Lost Pretty Boys Read online

  Lost Pretty Boys

  Shadowlight Hunters Academy #1

  kailin gow

  Lost Pretty Boys: Shadowlight Hunters Academy #1

  Published by Romance on the Go

  Romance on the Go is an imprint of Sparklesoup Inc.

  Copyright © 2019 Kailin Gow

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher except in case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Do NOT post on websites or share this book without permission from copyright holder. We take piracy seriously.

  All characters and storyline is an invention from Kailin Gow. Any resemblance to people alive or dead is purely coincidence.

  For information, please contact:

  Sparklesoup.com

  First Edition.

  ISBN 13: 9781597480321

  DEDICATION

  To my teachers and friends at Sacred Heart School for filling my head with a lifetime of great gothic private school experiences.

  Prologue

  The sun peeked through the curtains as it always did when I neglected to close them properly. Hot and bright, it bore through my eyelids and brought me to full wakefulness before I truly felt ready.

  I was deathly tired, though at the same time it seemed as though I’d been asleep forever. Feeling sluggish and groggy, I slipped out of bed and dragged my feet across the hardwood floor to the window.

  Below the street was abuzz with activity. Busy people walked to the bus stop, hurried to their cars or headed out to work or school on their bicycles. Yet for all the activity outside, my house was still and silent.

  There was no sound of a quick breakfast being made. No hush of my father’s footsteps as he quietly and discreetly prepared for a day at the office.

  As the memory of the past days came to me, I walked to the full length mirror and glanced at my reflection. I looked the same, though I knew I clearly felt different.

  “Oh,” I let out in a mournful hush. Closing my eyes, I took a moment and allowed the realization to settle in. It was hard and a deep part of my soul didn’t want to accept it, but it was there.

  I’d died.

  My life as I’d known it was over. Yet here I was… in the Victorian house I shared with my parents, in the bedroom on the top floor that I’d decorated myself.

  Lothario. I’d seen him in the moments following my death. He’d told me it wasn’t my time, and I knew he was right. I felt it so intensely, yet with the same intensity, I knew I wasn’t ready to go back to my life at St. James Academy.

  My time in this house was also over. It felt wrong just being there. It felt like a lie, just as being the demon slayer I’d been since my earliest childhood was a lie.

  I cursed the fate that had been mine. I still had so much to do; so much to accomplish. And I’d given up so much. Closing my eyes, I was immediately confronted with the faces of Brax and Moore. They’d paid dearly for helping me, and I’d promised to keep them safe; to keep them out of the dark, only now…

  Damn it. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. I was a skilled and experienced demon slayer and I couldn’t just have my life end on such a sour note.

  The echo of Lothario’s words sounded in my ear.

  “You’ve now the power of an angel, all while remaining human. Your life now hovers between mortality and immortality.”

  “Then I have all the power I need to find and help Brax and Moore,” I’d said.

  Lothario had offered me a stern shake of his head. “As much as it pains me to say so, you must let them go. They are beyond your help now.”

  “No,” I’d argued. “That can’t be. You can’t tell me that I now have all these angelic powers and that I can’t do anything to help my friends. It’s not fair. It’s not right.”

  “The perils of traveling to the dark side are far greater than you imagine. The potential dangers far exceed the new powers that have been bestowed upon you. I’ve guided and guarded you all your life; you have to trust me.”

  “I do trust you, Lothario, but I have to follow my heart. I have to stay true to the promises I made.”

  “You love them, don’t you?”

  I’d nodded, surprised and a little stunned by the revelation. I did indeed love them, each for different reasons, but both as profoundly.

  “I can’t stop you from doing as you wish. All I can do is offer warning and council. If you must do as your heart commands you, at least take a few precautionary tools; namely Asher.”

  A smile came to my lips at the thought of Asher. Once he learned I was alive, regardless of the state of that liveliness, he’d be at my side ready and willing to help.

  Confident and sure, I grabbed my black skinny jeans and slithered into them then pulled my nightie off over my head and reached for a black cami. Before I had it completely pulled down over my belly, I felt a strange and eerie presence in my room. A chill crept up to the base of my neck and spiked the fine little hairs into attention.

  I didn’t know what to expect. Newly dead with new angelic powers, I had no idea what I was capable of, or what dangers awaited me.

  Betting that a surprise attack was my best approach, I spun on my heels to face the intruder. My jaw fell slack and my defenses weakened. Brax’s parents stood by the back window, their figures lit by the early morning sun.

  Despite the bright light, I could see their eyes; pleading, imploring, begging.

  “You have to do something,” Mr. Kingsley said.

  “And fast,” Mrs. Kingsley added.

  “Brax needs you more than ever. So does his friend Moore.”

  “You have to help them. You have to hurry and get them out of Hades. There isn’t much time before…”

  My heart went out to Brax’s mother as she wept for her endangered son.

  “Before they become like us,” his father finished. “Their transformation will be swift and permanent.”

  “Permanent?” I said with a profound sense of dread.

