Free Wicked Wind (Solsti Prophecy #1) by Sharon Kay Page A

she had come here for answers. Sharp dread and confusion caged her, a stomach-twisting contrast to the serenity of the lush green yard.
    Heavy footfalls thudded behind her in the grass. She turned. Gunnar . The azure fury in his eyes a few minutes earlier had banked a bit, but she still took an instinctive step back. Not that it would do much good.
    He stopped a mere foot away from her, glaring. “Why didn’t you tell me about them last night?”
    She returned the icy stare. “Why should I?”
    “Because I asked you.”
    She made a feminine sound of disgust. “You’re crazy if you think I’d instantly spill their secrets to a stranger.” Her last word hung between them like a smoky cloud.
    He shot a dark look at the branches above her, then raked a hand through his thick hair. “Nicole, you heard Rilan. You’re all vulnerable while you’re growing into your power.”
    “I would never put them in jeopardy.”
    “Neither would I. But telling half truths isn’t going to cut it. Neither is staying in that building of yours, with its sorry-ass excuse for a security system.”
    “It’s my home.”
    “Well, welcome to your new one.” He jerked his head toward the house.
    “Brooke and I have lived there for two years, and nothing has ever happened to us or anyone else in the building!”
    “But you just recently started working on developing and controlling your powers.”
    “So?”
    “So, that was before you two started running around the worst areas of the city, zinging power left and right, playing Thelma and Louise.”
    Her mouth dropped open. She narrowed her eyes at him. Her voice dipped to arctic depths. “What did you just say?”
    “You heard me. And you should thank the stars that I found you before something else did.”
    “You followed me last night?” A tiny part of her acknowledged that maybe it wasn’t a coincidence that she met him at the club—but hearing him say it so matter-of-factly stoked her anger.
    He folded his muscular arms over his chest, still glaring at her. “I was patrolling Englewood last night, looking for Skells. Instead, I found you.”
    A rush of recognition hit her. “You…you were the one standing in the shadows, when we got into the car.”
    He nodded. “The energy signature you leave is unique; if any other demons had seen–”
    “You were stalking me and Brooke! It was no accident that you were at the club, was it? You followed me there, too. And then you found me on the dance floor.” She looked away as a new wave of sickness rolled over her, the puzzle pieces of the last night clicking into place. God, she was so naïve. She was just some kind of pawn in his bizarre world, and he had played her expertly. “I’m leaving.”
    “I want you to stay.”
    “I don’t think so.” She brushed past him, knowing he’d allow it, and marched inside to grab her bag.
    He followed her and started to speak, his voice softer. “Nicole, you caught me by surprise. You’re not safe running around like that–”
    “I said I’m leaving.” She headed for the front door, opened it and stepped through, then slammed it with a resounding thud. She didn’t care if it was childish.
    She stomped down the driveway, little breezes dancing around her. Good thing the Central Street station was close. She mentally thanked the Chicago Public Transportation system that she had a way to get home other than with Gunnar. He hadn’t followed her, although she couldn’t take much comfort in that fact since he knew where she lived. He’d let her walk away. Smart decision . She was ready to rip the trees right out of that big yard of his.
    As she stood on the platform, seething and waiting for the next train, her phone chimed with a text message from Julie. Hey, girl . How’s that guy?
    Nicole grimaced as several choice responses ran through her head. She finally settled on a simple one: Total jerk . Her emotions were a mess, and she didn’t want to say anything more or even think