Exhausted with life, Dakota tries to end his -- only to be saved at the last moment by his friend Terrell, who then drags him into a world of magic and intrigue that's always been right there, hidden beneath the surface.<br><br>Powerful magic users are steadily pulling the planet into a violent war, and evil forces will stop at nothing to take the talismans possessed by Dakota and his newfound family. Dakota soon finds himself deeply in over his head ... with love, with family, with fighting for all their lives.

The Pyre Starter

Terrell shifted his weight from the left leg to the right before going back. “Special circumstances. He needed to know, so I told him. Now, he needs to see it.” He reached into one of the saddlebags of his motorcycle and produced a squishy red ball. Without hesitation, he tossed it to Eleanor, who caught it without difficulty. “So, let’s just get this over with, okay? I know you have yours on you.”


She studied the object with disdain in her expression. Then, she threw it to the ground at Terrell’s feet. Reaching into her shirt, she pulled out the necklace Dakota had noticed earlier. It turned out to be jade—carved or cut into a perfectly round disk the width of a soda can. It looked thin, like a large coin. It was fixed to her neck with little more than a brown leather cord. She cradled it in one hand for a moment before letting the jewel hang loose from her chest.


Chapter 8