  “They’ll forever be for and of the dark.”

  “I’ll do everything I can.” I tried to sound reassuring, but felt my voice didn’t quite give the assurance I’d hoped. I’d just entered a new phase of my life and wasn’t sure which way to go. “How do I get there?”

  A warm and nurturing smile warmed Mrs. Kingsley’s warped features. Through the demonic transformation that rendered her ugly and fearful, she still managed to exude the love she had for her son. “You’ll need protection,” she said. “You’ll need your Guardian and the Angel Mark.”

  “Angel Mark?”

  “Demons are afraid of angels and the power they hold,” Mr. Kingsley said.

  “But you’re not quite an angel.”

  “What do you mean, ‘not quite an angel’?”

  “You’re a nephilim,” Mr. Kingsley went on. “The descendant of an angel. You may not have all the powers of a true angel, but you have significant power, and this power will help you as you set out to find Brax and Moore.”

  “But you have to find your Guardian first. You’ll need all the help you can get.”

  “Also bear in mind that knowledge is power. The better prepared you are, the easier it’ll be to get the job done.”

  He turned to look frantically at his wife. Her eyes wide with fear, she grasped his hand. Their eyes darted around the room as though they’d sense imminent danger.

  “We wish you all the luck in the world,” she whispered.

  “Should we meet you in Hades, we’ll do what we can to help you along.”

  “Be careful, though,”
Mrs. Kingsley added. “Not everyone is who they appear to be. Be careful who you chose to trust. Many may come to you, offer help, offer friendship, but don’t be too quick to take them for their word.”

  “Be cautious and trust your instincts and you’ll be fine.”

  With those final words of wisdom, they vanished.

  Chapter 1

  I took careful and silent steps to my bedroom door and listened for signs of life downstairs. Nothing.

  It struck me suddenly. How had my parents dealt with the news of my death? I could easily imagine my father, stoic and strong, while my mother wept softly, determined to go on while her heart broke.

  Padding quietly down the narrow staircase, I made my way to the living room and found a part of the answer to my question. Flowers and cards filled the room. Big and impressive arrangements sat side by side with small and intimate bouquets. A few were tacky, but most were tasteful.

  Reaching the coffee table, I picked up the picture frame with my photo in it. Mom had taken the photo on a bright sunny Sunday when we’d gone to the park. On a rare calm and relaxed afternoon, she’d invited me to picnic with her, something I knew she loved and I’d wanted to please her, though picnicking wasn’t really my thing.

  The result was a photo that didn’t really represent the life I’d led. It was a beautiful photo of a happy young woman in a moment of innocent bliss; far from the violent and ugly life of a demon slayer.

  Beside the photo, a floral notebook contained words of condolence and favorable remarks regarding the young woman I’d been. Funny how I recognized so few names. Who were all these people?

  The mantle was lined with sympathy cards. Many seemed to be from students of St. James Academy. The flourished penmanship of girls spoke of their admiration for me while the often awkward and static writing of the boys spoke of secret crushes. One bold writer even made a rather untimely remark about his fantasies about me.

  Dead or not, I blushed. Had my mother actually read this card?

  Though flattered by the unabashed adulation of the guys at school, I had a fleeting thought for the three guys who held a special place in my heart. It didn’t make sense that I felt so close to them all, but the bond I’d built with Asher, Brax and Moore was there and growing stronger every day. They were my demon slayer dream team. There had never been room for any other suitors; three was more than enough.

  Spotting Mrs. Bright stiff and formal handwriting, I reached for her basic black card with a simple silver cross on the front.

  Lux was loved and respected by all and she’ll be greatly missed. Everyone at St. James feels the pain and emptiness of her departure, and wish to offer our sincerest condolences.

  And I sincerely hoped Mom and Dad were touched by the words that seemed to me so forced and practiced.

  I looked around for a card from Asher. I knew how fond he was of my parents and had no doubt he’d expressed his sadness at the news of my death.

  Footsteps, soft and slow, sounded behind me and I turned to see my mother, her head hung low as she carried a cup of coffee in from the kitchen. Still in her bedclothes, she looked thin and frail. Her gaze met with my feet and she started. As her gaze slowly made its way up my body to my face, I had a moment of apprehension. Would my reappearance so soon after my death be too much of a shock for her?

  Our eyes met and her cup of coffee crashed to the floor.

  “Oh, my.”

  “Mom.”

  “No.” She reached for the crucifix at her throat, a move I was proud to note.

  “You're right to suspect I could be a demon, Mom. I’m happy you took precautions and put on a crucifix.”

  She backed away, her eyes wide with fright and uncertainty.

  “Mom, it’s me.”

  “No. I buried you. I identified you at the morgue. I picked out your favorite jeans… I cried and cried and…” Her eyes, red with proof of so many tears, welled up anew. “No.”

  “Yes. I’m back, Mom. I still have too much to do here on earth.”

  “Prove it. Prove to me that you’re my little girl and not some monster.”

