Doren was born with a powerful gift -- a gift he's managed to use to put him well on his way to becoming a star. But there is more to that gift than just musical talent, and as careful as Doren is to hide that fact, there are some who know of the power behind the sound, and all the ways they could abuse it.<br><br>August's goal in life is simple: make an impact in the music industry. An opportunity to work as the personal assistant to Doren seems to be exactly the kind of break he needs to accomplish that goal.<br><br>But all too often in life, simple becomes just another complication, especially when there are people whose goal is even simpler: destroy and dominate.

The Gift

With a groan and a stretch, August sat up and grabbed a hoodie from the back of a chair, slipping it over the tuxedo shirt he still wore. The room was cool; damp, dreary air billowed through the drapery. He shivered and pulled the drapes aside to peer out. Doren leaned against the railing, one foot tucked between the rods, the other planted firmly and stretched out. It gave Doren a long and lean look, his muscles like cut marble underneath smooth skin that seemed oblivious to the cold. Streetlights cast a long, dark shape behind him, and the shadow had an almost demonic look: his low-slung shoulders sharpened into points and hooks; his lowered head, hair tousled from sleep, morphed into horns. August’s smile dropped into a frown and something deep inside of him told him to back up, to look away.


Chapter 36