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    A Fire Within
    A Fire Within
    A Fire Within
    Ebook96 pages1 hour

    A Fire Within

    By Christi McMillen

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Rayna Daniels is a woman marked for death. To escape the horrible fate two serial killers have planned for her, she finds herself depending on the unique assistance and protection of Detective Chase Stone. Though her own abilities are powerful, Rayna and Chase learn that only together can they defeat the killers and find the fire within each other.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherChristi McMillen
    Release dateAug 7, 2011
    ISBN9781465800602
    A Fire Within
    Author

    Christi McMillen

    Hi Everybody~ I have written *stuff* for as long as I can remember. I finally decided to take the plunge and publish my first novella. I love to write paranormal and intrigue romance and hope you enjoy my book. I am currently working on the sequel along with one more novella and a full length novel. Come back often for updates and contests for free copies of my book. I love comments and questions also & will answer them as quickly as possible.

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      Book preview

      A Fire Within - Christi McMillen

      A Fire Within

      Christi McMillen

      ‘

      A Fire Within

      Published by Christi McMillen

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright © 2011 by Christi McMillen

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

      Cover Photo © Copyright Tristan Duplichain Photography & Design. All rights reserved – Used with permission.

      Smashwords Edition License Notes:

      This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      To my husband, Jamie

      You became not only my heart but half of my soul from the first day we met. Throughout all the hardships and the happiness, you have been my rock. Thank you, for believing in me and most of all, for loving me. I could not have done this without you.

      Acknowledgments

      First, I would like to thank my teacher Maria Galloway. Mrs. Galloway always made us work hard for what we wanted and an extra special thanks to her for editing my book. Without her, this would have been impossible.

      I would also like to thank Tristan Duplichain for her beautiful cover art. Her designs and photography are true works of art and I am thankful she took time out of her own busy schedule to design mine.

      To Tari (Becky) & Elvira~ you both have always kept me going. You are both the best a person could ask for in friends, both old and new.

      Finally, I would like to thank my family. My husband and three beautiful daughters are the reason behind this book. By following my dreams, they have learned to follow their own. They have learned to always go forward with what they believe in, regardless of what others say or throw in their way and most of all, they will always know to never give up and that I will always be there to love them.

      Prologue

      Rayna Daniels sifted through the flowers, not seeing what she was really looking for. Everything was slightly wilted; nothing seemed to shout Pick ME for her special day. After months of waiting, her third book in her mystery series was finally ready to go to the publisher; six months ahead of schedule at that. Today was a day to celebrate, even if it was by herself. She walked to another table, noticing a rose so red it was almost black. It seemed to call to her, making her senses kick into overdrive. Picking it up, she held it to her face, watching the window as she inhaled the sweet scent. A prickling sensation on her neck made her feel like she was being watched. She looked down at the rose in her hand, air rushing out of her lungs in terror as someone else's thought entered her mind, making her drop the rose onto the table. The mental image of herself being tortured was so strong that she left the store in a hurry, not bothering to look where she was going. She couldn't pin down the image, couldn't find the person it was coming from. She kept walking towards her apartment, trying not to look like she was running away. The thought had stopped, making her hopeful she was away from whoever had thought it. She tried to keep an eye on people around her without looking paranoid… or crazy. Seeing her doorway, she tightened her grip on her keys, opening the door as quickly as possible. Before the door closed, she felt a prick on her arm, just as the image returned. Dizziness overtook her, making her fall down in what seemed a whirlpool of darkness. Then she felt nothing

      .

      Chapter One

      The stench of death hung in the air. Rayna slowly sat up on the floor, holding her head in her hands. She couldn’t seem to focus; couldn’t seem to catch her breath. A nightmare? No, she didn't know where she was; she just knew she was in pain, she was nauseous and she was definitely not home. She began looking around, sniffing in disgust at the horrid stench. As she stood, she realized that it was almost too dark to see where she was going, so she held her hands out to feel. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she found a wall. Confusion set in quickly. The wall felt like bricks. Rayna slowly moved forward, feeling the wall steadily as she moved her hands up and down. It was most definitely bricks.

      Suddenly, the cloud of confusion lifted as memories flooded her brain. Two men had grabbed her and knocked her unconscious. She had been kidnapped! Memories of a slight pain in her arm and her body being lifted flooded into her mind. Anger set in quickly as Rayna closed her eyes and began to concentrate. Suddenly a light flooded the room, dimly reaching where Rayna stood, breaking her concentration.

      A rich, husky voice rang out. Well, look who's awake, Demon; it's our new toy.

      A man stood above her, the light blacking out most of his facial features. A second man joined him, staring down with such maniacal happiness that Rayna couldn't help but shiver. Who were these people? She felt sick as she realized that the men above her were none other than the two serial killers that had been all over the news. She couldn't remember how many women they ruthlessly murdered so far, just that the few bodies that had been found had been mutilated horribly.

      Hmmm, she doesn't seem to have much to say yet, the other man answered softly. He flipped on a flashlight and shone it on her, moving it down her body before turning it to her surroundings. Rayna realized she wasn't in a room but some kind of pit or well. She snorted in derision but quickly started to gag. Two bodies lay curled up together on the floor, obviously women from the clothing they were wearing. Trying not to throw up, she turned her head in horror and disgust. She wasn't about to speak to them. She couldn't bring herself to, not when she could see all the vile images. Everything they had done to the women in the pit; everything they wanted to do to her. No, she would wait them out until they left her alone. She tried to ignore it all as the second man ran the light over her again, keeping it on her breasts the longest. She began concentrating again, trying to see their faces past the lights. The man called Demon was blond while the other had black hair. Laughing at her attempts to stare them down, Demon turned the flashlight off. His voice whispered down to her, truly scaring her for the first time.

      "We'll just let you sit for a little while, Rayna. Don’t worry though; we'll have lots of time to play. I can't wait to let you enjoy our playground."

      Demon laughed softly as he continued. "I hope

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