Basically a billion UF books on sale! Plus an amazing chapter of half dead!!!

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Awesome stuff today! Scroll down for the second to last chapter of Half Dead, written with the awesome Leia Stone. There's also an amazing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Sale!

Demon Slayer, book 1 in Aeri's series, is part of this awesome deal and it is only $0.99! There are also hit books by CN Crawford, Chandelle Lavaun, Michelle Maddow, and lots of other great authors.

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Linsey

An Amazing Book Sale!

Half Blood by Leia Stone & Linsey Hall

If you are missing chapters, click here.

Warning - Unedited

 

Chapter Eighteen

Our car sped away from Fae City, careening through the gates and burning rubber toward the cemetery where Asher would perform the ceremony that would bring me back to life. I buzzed with energy and fear.

“So you felt him?” I demanded. “The reaper coming out of the freeze?”

“Yeah.” Asher nodded, his lips tight. “He’s not unfrozen yet, but he’s breaking through.”

“Then step on it, driver.”

“He is,” Asher said.

“Light speed isn’t fast enough for me.” I growled.

He grunted as if he agreed.

I pointed ahead, to where Nimsy sat by the side of the road, his eyes fixed on us and his midnight tail flicking. “There’s Nimsy, slow down.”

As the car slowed to a stop, I rolled down my window. Nim hopped in and skidded onto the seat next to me.

“Did you get it?” he demanded.

“We did.” I reached for the case that Asher held and tried to grab it, but my hand floated right through. “Damn it. I got used to having a body when you did that spell to make me solid.”

“You want to see it?” Asher asked.

“Kinda.” Maybe it was stupid, but I needed the reassurance that it was really there. That we were really going to do this thing.

He flicked open the two clasps on the case, and I peered down at the skull. Nim leaned over the case, his eyes keen on the skull inside.

A shiver raced through me, and I drew in a deep breath. “This is really it.”

Nim tried to rub his head against my arm, but it passed right through.

Soon, it wouldn’t. Soon, I’d be alive.

“We can do this, Cleo. Don’t worry.” Asher’s words were just the slightest bit gruff—like he cared. Or maybe that was just my imagination.

Either way, the moment ended, and he clipped the case closed and picked up his phone.

I looked out the window as he called one of his minions. From the snippets of the conversation I caught, he was making sure that the body would be at the cemetery. He finished off the call by saying, “And bring the boys. Just in case.”

He hung up the phone, and I looked over. “Just in case what?”

“We don’t know who’s going to show up while I bring you back.” He frowned. “I can’t be distracted.”

I swallowed hard. “You really don’t want me dying for good, do you?”

“I’ve got a lot invested in you.” He shot me a look. “After all the shit that’s gone down these past days, you owe me big time.”

My heart wilted a bit. We might have shared a freaking amazing half dead kiss, but he clearly didn’t think about it the same way I did. To cover the hurt, I shrugged. “I’ll pay you back.”

But he was right. I did owe him. Big time.

The car stopped hard in front of the cemetery gates. Asher grabbed the briefcase and shot out of the car with it, Nim close on his heels.

“Get a move on, Cleo!” Nim shouted.

“I’m literally only a few steps behind you.” I zipped toward them, floating quickly. It was a handy skill, but I’d be damned glad to be solid again.

The sun was just beginning to approach the horizon, and the sky over the eerie graveyard turned slightly pale. Mist snaked its way through the headstones, and I really didn’t want this wannabe horror movie set to be the last thing I ever saw.

“Hurry.” Asher’s voice was grim as he picked up the pace, sprinting through the graveyard, leaping over gravestones and dodging around ancient oaks. “The reaper is about to wake. I feel him.”

If I’d had a heart, it would have slammed its way out of my chest.

Nim and I raced alongside Asher, reaching the back of the cemetery in record time. He skidded to a halt in front of the sarcophagus where we’d first tried to do the ritual.

“Is the reaper free?” I demanded, searching the space around the sarcophagus. I couldn’t see him because Asher had hidden him behind a glamour when we’d left him here a few hours ago.

“Not yet. But he’s close.” Quickly, Asher set the case on top of the sarcophagus and strode to a spot a few feet away. He waved his hand in the air, and the glamour that had concealed the reaper fell. The air around the cloaked figure shimmered, and it lunged for Asher. The reaper moved jerkily, like he was fighting his way through frozen time. He looked like he’d been fighting for a while, actually.

“Shit!” Asher jerked backward, flinging out his hands. Bright green light shot from his palms, enclosing the reaper in an eerie glow. The light coalesced to form chains that bound the creature tight.

“What did you do?” I gasped.

Asher cursed and turned, his gaze going to me. “The things I do for you…”

“What exactly did you do to him?” I eyed the reaper warily. The time freezing had worn off, but Asher’s chains bound him tight.

“Necromancers can control the dead.” He shot a worried look at the reaper. “And he’s technically a member of that party.”

I frowned. “Only sort of.”

“Well, I’m a powerful necromancer. But it won’t last long, and he’s going to be pissed. There goes that alliance.

As if he weren’t mad enough.

