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

Then, as Dakota wandered toward the bedroom, Terrell’s gentle voice stopped him. “Hiding probably saved her.”


Terrell shook his head. “It’s not the first time she’s done it. Back before the accident, I didn’t think she should have to see the kind of stuff that kept happening, you know? She was so young, and she would cry, and that just made him angrier. So, I used to put her in my bedroom closet. I even brought her books to read—with lots of pictures—and a flashlight. Sometimes I sat right outside. And I remember, I told her she had to be very quiet, and everything would be okay.”


Dakota glanced down at the sleeping girl. What were they getting into? He didn’t know the first thing about taking care of a kid, let alone a scared, abused girl in mourning. And he didn’t think Terrell would be able to do it by himself. “Like I said, it was smart. I bet it saved her life. It’s a good thing she had you looking out for her.”


Chapter 71