Soul Taker (41 page)

Johanna's eyes flew open in fright and her
hands grabbed at the tubes.

"What are you doing in here?" the nurse
demanded to know of them.

"Nothing," Isabella said, letting go of her
brother's hands.

Nicholas backed away, giving the doctor
room.

"What is all this?" The nurse waved her hand
at the crystals and the other items sprawled on top of Johanna.

The doctor didn't seem to care. His hands
were full, trying to calm Johanna so he could remove the breathing
tube.

Garran didn't waste time. He flitted toward
the bed and lifted the items placed around Johanna, stuffing them
inside the bag at the foot of the bed. The air swirled around the
confused staff, but the evidence was safely put away.

Garran casually stepped out into the
hall.

"What are you referring to?" Garran heard
Isabella ask the nurse.

"All— Where is it?" The nurse's voice
wavered.

"Teresa, get everyone out of here," the
doctor ordered the nurse.

The nurse didn't look pleased as she ushered
Isabella, Nick, and Harrison out of the room and shut the door.

Johanna was awake, but it would be some time
before they knew if her soul would stay put. They would have to
watch her closely and discourage any out of body experiences. Now
that the soul had a taste of freedom, it may want to wander
again.

Nicholas and Isabella spoke with Harrison. He
knew Isabella would stay at the hospital until the staff kicked her
out. She would want to be with her friend now that she finally had
her back.

Garran swung the backpack over his shoulder,
intent on giving it back to Isabella later. He turned to leave.

"Garran?" Isabella's sweet voice halted his
departure.

He turned to look at her and inwardly cringed
to see her beautiful face showing the wayward signs of fatigue.
"Johanna will have questions," he spoke first. "She'll most likely
feel more comfortable if they came from ye and no' a vampire she
doesn't know."

She nodded. "That's not why I stopped you."
She shoved her hands in her pockets. "You've been avoiding me."

His brows rose. "I've been here all
night."

She shook her head. "You know that's not what
I mean. We need to talk." She moved closer. "About us," she added
as if he didn't already know what she hinted at.

After all she'd been through, she still
believed there could be more between them.

"Don't," she warned.

He looked at her, his brows furrowing.

"Don't you dare push me away."

He reached for her and pulled her close. He
brushed the back of his hand gently down her face. "I'm no' good
for ye."

"Listen,
Dracula
. I'm
not taking any of your crap. You don't get to decide what's best
for me. I'm not your child. I'm a grown woman and I'll make my own
decisions. Thank you very much."

He really did admire her spunk. Annoyingly,
he had from the start.

"Isabella?" Nicholas called to her. He always
would be the protective brother in the shadows watching them. She
didn't turn away as she waved behind her, indicating she was
fine.

"What do you want from me, Miss Lucci?" he
asked.

"A chance for us. Anyway, you aren't getting
rid of me so easily. I've joined your crew, like it or not. I'm
part of your life. Maybe it will only be as an employee for
preternatural affairs, but maybe… just maybe there could be more
between us." She looked expectantly at him. Her lips parted in
invitation. Before he could make the move and press his lips to
hers, the brazen woman took it upon herself to do the kissing. Her
mouth took full advantage of him, too.

He was a powerful being, worldly, and yet
this young lassie seemed to hold all the control. And dammit—if she
didn't know it.

She moved back with a hint of a smile. "Now
was that so bad?"

He grumbled, but didn't fight it. So she was
human and he was a Grim Sith. Maybe she was his soul mate after
all. Only time would tell and God knew he had plenty of that. "I'll
see ye tomorrow at my place at eight. If you're going to work with
Harrison and me, ye'll need to continue yer trainin'."

"I'll be there at 7:30 and we'll have dinner
before we start."

He could protest, but really, what was the
point? She'd invade his privacy no matter what he said. His lips
curved. He found the idea of her in his kitchen something he'd
missed in the last few days. "I'll cook this time," he offered.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Aye, Isabella. I do know how to cook other
than microwavin' a cup of blood."

"This I can't wait to see." She backed up a
step and the grin she wore warmed him from the inside out. Then she
turned and sashayed back to where Nick and Harrison stood waiting
for her.

Harrison glanced his way with a nod and a
quick wag of his eyebrows. The werewolf believed he was funny, but
fair was fair. Just wait until he could rib him about
his
human. He had no doubt that once Johanna recovered, she would be a
big part of Harrison's life.

In all the centuries he lived through, Garran
learned life was always full of surprises, some good and some not
so much. He supposed he had a team now to help him run his
territory; an unlikely crew, consisting of a werewolf and a woman
who could raise the dead. He smiled at the thought of seeing
Isabella on a daily basis. She was his girlfriend, he supposed and
perhaps his soul mate, too.

Who knew what fate had in store for all of
them, but he had a hunch it would never prove boring.

The End

About the Author

Karen Michelle Nutt resides in California
with her husband, three fascinating children, and houseful of
demanding pets. Jack, her Chorkie, is her writing buddy and sits
long hours with her at the computer.

When she's not time traveling, fighting outlaws, or
otherworldly creatures, she creates pre-made book covers to order
at Gillian's Book Covers, "Judge Your Book By Its Cover". You can
also check out her published cover art designs at Western Trail
Blazer, Rebecca J. Vickery Publishing, and Victory Tales
Press.

Whether your reading fancy is paranormal,
historical, or time travel, all her stories capture the rich array
of emotions that accompany the most fabulous human
phenomena—falling in love.