  I reached for the picture of me. “You made chicken salad for this picnic and I told you how good it was, even with the bits of celery you’d put in it.”

  “You do hate celery.” She grinned, but didn’t make a move to come closer. “Oh, honey.”

  Relieved, I smiled. “Good. I’m glad that’s settled, but you should remain cautious.”

  “I will.”

  “I’m sorry this has caused you so much pain, Mom. I love you and want only happiness for you and Dad. At the same time, I know how difficult the coming months will be. I know demons impersonate dead people and come back pretending to be the ghost or spirit of them, only to trick people into following another path that will lead them to the dark. So you have to always be careful and use your judgment, Mom.”

  “Don’t worry. My eyes and ears are wide open and I won’t let a demon get within a mile of me.” She took a tentative step toward me. “But, you… Can I still give you a hug?”

  I smiled. “Only this one time, Mom.” I stepped toward her. “In the future, don’t take any chances.”

  She wrapped her arms around me and held me tight. “Then let me get a good hug before I let you go again.” After a few minutes she pulled away, grasped my shoulders and looked at me. “I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become, Lux. It breaks my heart that you had to die in the process and I’ll admit I’m not quite sure what you are now, but I love you and I miss you.”

  “I miss you, too.”

  She passed her hand through her tousle of uncombed hair. “I can’t believe how calm I’m being. Here I am talking to my daughter a week after she was buried. I should be in hysterics.”

  “You’ve had plenty of years to get accustomed to the evil powers that surround me. They’ve been after me since I was two years old.”

  “Indeed. I guess you could say that I’ve seen it all, through your eyes.”

  A moment of silence hung over us. It was time for me to go and we both knew it.

  “I have to go get ready.” I pulled away and headed to the stairs.

  “Ready for what?”

  I heard the concern in her question.

  “I have to go, Mom.”

  “Where?”

  Reluctant to answer her, I hurried upstairs, threw on a splash of make up and grabbed my boots.

  The moment I returned downstairs, she started up again.

  “Where are you going, Lux? You’ve just come back. What do you have to go and do now?”

  I chuckled softly. “Mom, I’m already dead. You don’t have to worry.”

  “I can still worry about your soul, dear.” She looked at me more closely, her eyes taking me all in. A maternal grin came across her lips. “You do look beautiful, honey, if somewhat a little provocative.”

  “Mom,” I whined.

  “I can’t help it. I’m a mother.”

  I laughed. “Look, I have to find Asher. I need him to help me get Brax and Moore back.”

  “Back? Back from where?”

  “It’s complicated, Mom, and I’m sure you don’t really want to know all the details. Just be assured that with Asher at my side, I’m virtually invincible.

  “I admit, I did always like that Asher.” She looked at me, a slight blush on her cheeks. “Don’t get me wrong. Brax and Moore seem like wonderful boys, but…”

  “I know, Mom. You're right. Asher is a great guy, but he’s also my Guardian. I’m not so sure hooking up with him would really be a good idea.”

  Mom rushed to me and pinched my cheeks. “That’s my girl. Now I’m completely convinced it really is you. Only you can speak so pragmatically about your relationship with such a good looking and sweet boy.”

  I chuckled. “I just love how you insist on calling these cool guys boys. It’s charming.”

  Still holding me close to her, she looked into my eyes. “I know I’m just your adoptive mother, hone
y, but I want you to know just how much you’ve always meant to me.”

  “I know, Mom.”

  “John would be so proud of you.”

  I hadn’t given much though to my biological father much lately, nor my nephilim demon slayer mother.

  “You okay, honey?” she asked with a concerned tilt of her head.

  I shook the thoughts of my biological origins from my head.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring all of that up. It’s just…”

  “It’s okay, Mom. I know my life – everything in it – is complicated.”

  Another moment of silence engulfed us. Apprehension grew with every second.

  “Though I would love to keep you at my side the whole day,” Mom finally said. “I know you have to go, so…”

  I nodded my appreciation of her understanding. The moment had grown heavy with emotion and pulling away had become difficult. “I’ll try to call Asher.”

  After punching his number into my cell phone, I waited as his phone rang and rang, each ring bringing more dread. If I didn’t get a hold of him…

  Lifting my head, I sniffed the air that had suddenly shifted and changed. I set the phone down and tried to get a better feeling of the presence that now loomed so close to me. The sixth sense I’d honed since a small child kicked in and I prepared for my first battle since my demise.

  The doorbell sounded.

  “Expecting anyone?” Mom asked.

  “Sort of,” I said. But demons don’t usually ring the doorbell… unless they’re impersonating a human; unless they’re a beautiful being.

  With trepidation in one hand and the assurance of the power within me in the other, I reached for the doorknob.

  A scent, pleasant and warm, wafted in the moment I pulled the door back.

  “Lux?” Asher said with surprise and shock slapped across his face.

  “Asher,” I breathed. Relief flooded over me, almost bringing me to tears. He was here. He’d heard my call. He knew I needed him. “You came. I needed you and you came.”