Free The Soul Stealer by Maureen Willett Page A

almost to her knees. “I just got a divorce, so I really don’t want to get myself into another situation with a man thinking he can control me. And I certainly don’t want to fall for someone I barely know,” Malia said through gritted teeth as she turned to look him in the eyes. “I don’t want to feel that over-the-top charge like I’ve met the right person. Okay? Being in love is a false net, and the fall is way too hard when it disappears.”
    “So you’d rather feel nothing at all?”
    “Yes! I’m used to that. And it’s a lot less painful.”
    “That’s sad. You’re much more than that,” Hunter said with a shake of his head. He held out his hand and waited for her to take it.
    “Please go away,” she said, unable to keep the anger out of her voice. The way she wanted Hunter was dangerous and terrifying. Pushing him away seemed the quickest way to solve that problem.
    “Okay, I’ll leave, if you want me to, if this is too much for you.” Hunter stood there for a moment, waiting, and then he turned and walked out the door.
    The slam of the screen door made her want to run after him. Watching him leave that way felt like the end of any chance of happiness, ever. Malia slumped into a nearby chair, shocked that her emotions now seemed tied to a total stranger. It wasn’t like her to let someone get through the brick wall surrounding her heart. She blinked, wanting to put Hunter out of her thoughts, and her life. Somehow, she had to get to Waikiki to pick up her car, but she couldn’t move enough to call Lani. The clock on the wall told her to get motivated or she would be late for dinner with Ryan Green.
    Where had Hunter gone? Malia wondered why she cared as she looked around the empty room.

CHAPTER SIX
    H unter traveled as fast as he could, wanting to put distance between Malia and him. It was wrong. It was all wrong. How had she resisted his elixir so completely? It didn’t seem possible because he had used his best incantation, and slipped a drop of the potion in her beer. It was supposed to make her want him, but all it had done was heighten Malia’s desire for beer. He shook his head in frustration, which made the course of his flight erratic. If only he understood magic better.
    And, hurting her was becoming a distasteful intention. He couldn’t avoid it, though, if he did as his father wanted. He wouldn’t go home like a dog with its tail between its legs, so his best alternative was to run away and hope they’d never find him. He could stay ahead of his father’s minions for a long time—years maybe. It was possible, he told himself as the wind rushed around his body and pulled him in all sorts of directions.
    The force of speed tied his insides in knots and plastered the skin against his skull. Hunter had no destination in mind. He flew directionless, in danger of spiraling out of control. He didn’t care. The darkness of the night sky engulfed him like a shroud of bleak eternity, which was what he deserved for all his past crimes, and it was what he might now have without Malia.
    Hunter couldn’t believe she was actually going out with another man. Who was this guy? He shouldn’t indulge his jealousy too long or it would cause a destructive force that could destroy everything in his path.
    After he’d left Malia, he’d waited in the studio, hoping she would walk in and tell him she had canceled her dinner plans. Instead, he watched her leave the house with Lani to pick up the car. She had looked incredible! As he’d looked out from the shadows watching her leave, he longed for her and wanted to follow her. But if he had, jealousy would’ve gotten the best of him, and that would be destructive for everyone.
    The nerve of her, doubting they should be together. She had too many doubts. He hadn’t expected that. It was ludicrous to even imagine they didn’t belong together. Hunter laughed out loud. He didn’t care where he went, as long as it was away from her. He had used his