Visit the author at her website:

http://www.kmnbooks.com

Blog: http://kmnbooks.blogspot.com

Gillian's Book Covers, "
Judge Your Book By
Its Cover"

http://judgeyourbookbyitscover.blogspot.com/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/authorkarenmichellenutt

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KMNbooks

Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/karenmnutt/

Amazon Author Page:

http://www.amazon.com/Karen-Michelle-Nutt/e/B002BLLBPE

Other Novels by Karen Michelle Nutt

Lost in the Mist of Time

Dougray Fitzpatrick has buried one wife and
vows to never love again—but destiny has other plans for this
16
^th
century Irish Lord. During a battle, a mist
separates Dougray from his men and casts him into the future.
Dougray must return to Dunhaven and to his century, but Aislinn
Hennessy follows him into the mist, leaving him no choice, but to
take her home with him.

Conspiracies, feuds and unexpected violence
are commonplace threats, but along the way, Aislinn and Dougray
discover a surprise neither one expects: a chance for love even
when they're
Lost in the Mist of Time
.

A Twist of Fate

Arianna memory is lost when she suffers a
blow to her head. It's 1814 and she's married to Captain Keldon
Buchanan, a man who despises her. The more Arianna learns about her
life, the more she realizes why she's chosen to forget it. Keldon
doesn't trust his wife, but he finds his heart softening to the
woman his wife has become. If he didn't know better, he'd swear
he's married to another woman and he's fallen in love with her.

Creighton Manor

Zachary Creighton, a gambler with one goal:
to win back Creighton Manor. Marriage is not part of the plan, but
since he is found with Gillian in his room, reputations are at
stake, his included. To keep peace with his reluctant bride, he
makes a bargain with her. He needs a tutor for his nephew Tyler,
and she needs a roof over her head until they can annul their sham
of a marriage. However, Zachary finds himself falling for Gillian's
oddly charming ways despite the fact the woman claims to be from
the future. The gamble is trust, but will the stakes prove too high
for Zachery to risk it all and win Gillian's heart?

The Gryphon and His Thief

Some Treasures are Priceless…

A long time ago, a Gryphon shifter’s duty
was to guard and protect the people of the tribes, but Darrien
Andros failed to keep his human wife safe from harm. Cursed for the
crime, he must guard everything in the
Museum of Cursed
Antiquities
forever, never to truly live and never to die.
Centuries have passed, but when he encounters a thief, who
uncannily resembles his dead wife, he is convinced he has a second
chance.

Calli Angelis is hired to steal Hecate's
Stone from the Museum, believing she would be returning it to its
rightful owner. She never really trusted the person who hired her
and now Darrien makes her doubt her motives, too. He also has her
questioning the possibility of reincarnation when the attraction
between them ignites into something she can no longer ignore.

As the two work together to unravel the
mysteries behind the stone, it becomes apparent an old and
dangerous enemy from Darrien’s past is determined to have history
repeat itself.

Twilight's Eternal Embrace

If Bram cannot find a way for Adryanna to
survive the blooding ritual, their romance is doomed. They seek
help from Sheerin, Bram's cousin, who believes he's found a way for
the Lathe Sith to survive, but others in the Oiche Sith clan do not
wish for them to succeed.

Magic of the Loch

Michaela and Alan vow to take what time has to offer, but
another threat loomed. A sinister shape shifter with a vendetta
against Alan is making Loch Ness his personal hunting ground. Now
he's threatening Michaela. Alan must discover who the shifter is
and stop him before it's too late.

Storm Riders

Storm Riders must step in and repair the rift
before the dimensions collide. Samantha Skelley and Denny Randeli
are sent to 1879 Bodie, California, one of the wildest towns of the
west. It should have been an easy snatch and rescue, but Ace
McTavish is determined to put himself in harms way. Samantha and
Denny are forced to help him with his plans before they take the
next storm ride home.

Eli (Fallen Angels, Book 1)

Hashasheen demons, assassins for hire, are sent to take out
Eli and Ryden. Eli is a warrior and will fight to keep Ryden safe,
but time may be his biggest enemy. The Elders gave him until the
end of Ol' Hallow's Eve. Ryden must fall in love with him by then
or his life will be forfeited.

Lucca (Fallen Angels, Book 2)

Lucca Marlowe is half human, half angel, one
of the Nephilim. Banished for crimes against one of his fellow
brethren, the elders bind his glamour and wings, casting him to the
human's realm.

Angels and demons demand he do their bidding.
His estrange father resurfaces after centuries of being absent and
he's brought a friend from Hell. To make his life more complicated,
he fears he found his soul mate in a human female. Only Juliet
Romeo has a secret that will bring the wrath of Heaven down upon
their heads.

About the Author:

Karen Michelle Nutt resides in California
with her husband, three fascinating children, and houseful of
demanding pets. Jack, her Chorkie, is her writing buddy and sits
long hours with her at the computer.

When she's not time traveling, fighting outlaws, or
otherworldly creatures, she creates pre-made book covers to order
at Gillian's Book Covers, "Judge Your Book By Its Cover". You can
also check out her published cover art designs at Western Trail
Blazer and Rebecca J. Vickery Publishing.

Whether your reading fancy is paranormal,
historical or time travel, all her stories capture the rich array
of emotions that accompany the most fabulous human
phenomena—falling in love.

Visit the author at:
http://www.kmnbooks.com

Stop by her blog for Monday interviews, chats
and contests at:

http://kmnbooks.blogspot.com

You can also find her online at:

https://twitter.com/KMNbooks

https://www.facebook.com/authorkarenmichellenutt