Free Unveiled: A Paranormal Urban Fantasy Novel (The Dark Skies Trilogy Book One) by Lysa Daley

fuzzy, and I see a strange bluish halo swirling around behind my uncle, radiating up and outward.
    For a split second, his face is replaced by the sharp-angled face of a scaly monster.
    Then it's back to normal.
    "Don't try to sit up, honey," my uncle says. "Just stay down for a second."
    "Ooookey doke," I mumble as everything goes black.

Chapter 7
    W hen I regain consciousness , I'm lying flat on my back on the lumpy couch in my uncle's office. It must be after 7 p.m. because the window is dark.
    Also, I can hear the distant murmur of grown-ups, which probably means the adult class is in full swing out in the studio.
    The sound of my uncle's voice fades in approaching his office. “…But they helped contain this latest threat.”
    A second voice, a voice I don't recognize, replies, "You shouldn't trust them."
    “We neutralized the Grail immediately.” There's a pause, then my uncle says, "They would not have done that if they’d joined forces with the Swarm."
    “Don’t be so sure," the other voice answers. "If they haven't already betrayed you, they will."
    "I can't move the child again without telling her," my uncle replies. "She’s settled and thriving here. But I fear she’s beginning to figure out the truth.
    “You must tell her soon."
    Tell me what? I sit up with the intention of sneaking over to the door so I can hear better, but I get too dizzy, and I’m forced to lie back down.
    My uncle must have heard me because his face appears in the doorway. "Astrid, sweetheart. How do you feel?"
    "My head’s a little fuzzy, but I'm alright." I look over his shoulder, waiting for the owner of the second voice to appear. But no one does.
    "You weren't concentrating," my uncle says, pushing the hair out of my face. "You continue to lack focus. Which is exactly why we have to keep working with weapons. Maybe we should add a few private classes every week."
    "No. I quit," I say firmly.
    “Excuse me?”
    Normally, I would never stand up to my uncle like this. Maybe getting hit in the head shook things up in my brain. "I hate weapons, and I'm not doing it anymore."
    "That's ridiculous. Your weapons training is very important."
    "Why?" I ask pointedly.
    He hesitates. "Because being proficient with weapons is something every well trained martial artist must attain."
    I am so sick of this lecture.
    "Did I not just kick the butt of every boy in the advanced class? All of whom are practically twice my size. How is that not proficient?"
    "That's not the point," my uncle says calmly. "Astrid, you must learn how to block out any distractions. It's important that you can defend yourself. In any situation."
    "Can we go home?" I'm obviously not getting through to him.
    He looks at me for a long moment then sighs. "We can leave as soon as I finish with payroll."
    "Can I, at least, get something to eat?" This is less an actual question and more a plea for some cash. "I'm starving."
    He walks over to his desk, pulls his money clip out of the top drawer, and hands me a measly five. "Here you go."
    "Plus something to drink."
    He gives me a cool look then hands me a $20 bill. "I want the change back."
    I reach for it, but he pulls the twenty away until I reluctantly hand the original five bucks back. "Thanks," I say without meeting his eyes.
    “Make a healthy choice,” he calls after me.
    I roll my eyes, pull a school sweatshirt on over my karate uniform and stalk out the front entrance heading toward the deli right next door.
    I spot Jax up on scaffolding rolling on a fresh coat of paint. Since I arrived this afternoon, he's covered a patch about 15 feet by 15 feet, which means he's now about 6-7% complete.
    I try super hard to ignore him as I pass, but unfortunately, he spots me. "So I take it you're not going to congratulate me on my big win?"
    "Lucky shot," I reply, not looking at him.
    "Yeah, sorry about that last strike," Jax says apologetically, but the cocky grin plastered across his stupid face indicates that's he's proud of