The sound of men talking coupled with heavy footsteps drew my attention, and I turned. Two men were carrying a thick black body bag through the woods, and I swallowed hard. Holy shit there was a dead girl in there.

And I was going to steal her body.

Except, I was also a dead girl.

I shot a look at Asher. “You sure this chick isn’t a ghost like me, just looking to get back to her body?”

I had a lot of self interest tied up in this, but it was still giving my conscience a hard time.

He shook his head. “She’s crossed over. I can tell. And trust me, she’s happier where she’s at.”

That was a relief.

“Where do you want us to put it, boss?” asked the redhaired guy. I was pretty sure I’d seen him before and knew his name, but no way I could remember that right now.

“There, Tony.” Asher pointed to the thick stone slab that formed the lid of the sarcophagus. Tony and the other guy—a dark haired dude I’d never seen before—heaved the body up onto the stone slab.

“Careful!” I shot out my hand as if to warn them, but they completely ignored me.

“Be careful,” Asher repeated my words for them.

As the men unzipped the bag and removed the body, Nim pressed his side against my leg. “This is freaking weird.”

“No kidding.” My eyes ran over the girl, following the shining golden hair that draped over the edge of the sarcophagus. “But I really don’t want to die. And I don’t want you to die.”

“Yeah, I’m cool with you going blonde.”

“I’ll dye it pink, like normal.” If I ever got the chance, because pink hair was my thing. No matter what body I was in. I shot the reaper a look, nerves racing across my skin. He could break free at any minute. “Hurry up, Asher. The reaper is twitching a lot.”

Asher, who was arranging the body’s limbs on the sarcophagus, shot me a look. “Trust me. I’m working as fast as I can.”

Two other men raced toward us, and Asher glanced at them. “About time, guys.”

The slender blonde man gave Asher a big leather bag. “Your tools, boss.”

“Thanks.” Asher took the bag and dug out a variety of flowers, both fresh and dried. More items came next, along with bottles of potions and herbs. All the tools of the trade.

I sidled up closer, looking between Asher and my new body.

He stood next to her, his head bowed and his eyes closed. Like he was praying. Magic prickled on the air—tension and intensity. The reaper watched it all, struggling against his bonds. He thrashed against them but was unable to speak which was fine with me.

Finally, Asher raised his head. His eyes glowed with an eerie golden light, beautiful and scary at the same time. Dangerous.

A warlock prince.

I shivered.

Quickly, Asher dripped potions onto the dead girl’s skin and rubbed herbs onto her arms. He moved so fast that it seemed like it was second nature to him, which it probably was. Next, he took the skull and placed it right above her head.

As he worked, I scanned the cemetery around us, tension pulling at me. Those soul suckers could be anywhere. We were so close to succeeding, but I could swear we were being watched. I spotted Asher’s men scattered around the cemetery, guarding us, but no one else.

“Hurry,” I murmured.

“I am.” He splattered a few more drops of potion on her skin. “Float up over her. Like the last time.”

I did as he asked, my mind spinning. This was so freaking weird.

“Thanks,” I whispered to the girl, hovering just above her. “I know you are in a better place and don’t need this body anymore, but seriously… I appreciate it. I promise I’ll take good care of your body.”

Asher gave me an appraising look, but said nothing.

Nim jumped up next to me, staring hard between me and the dead body below me. “So weird.”

“Shut up.” I shot Asher a glare. “Get going. I can feel that something is wrong. Can’t you?”

He nodded sharply. “We’re running out of time.”

He took a deep breath and clapped his hands, the noise loud in the quiet night. Starry light rained down from his palms, sprinkling over me. Magic tingled coldly through me. My arms felt strange, almost tight, as if the magic were wrapping tightly there. Beams of pink light, leaked from the skull and began to hover over the body.

“This is it, Nim.” I glanced at him. “We’ll be safe soon.”

Asher began to chant, his face glowing with the light of his magic, his golden eyes bright. It was terrifying and sexy all at once, and it hit me just how powerful he really was. He had control of life and death—my life and death.

As he worked, I could feel the pull of the body beneath me, like a magnet dragging me down. I could nearly taste the victory. Almost there. Almost

A shout sounded in the distance.

“What the hell?” Asher jerked his head upward, his face going pale.

Next to me, Nim hissed, his back arching.

“What is it?” I demanded, trying to see whatever the hell was going wrong. We were so damned close!

It was hard to turn my head like this—as if my soul were partially bound to the body beneath me already—but I managed to catch sight of three vampires racing toward us. Pale skin, long fangs, and burning black eyes. It was nearly dawn, but they were attacking anyway. Silas had to be so pissed with me to risk his own death.

I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he’d come to make sure I died for good.

In the distance, I heard Silas roar.

Oh, shit.

 

***Leia will send out chapter 19 next week. It's the LAST chapter, so be sure you're on her mailing list! Click here.

 

PS...

Don't miss The Dark Fae series!

Book 1 Trial by Fae -  eBook  &  Audio

Book 2 Heir of the Fae -  eBook &  Audio

Book 3 Queen of the Fae - eBook  &  Audio Coming Soon

 

 

Linsey Hall

 

www.LinseyHall.com

https://www.facebook.com/LinseyHallAuthor/

 

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