Under the Full Moon (Crimson Romance) by Bobbi Romans

here.”
    “Yes, but my car is out front. When no one comes to answer the door, she’ll call the police.” Grace didn’t add why her niece would worry. Or the fact dark magic ran amok in their town. She didn’t want to add to Faith’s growing concerns.
    “Do you smell something funny? Something like … oh my God, Grace, the library is on fire!” Faiths scream rattled around the old room.
    Grace’s blood froze. They had no way out. There were no windows or emergency exits and the library was so old, no doubt the place would go up like a tinder box. Panic flooded her while she sought her memory for a spell to counteract the fire. A few things came to mind, but as she rambled spewing them forth, nothing worked. Either she spoke them incorrectly or the magic she was up against was far stronger. Didn’t matter — they were in deep shit with nary a roll of toilet paper in sight.
    Faith doubled over coughing like crazy. Black smoke poured from underneath the door. She grabbed her friend around the waist and pulled her down to the floor, lower than the rising smoke, before she began searching for anything she could use to barrier the opening below the door. Finding some old newspapers, she rolled them up and began inching her way on her belly toward the door when Faith grabbed her ankle.
    “Those are rare, old editions. You can’t use those.”
    “Faith, love you like a sister, but right now do you really think I’m concerned with how rare they are? I’m more worried with saving our asses. .”
    Faith shrugged but nodded her head in understanding. Grace drew close enough to wedge the papers under the door, but flames suddenly licked underneath the door, stopping her dead in her tracks.
    The situation had gone from bad to worse and if Beth didn’t show within the next few minutes, Grace feared tomorrow’s headlines would read “Two Dead in Library Fire.” She didn’t want to end up in some newspaper in a new library’s archives.
    But that’s where they were headed as the heat from the fire turned the room into an inferno. Between the smoke and flames, the air had become too thick to breathe and dots floated in her vision as thoughts of her life flashed elsewhere.
    Damien.
    His fierce blue expression, inky hair and a body chiseled from perfection. The animal who exuded power within such a controlled man. A walking contradiction if ever. After all the years of heartache and loneliness, and damn her luck if not around to savor the experience. She glanced back to Faith and saw the other woman had already passed out.
    Oh shit.

Chapter Eight
    Damien plunked the bottle of Jack down center of the table before grabbing three glasses. Kid appeared to be mid-twenties and Damien bet not a solid drinker. Good for Trick, but right now, not convinced of the kid’s good intentions, he was going to liquor him up for their little chat.
    Damien caught Moss’s attention, subtly nodding towards the bottle and shot a quick glance at Trick. Moss reached out and snagged one of the glasses, giving him a slight nod that he got Damien’s intent. Get the kid drunk.
    “Fill ’er up, ole chap.”
    Damien obliged before filling the second glass and sliding the liquid courage over to Trick and pouring one for himself.
    “Thanks.” Trick tossed the glass back and downed the amber liquid in near one gulp before wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve and expelling a large burp. “S’cuse me, mind if I have another?”
    Moss burst out laughing. Apparently the kid could drink them under the table, or so he let on.
    Damien poured him another. “So, what’s the information you have and think we want, and what do you gain from sharing?”
    For seeming so young, the kid took on a quick-like expression, drawn and weary that aged him far past his youthful looks. Damien found the sad wisdom hidden in his eyes unsettling to say the least.
    “I was kidnapped around age ten. I’ve got fragmented memories of before and after up until a few