C. C. Hunter - Awake at Dawn (Shadow Falls)

To my husband, Steve Craigmy partner, my best friend, and my hero.

Your love, support, and willingness to do laundry helped me take mydreams and make them our reality. Thank you for being a part of mydreams. I love you.

Acknowledgments

To my fabulous critique partners, who laughed with me during lunches, gave me endless support when my characters were misbehaving, and drank chocolate martinis with me to celebrate every good moment of life.

To the amazing and supportive booksellers at Katy Budget Books. You guys rock. To my daddy, Pete Hunt, and my mother, Ginger Curtis, who taught me the value of laughter and love. And to my daughter, Nina Makepeace, and my son, Steve Craig, Jr. By far, you two are the best things Ive ever done in my life. And last but certainly not least, to my wonderful editor and agent, whose belief in me is the springboard of my inspiration.

Contents

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You have to stop it, Kylie. You have to. Or this will happen to someoneyou love.

The spirits ominous words flowed from behind Kylie Galen and mingled with the crackle and pop of the huge bonfire about fifty feet to her right. The frigid pocket of air announced the spirits presence loud and clear, even if the words were only for Kylies ears and not for the thirty other Shadow Falls campers standing in the ceremonial circle.

Miranda stood by Kylie in the people chain, completely unaware of the ghost, and gripped Kylies hand tighter. This is so cool, Miranda muttered, and looked across the circle at Della.

Miranda and Della were not only Kylies closest friends, but also her cabin mates.

We give thanks for this offering. Chris, or Christopher as he referred to himself tonight, stood in the middle of the circle and raised the sacred goblet up to the dark sky as he blessed its contents.

You have to stop it, the spirit whispered over Kylies shoulder again, hindering her concentration on the ritual.

Closing her eyes, Kylie envisioned the spirit the way she had appeared to her several times nowmid-thirties, long dark hair and wearing a white gowna gown covered in blood.

Frustration bounced around Kylies already tightened gut. How many times had she pleaded with this spirit to explain, to tell her who, what, when, where, and why? Only to have the dead woman repeat the same warning.

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Long story short, ghosts just coming out of the closet sucked at communication. Probably as bad as beginner ghost whisperers sucked at getting them to communicate. Kylies only option was to wait until the ghost could somehow explain her warning. Now, however, wasnt the optimal time.

Im kind of busy right now. So unless you can explain in detail, canwe chat later? The words formed in Kylies mind, hoping the ghost could read her thoughts. Thankfully, the chill running down Kylies spine evaporated and the nights heat returnedTexas heat, muggy, thick, and hot, even without the bonfire.

Thank you. Kylie tried to relax, but the tension in her shoulders remained knotted. And for a good reason. Tonights ceremonial event, sort of a show-and-tell, was another first in her life.

A life that was so much simpler before she knew she wasnt all human.

Of course, it would help if she could identify her non-human side. Unfortunately the only person who knew the answer was Daniel Brighten, her real dad. She hadnt known he existed until hed paid a visit to her a little over a month ago. And hed obviously decided to let Kylie deal with her identity crisis all on her own.

He seldom visited anymore, bringing a whole new meaning to the term deadbeat dad. Yup, Daniel was deaddied before she was born.

Kylie wasnt sure if they offered parenting classes in the hereafter, but she was tempted to suggest he find out. Because now, when he did drop by, she would catch him watching her and just when she started to ask him a question, hed fade away, leaving only a cold chill and her unanswered questions.

Okay, Chris said. Release your hands, clear your mind, but whatever you do, do not break the circle.

Kylie, along with the crowd, followed his directions. Yet as she released her hands, Kylies mind refused to clear. A whisper of wind picked 9/375

up a few strands of her long, blond hair and scattered it across her face.

She brushed it behind her ear.

Was her deadbeat dad afraid she was going to ask for sex advice or something? That always had her mom disappearing from a roomrunning around in search of another give-this-to-your-teen pamphlet. Not that Kylie had actually asked her mom for sex advice. Honestly, she was the last person Kylie would go to for that kind of advice.

Why, the mere mention of her being interested in a boy sent her mom into a panic as the letters S-E-X practically flashed in her moms eyes.

Thankfully, since Kylie had been shipped off to Shadow Falls Camp, the supply of sex-related pamphlets had declined.

Who knew what shed missed this last month? There might have been a few STDs discovered that she didnt know about. No doubt her mom was stockpiling them for when Kylie went home for a visit in three weeks.

A visit she wasnt looking forward to, either. Sure, she and her mom had sort of mended their not-so-good relationship since her mom had confessed about Daniel being her real dad. But the new mother-daughter bond felt so fragile.

Kylie couldnt help but wonder if their relationship wasnt too delicate to actually spend more than a few hours together. What if she went home and found things really hadnt changed? What if the distance between her and her mom still existed? And what about things with Tom Galen, the man Kylie had perceived to be her real dad all her life, the man who had walked out on her mom and her for a girl only a few years older than Kylie? Kylie had been mortified at seeing him sucking face with his way-too-young assistant. So much so, she hadnt even told him.

A late-night breeze brought the smoke from the roaring bonfire into her face. She blinked the sting from her eyes, but didnt dare step out of the circle. As Della had explained, to do that would have shown a lack of respect to the vampire culture.

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Clear your mind, Chris repeated, and handed the goblet to a camper on the other side of the circle.

Closing her eyes, Kylie tried again to follow Chriss directions, but then heard the sound of falling water. Jerking her eyes open, she looked toward the woods. Was the waterfall that close? Ever since Kylie had learned about the legend of the death angels at the falls, she felt driven to go there. Not that she longed to come face-to-face with any death angels.

She had her hands full dealing with ghosts. But she couldnt kick the feeling that the falls called her.

Are you ready? Miranda leaned in and whispered, Its getting closer.

Ready for what? was Kylies first thought. Then she remembered.

Was Miranda freaking kidding?

Kylie stared at the communal goblet being passed around the circle.

Her breath caught when she realized it was only ten people away from being placed in her hand. Drawing in a deep smoke-scented gulp of air, she tried not to look disgusted.

Tried. But the thought of taking a sip from a container after everyone had smacked their lips on the rim landed somewhere between gross and nauseating in her mind, but for sure the biggest yuck factor was the blood.

Watching Della consume her daily nutrition had gotten easier this last month. Heck, Kylie had even donated a pint to the causesupernaturals did that sort of thing for their vampire friends. But having to taste the life-sustaining substance was a different matter altogether.