Alyce – Through the Lycan Glass placed11th in The Best Indie Book of the Year!
Excerpt
“Tell me what happened,” Vega says in a soft voice.
“I told you. Four clansmen−”
“No. Tell me what happened to you.”
Cold fingers grip my chest. “What’d you mean?”
“I believe you know exactly what I mean.”
I gaze at my lap. “I don’t remember much.”
“What do you remember?”
“Um…” I swallow. “I saw Sean lying on the ground, his throat ripped out. Then the clansman moved toward Gabby and Will.” A tremor runs through me as I meet Vega’s steady gaze. “It was going to hurt them. I know it was.”
“You’re wrong. It wouldn’t have hurt them.” His piercing stare bores into me. “Make no mistake, it would’ve killed them. Just like it did Sean. What happened next?”
I hitch my uninjured shoulder. “Next came the pain. Bad pain. Awful pain. Like I was being turned inside out.”
“And then?”
“Then nothing. I must’ve blacked out because I don’t remember anything more until I woke up.” I tuck my hands under my legs, crossing my fingers. A childish action, I know. Even though I wasn’t the best kid growing up, I’ve never deliberately lied.
“Is that the truth?”
Sweat trickles between my breasts, but I force myself to hold his gaze. “Yes.”
“No.”
Shit, shit and double shit.
I up my chin. “If you don’t believe me, go ask Gabby and Will what happened.”
“They aren’t here and you are, so I’m asking you.”
“And I told you.”
“A lie.”
My posture slumps. I don’t know how Vega knows the truth, but he does.
Once more, memories assault me. I close my eyes to escape them and lean my head against the rock wall, not caring a sharp edge digs into my skull. A tear trickles down my cheek. I swipe it away and open my eyes. “What happened to me?”
I hate sounding like a scared kid, but damn it, I am scared. Scared of what I did, but more scared of how much I liked it.
“You already know, Alyce. You transitioned.”
His blunt assessment is a dagger in my heart. “Yeah, but how?”
Standing, Vega extends his hand. “Come. I’ll explain it to you.”
He helps me to my feet and fiery pain again scalds my shoulder. ‘That clansman did a number on my arm.”
“It didn’t do that to you.” He takes a torch from its holder and starts for the main chamber. “I did.”
I grab his wrist and swing him around. “Why?”
“Seemed the only way to ensure you didn’t attack the others.”
“You mean the twins and Derek? You thought I’d go after them?”
“Perhaps not intentionally, but−”
“But what? Gabby and Will can be total pains-in-my ass, but they’re my cousins. I’d never harm either of them. Now, Derek, he’s another matter. That kid would stretch Mother Teresa’s patience.”
Vega frowns. “Who’s Mother Teresa?”
“A nun who worked in the slums in…” I briefly close my eyes. “Never mind. You really thought I’d hurt them?”
“Again, not intentionally. It’ll be easier to understand if I show you.”
“Okay.”
Following behind him, I start to rub my temples to ease the building headache, but my fingers are covered in dried blood and I want to throw up again. In the cave, I’m nearly blinded by the sunlight streaking through the waterfall. I blink and blanket-wrapped mounds, one set apart from the other ones, come into focus. I blink again, only this time it’s because of my tears. I hug my middle as another shiver hits me. Sean didn’t deserve to die that way. No one deserved to die that way.
Vega heads for the crate which held the encyclopedias, while I hurry to the water’s edge to wash as much of the blood off my hands and arms as possible.
Finished, I walk back to where he’s placing kindling in the ashes of the dead campfire. He lights it with the torch. Soon a fire blazes and the warmth slowly soaks into my chilly bones. A large bundle covered in what looks like leather rests on a log.
Vega sits and unwraps the bundle. It’s a very large, very old book. It could be a prop from the vintage movie series, Indiana Jones. Mom loved those movies.
“That’s not an encyclopedia, is it?”
“No, it’s the Tevope, the written history of my people.” He traces his finger along the worn edge. “My mother was one of the scribes who put our past into words.”
My heart clutches at how…sad…he sounds. “Efant told me what happened to your parents. I’m sorry.”
Vega clears his throat. “It happened a long time ago.” He indicates the empty spot beside him. “Sit.”
In my exhausted state, I collapse onto the log. More burning pain shoots through my shoulder. “Shit. What the hell did you do to me anyway?”
He carefully thumbs through the pages. “Stabbed you with a spear.”
“How many times?”
His gaze holds mine. “Three.”
My eyes bug. “I was that outta control?”
Vega turns the book toward me and points to a photo. “Yes.”
The black and white picture shows a two-legged creature. Or maybe monster is a better word. It has an oversized head, complete with a long mane, wolf-like teeth and arms and legs which, despite the hair covering them, would put any bodybuilder to shame. Even though the picture is grainy, the beast’s strength and power are undeniable. “What is it?” I look at Vega when he doesn’t answer right away.
“You.”
