Reign of Lightning

By Doru Walker

Melody Irving has had a crush on Blake Grey since she was a teen. When Melody returns home for her aunt's funeral, sparks fly with Blake -- literally, when she discovers his secret. Blake protects a power node, part of the delicate network that regulates the world's environment. Can she accept her own power in time to prevent another man from killing them to take the node?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HartshornPublishing
• Release date: Mar 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458186515

Book preview

Reign of Lightning

Doru Walker

Copyright 2011 Doru Walker

Cover Font: Yataghan by Daniel Midgley

Cover Image Credit: Silhouette from MorgueFile. Image of lightning from NOAA. Image of waves from MorgueFile.

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Published by Hartshorn Publishing, Bethlehem, PA

All rights reserved.

Chapter One

Melody Irving sat in her car for a moment before getting out. She'd come down this weekend because she was worried about Aunt Cassie, but she wasn't ready to face her aunt. Instead, she glanced over toward the jumble of rocks across the street, overlooking the ocean. They were practically spitting distance from here. She slipped out of her car and closed the door softly.

Crossing the empty street and wending her way to the rocks was a matter of moments. She used to spend hours here, staring out at the water, letting it calm her soul. Aunt Cassie had worried that Melody was brooding about her parents' deaths, but nothing could be further from the truth. The ocean took her pain and left her whole; maybe it could ease her fears now.

Breathing in the salty air as she watched the waves calmed her. After a few minutes, she turned back to her car. It was time to see what Aunt Cassie wasn't telling her.

After she pulled her duffel bag from her trunk, she sneaked a glance at the neighboring house. She would see Blake at some point during this visit, she was sure, and he would be as tall and handsome as ever. She wasn't even certain whether she was looking in the hopes that he would be there or that he wouldn't.

Melody had tried to get over Blake in college, dating a few different guys. Kisses from them never made her quiver the way a single look from him did. She felt alive when she was here in Seacliff near him. He was her home.

His door opened, and her heart skipped a beat. Blake stepped out, his pale hair darkened and slicked back as if he'd just stepped out of the shower. Melody swallowed and tried to erase that image from her head before calling out a greeting. Blake had that way of looking at her, looking through her, as though he knew her every thought and disapproved. And he would definitely disapprove of her fantasies -- steam billowing around his figure, making him seem even more mysterious than he already was; licking the drops from his chest as he stepped out of the shower; his damp skin brushing hers when he bent to nuzzle -- she cut her thought short as he crossed the lawn to intercept her.

Back again to heckle me about missing a spot when I'm mowing the lawn? His body was as trim as ever, and the thought of those legs lying twined with her own made her swallow hard.

Not a conversation starter she would have expected, but she tried to respond gamely. It's always the same spot. I might think you were doing it on purpose.

Just to hear you comment on it, of course. Blake had reached her by this time, and he took her duffel bag without asking.

His fingers brushed against hers, and an electric shock shot up Melody's arm, making her shiver. Absently, she noticed that he wore no wedding ring, and she wondered how the women of Seacliff had managed to leave him alone so long.

Of course.

He swung the gate open and waited for her to pass through. Are you planning to stay for a while this time?

She could have insisted on opening the gate for herself, but she wanted to save her energy for other battles this weekend. Maybe this time, she could convince her aunt to come see the doctor Melody had found. "That depends on Aunt Cassie. She always seems to be in a hurry to get rid of