Chapter 1

“Are you going to lie there all day?”

“Hold on, let me give it some thought.” I closed my eyes and checked in with my body. “Maybe.”

I stayed on the floor, the hard oak planks cool against my shoulder blades. It was a nice contrast to the warm, humid air in the room.

“Yeah, I think I might,” I reaffirmed. “It’s pretty comfy down here.”

Laughter pealed around me, echoing in the large hall and making some of the silver shields hanging on the wall ring in sympathy. I opened my eyes and gazed at my tormentor.

Amber Slaight stood peering down at me, amusement clear in her eyes. Her dark hair was wound in several small braided buns atop her head, which only served to accent her pixie-like appearance. Well, that, and a plethora of rave-worthy glitter eyeshadow and long fake lashes. I swear, only Amber could get decked out for training and not chip a nail.

I grinned up at my friend who only moments before had handily flipped me over her shoulder onto my back.

“But, then again, maybe I won’t,” I said, kipping up and landing lightly on my feet in one smooth movement.

“Good. You know, I think you’ve really got the hang of the glima now. Let’s try it again.” She came at me head on, grappling with me as she attempted to flip me again.

“Not this time,” I vowed, and pushed back, pulling her arm down across my waist, twisting my body to push her to her knees. Quickly, before she could sprite her way out of it, I put one knee into her back, forcing her to the ground and pulling her arm behind her to apply more pressure. “Yield.”

More laughter tinkled out of her and she nodded. “I yield.”

I grinned and let her up, lending her a hand for support. Amber had been training me in the ancient Viking style of hand-to-hand combat, glima, for the last two months. Despite the fact that I was several inches taller and had years of training in martial arts, including Krav Maga and Capoeira, today was one of the few times I had outmaneuvered her. Amber Slaight was a fae warrior, part of the elite Light Guard, and one of my best friends.

When I’d found out I was fae just a few short months ago, it had all come as a shock to me. My mother had raised me to be a normal human girl. Well, as regular as you could be when you held several black belts and moved to a new town every six to twelve months for your mother’s work. At the start of my senior year of high school we’d settled in Bennington, Vermont, and everything had been picture-book perfect. I’d quickly fallen in with a great group of people, and even found a serious boyfriend. It was the first place I’d ever lived where I’d really felt home.

Unfortunately, before the month was out I’d I discovered my boyfriend’s parents were sinister Dark fae, my mother was a Light fae who worked hard to protect the world of humans, and I had special powers. My mother had been kidnapped, tortured and drugged in an attempt to lure me to the dark side. (Hey evil people, here’s a tip, don’t mess with m