life and she had no idea why. Yearning, it was so rich that it almost hurt.
“All right let’s practice getting out. Think of home.”
Raven didn’t want to go home. She had to chase this feeling. “But—I.”
“Show me you can get out,” he said with a raised brow.
Out Raven thought with a pout on her face.
As soon as Raven left the Veil the feeling left. She was never a fan of reality before but it had never felt as heavy as it did then. This blows.
Before he could question why her lips were on his, which only made him draw a deeper breath, feel the high all the more, he felt the rush instantly—pure bliss.
Vim, energy, Rydell was very aware of it all times. He felt hers pulling from him, yet it wasn’t. It was as if there was this unseen silk barrier between them—a division he wanted beyond.
One hand reached for her waist, the other to cradle her face, when he felt her vim easing her back, he turned her against the wall. Nothing short of an atomic bomb would be strong enough to force them apart.
His lips feasted on hers, his tongue intertwining, drawing in subtle breaths each time he could. His fingertips filtered through the long locks of her hair…again it felt like silk, as if there was some barrier between them. He could feel her, but not really…pressed against ecstasy but couldn’t reach it.
His hand slowly fell, gliding past her shoulder, carefully down the side of her chest.
So responsive.
Finally reaching her hips he pulled her closer to him, forgetting where he was, what he was doing.
Right now all he cared to know was why this felt majestic…forbidden.
“It was a bloody dream…I saw you…I felt you. My chest ripped open with pure joy. Want,” he hung his head lower. “My virtue is my patience, or it was…until the likes of you came to mind, until I realized this pulse in my soul was because of you…I lost all willpower then, love. Every ounce.”
His hands gripped the mantel. “I was a fool,” his gaze drifted to the side. “I landed in this hell, forevermore trapped. Our fate seized.” He swallowed stiffly. “…I can’t feel anything here. I can’t focus.”
The last few hours flew by. Raven was warmed up enough and had seen Soren hop on the floor a bit ago to get himself loose.
He had made it a point to skate around her and give her that look. The one that made the girls around them scream like they were at a concert and the lead singer just leapt down into the crowd.
Raven found it hilarious they all thought she and Soren were really having some torrid love affair.
“All right. All right!” the DJ said over the mic. “I don’t know about ya’ll but I’ve been feeling a little sizzle in the air.”
The crowd screamed. Raven’s heart started to pound. She knew the spotlight was seconds away.
“Maybe a little young love, hmmmm?” the DJ prompted. “I’ve been told that someone wants the floor cleared!” The crowd whistled and roared as they started to clear away. “That’s right, clear the floor so this man can hold his woman.” Catcalls were heard from as far as the auditorium.
There were only a few stragglers on the floor so Raven started to pick up her skate. The lights went out which was her cue. She rolled into the center just as the spotlight came on. This part was easy, a few spins and in and outs, but the whistles had already started.
The music they were using was a mix of almost everything. It started out with a slow beat set to a snap and a deep bass that pounded at the perfect moment. Raven knew the second Soren glided on the floor because the girls screamed his name along with ‘marry me.’ Raven glanced back as if surprised he was skating toward her.
He rolled right up to her, her back against his front. He reached his fingertips for her jaw and wistfully outlined her cheek as their bodies waved slowly head to toe. This routine started out sensual and you didn’t get any more sensual than that, two bodies moving in rhythm as one.
Raven spun in place and right as she did she stopped cold. What is it with this guy and dark places and crowds? “Mystery man is here.” Right as Raven spoke he edged around the wall so you could only see half of him—not that the move made him look less hot, mind you. He was fit like Soren only taller, thicker. His hair wasn’t as long but it wasn’t short either.
“Where?” River asked as she glanced from the Firebird to Raven.
Raven spun back around. “The corner wall right where everyone and their momma are walking by.”
River furrowed her brow in his direction but then someone revved up an engine and her attention moved back to the firebird. “I told you to kiss him and put him in his place. Prey or predator—there are only two choices in this game, Raven.”
Raven sighed and rolled her eyes, games—screw games.
“Do what? What am I missing?” Kimberly asked.
“Nothing. I have to pass under the school to get to two of my classes and I always end up against this senior and he has a good time with that fact.” I kinda do too.
“Does he, like, grope you or something?”
“Not bad. I mean we are slammed into one another down there, but he’s put his hand on my hip and smelled my hair.”
“Do what?” Kimberly almost shouted.
“Yeah, he knows he’s cute.” Walking sex.
“Which is why I told you to kiss him,” River said again, only partly paying attention. “You walk up to that boy and take control and he will get an attitude adjustment.”
“I don’t get you two,” Kimberly said. “Kissing a boy to punish him?”
“It’s the power struggle. Boys like him think they know a thing or two and just have to make us giggle to give them an in. You show them they don’t and they stop the BS. Then they’re the ones with the goose bumps and can’t think straight.”
“You want to handle this for me? Because I’m not about to make a fool of myself,” Raven said. “I don’t claim to be a master in that department.”
Kissing Soren was one thing. It was an act. Teasing a boy? She wasn’t mean enough to do that.
“Who does?” River said with a sideways glare. “It’s not how good you are, it’s the way you do it.”
Jamie Magee has always believed that each of us have a defining gift that sets us apart from the rest of the world, she has always envied those who have known from their first breath what their gift was. Not knowing hers, she began a career in the fast paced world of business. Raising a young family, and competing to rise higher in that field would drive some to the point of insanity, but she always found a moment of escape in a passing daydream. Her imagination would take her to places she’d never been, introduce her to people she’s never known. Insight, her debuting novel, is a result of that powerful imagination. Today, she is grateful that not knowing what defined her, led her on a path of discovery that would always be a part of her.
KOBO / ITUNES / GOODREADS TBR
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