Read Online Phoenix: Book One of The Stardust Series by Autumn Reed, Julia Clarke - Free Book Online
Authors: Autumn Reed, Julia Clarke
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approaching. Heart pounding, I ducked out
of sight; in my attempt to hide, I lost sight of the light.
I froze, struggling to
hear anything that stood out from the usual sounds of the forest. Crouching
near the ground, the smell of damp earth intensified. My ankle burned and my
leg muscles felt tight, ready to sprint into a run.
I looked around, attempting
to see where the light had gone despite my limited viewpoint. I counted to
thirty in my head, trying to wait out the figure, hoping it had turned to go a
different direction. After a few long moments, I glanced around again and
slowly stood up, exhaling quietly.
Feeling lightheaded, I
sat back on the log, trying to gather enough strength to continue. Seemingly
out of nowhere, a hand appeared in front of me and I heard a gruff voice say,
“Here, let me help you.”
Without thinking, I
reached down and grabbed a fistful of dirt before standing up to fling it at
the man’s face. Surprised, he growled and reached out an arm. I was too slow to
react, and his massive hand closed around my wrist. I was struck by the raw
strength and power it contained.
Instinctively, I
squatted down into a strong stance then leaned forward with all my strength. I
bent my elbow all the way toward him until he was forced to release my wrist.
Free from his hold, I stumbled backwards, scarcely avoiding tripping as I
fumbled in my bag. My fingers found what I was searching for, and I grasped the
corkscrew firmly between my index and middle finger with the point out.
Instead of pursuing me
further, the stranger stopped moving and held out his hands, palms up. He
sighed, sounding exasperated. “Listen to me, Haley, you can’t get anywhere on
that ankle and you’re clearly worn out.” Startled at hearing my name, I stopped
dead in my tracks.
I didn’t think it was
Ethan or Chase, but now I took a better look. His height was close to Chase’s,
over six feet. While Chase’s body was definitely chiseled, it was the
streamlined physique of a swimmer. The man before me was built like a brick
wall. I wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley , I thought. Too
late for that, I laughed darkly to myself.
He stepped into a
clearing between trees, allowing what little light there was from the moon to
shine on him. I felt my grip on the corkscrew tighten, the handle practically
becoming one with my palm. I couldn’t make out much about the imposing stranger
other than his dark jacket and jeans and hair just light enough to gleam in the
moonlight.
Although I didn’t know
him, he clearly knew me; cold and afraid, my teeth were chattering
uncontrollably. He removed his jacket and threw it on the ground near my feet. “Put
it on.” His gravelly voice said it as an order, not a request. I hesitated for
a second, but I was too frozen to argue.
I grabbed the jacket
and put it on quickly, grateful for the instant warmth. His body heat lingered,
and I caught the scent of leather, gasoline, and spice. I sat silently,
wondering what to do or say.
He backed away and
slipped his hands in his pockets, making him appear slightly less intimidating.
“I’m Knox. Ethan and Chase were really worried when they realized you were
gone.” I pulled my legs toward my body and wrapped my arms around my knees. Seriously,
who are these guys and what do they want with me?
Knox paused and I let
the air fill with silence. He took a breath, and I could tell he was working to
maintain his patience with me. “Look. I know you don’t know us. But we do want
to help you.”
“Why?” I asked,
noticing an edge to my voice.
“What if I make you a
deal?” I looked up at Knox, waiting for him to continue. “I know Ethan and you
have talked, but he hasn’t shared much about why the three of us are involved
in this mess. If you agree to come back with me, I promise that we will tell
you the rest of the story first thing tomorrow.”
I wanted to believe
him, but I still wasn’t sure. But what choice did I have? Outrunning
of sight; in my attempt to hide, I lost sight of the light.
I froze, struggling to
hear anything that stood out from the usual sounds of the forest. Crouching
near the ground, the smell of damp earth intensified. My ankle burned and my
leg muscles felt tight, ready to sprint into a run.
I looked around, attempting
to see where the light had gone despite my limited viewpoint. I counted to
thirty in my head, trying to wait out the figure, hoping it had turned to go a
different direction. After a few long moments, I glanced around again and
slowly stood up, exhaling quietly.
Feeling lightheaded, I
sat back on the log, trying to gather enough strength to continue. Seemingly
out of nowhere, a hand appeared in front of me and I heard a gruff voice say,
“Here, let me help you.”
Without thinking, I
reached down and grabbed a fistful of dirt before standing up to fling it at
the man’s face. Surprised, he growled and reached out an arm. I was too slow to
react, and his massive hand closed around my wrist. I was struck by the raw
strength and power it contained.
Instinctively, I
squatted down into a strong stance then leaned forward with all my strength. I
bent my elbow all the way toward him until he was forced to release my wrist.
Free from his hold, I stumbled backwards, scarcely avoiding tripping as I
fumbled in my bag. My fingers found what I was searching for, and I grasped the
corkscrew firmly between my index and middle finger with the point out.
Instead of pursuing me
further, the stranger stopped moving and held out his hands, palms up. He
sighed, sounding exasperated. “Listen to me, Haley, you can’t get anywhere on
that ankle and you’re clearly worn out.” Startled at hearing my name, I stopped
dead in my tracks.
I didn’t think it was
Ethan or Chase, but now I took a better look. His height was close to Chase’s,
over six feet. While Chase’s body was definitely chiseled, it was the
streamlined physique of a swimmer. The man before me was built like a brick
wall. I wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley , I thought. Too
late for that, I laughed darkly to myself.
He stepped into a
clearing between trees, allowing what little light there was from the moon to
shine on him. I felt my grip on the corkscrew tighten, the handle practically
becoming one with my palm. I couldn’t make out much about the imposing stranger
other than his dark jacket and jeans and hair just light enough to gleam in the
moonlight.
Although I didn’t know
him, he clearly knew me; cold and afraid, my teeth were chattering
uncontrollably. He removed his jacket and threw it on the ground near my feet. “Put
it on.” His gravelly voice said it as an order, not a request. I hesitated for
a second, but I was too frozen to argue.
I grabbed the jacket
and put it on quickly, grateful for the instant warmth. His body heat lingered,
and I caught the scent of leather, gasoline, and spice. I sat silently,
wondering what to do or say.
He backed away and
slipped his hands in his pockets, making him appear slightly less intimidating.
“I’m Knox. Ethan and Chase were really worried when they realized you were
gone.” I pulled my legs toward my body and wrapped my arms around my knees. Seriously,
who are these guys and what do they want with me?
Knox paused and I let
the air fill with silence. He took a breath, and I could tell he was working to
maintain his patience with me. “Look. I know you don’t know us. But we do want
to help you.”
“Why?” I asked,
noticing an edge to my voice.
“What if I make you a
deal?” I looked up at Knox, waiting for him to continue. “I know Ethan and you
have talked, but he hasn’t shared much about why the three of us are involved
in this mess. If you agree to come back with me, I promise that we will tell
you the rest of the story first thing tomorrow.”
I wanted to believe
him, but I still wasn’t sure. But what choice did I have? Outrunning
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