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  “You don’t need a better look, stupid,” I glanced at the window-shade, drawn, no sign it had been opened. “How the hell did you get in here?” I glanced around, looking for some clue to jog my memory, or explain how I’d woken up in a nightmare worse than any I’d had while sleeping. I tugged my long tee down over my legs, grateful I hadn’t been nude next to him, cuddled skin to skin with death.

  “Okay, stop freaking out and call someone,” I glanced around for my phone. The charging stand next to the bed was empty, and my bag was nowhere in sight.

  I backed toward the door, pushing the disgust and fear back, examining the bedroom as best I could. There was no blood on the bed and no sign of a struggle of any kind. Maybe he had a bad heart…or was sick…or was poisoned by Aunt Portia and left here as a warning.

  I shuddered at the thought as my fingers found the doorknob behind me and I slipped out of the bedroom. With the horror hidden safely behind my door, I glanced around the living area of my apartment. If the body in my bed hadn’t put itself there, I might not be alone. I dropped into a crouch behind the armchair and moved in a crab-like walk, visually clearing the living room, dining room, and kitchen, before I jumped up and raced to the denim satchel I used as a purse.

  Grabbing my phone out of the bag, I ducked behind the island and started to dial, my eyes constantly glancing between the closed guest bathroom and the hallway which led to the two bedrooms. Orson, pick up, pick up, pick up, I begged silently as I listened to the trilling ring on the other end.

  “What the hell, girl?” Orson growled from the speaker, but I didn’t have a chance to answer him.

  “Police! Open up!” The shout came from the hall. A moment later, my door crashed open, and I screamed, dropping my phone.

  “Show your hands!” In seconds I was on my face against the cool wooden floor, my arms wrenched painfully behind my back as cops swarmed my apartment. I froze as a paralyzing spell landed on me.

  “Watch out, she’s a hexer,” one barked, and they all backed away from me. Lying flat with my cheek pressed into the floor, I stared at the dust bunnies under my couch, the voices around me strangely muffled from my vantage point.

  The witch-detective who had paralyzed me kneeled at my side, checking I was incapacitated before she gave the others permission to yank me to my feet. If they’d bothered to ask, I would’ve told them I was happy to comply, but they probably wouldn’t have believed me anyway.

  As her lips moved, my mind cleared enough to realize my rights were being read to me. I nodded my understanding because the spell wouldn’t let me speak. It wasn’t quite constitutional, but I worked with law enforcement every day. I knew how much harder the job had been for the last century, as magical beings stopped hiding in the shadows and entered mainstream society.

  Two more cops appeared from my bedroom, calling the detective back with them, and my body finally rebelled, the knowledge of what I knew resided there, forcing bile into my still sealed mouth. I gagged on the vomit, choking, until the cop holding me upright yelled for the detective and she ran in, casting as soon as she saw what was happening.

  They bent me over and she turned my head to one side as I spit and dragged a deep breath down my stomach acid scorched throat into my burning lungs. I managed to whisper, “Thank you,” leaning into her as if she wasn’t the person about to end my life as I knew it, my legs weak and trembling. The police held almost all my body weight. “I don’t understand what’s happening,” I added, but silenced myself before she could decide to renew the spell.

  “You’re okay,” she murmured, not quite sympathetic, but without accusation. “Just breathe.” She tipped my chin up so I was forced to meet her eyes. They were the color of chocolate, and it made me think of how good chocolate would feel on my stinging throat. “You must be powerful, to take down someone so big.”

  I shook my head. “Not really. Besides, do you see any vines climbing my walls? My magic is growing things. New life, not death.” The absence of magic had been one of the first things I’d noticed when the initial shock was over. “How did he die?”

  The other officer jerked my arm hard enough to make my shoulder pop. “Like you don’t know,” he snarled and I dropped my eyes, holding my body still so he wouldn’t yank on me again.

  “Enough, Jones. You start knocking on doors. Sam and I will secure her in our vehicle.”

  "Yes ma'am, Detective."

  I tried not to show my relief, even though she wasn’t giving me special treatment. The paranormal division of the Oakland PD employed witches, reluctantly, to keep supernaturals under control when we were arrested. It came with certain benefits, like a fast track to promotions. Usually, I was all for better representation for my kind in the police department. It had saved a lot of magical lives when cops stopped shooting first under the assumption we were all immortal.

  I’m half Fae and I could be hard to kill. But I wasn’t about to start testing the theory, not when the other half was almost human-weak and just as slow to heal. The detective called out to her partner and the asshole on my left was replaced by a giant. He wasn’t a literal giant, but he was huge compared to my five-foot-three inches.

  “You okay there?” he asked, sincere concern radiating from him. “Tracy, was this self-defense?”

  Detective Mills sighed, and I felt her shrug. “I dunno, Sam. There’s no sign of a struggle, but he’s awfully young-looking for a heart-attack."

  “He’s the alpha,” I blurted, my usual helpful self being anything but as they walked me to their magically protected car. Steel and machines are difficult to enchant, their components being the literal antithesis of magic. All the growing pains resulting from our people coming out of hiding is why witch-detectives were so valuable, they’ve got to be the best to maintain control in magical situations.

  “Fuck.” The giant tightened his hold as he guided me down the narrow flight of stairs to the foyer. They had their routine down; him handling me and the doors, leaving her hands free to cast if necessary. If I had been stupid enough to try to escape.

  “Look. I didn’t do anything to him…to the man in my room,” I began again as the male detective loomed over me, buckling me into my seat. I wasn’t cuffed, the detective’s spell was enough to control me even inside the car. “I only know him because he’s like, famous around here.”

  The giant sighed. “Did they read her her rights?” I couldn’t hear the reply, but he stuck his head in the window after shutting the door on me. “You need to stop talking until you get to the station, okay?”

  I nodded, but I couldn’t help myself. “But I work for Tell's Bail Bonds.” I was horrified to find myself sniffling like our clients so often did. “I wouldn’t break the law…”

  But he had already vanished from view, and I was left to shake and cry in the back of the paranormal squad car as the crowd of onlookers around me grew.

  Continue Reading Morgana’s story in Curse of Iron, here!

  Thank You!

  Thank you so much for taking the time to read Grave Chance. We hope you enjoyed reading about Vexa’s journey and thank you so much for coming on this adventure with us!

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  Stay Wicked,

  Graceley & Dee

  Also By Graceley Knox & D.D. Miers

  The Kresova Vampire Harems: Aurora (Written with D.D. Miers)

  1. Thirst

  2. Tempt

  3. Turn

  Aurora Books 1-3

  The Kresova Vampire Harems: Lyra (Written with D.D. Miers)

  4. Favor

  5. Fury

  The Girl, Vampire Series

  1. Girl, Bitten

  2. Girl, Forsaken

  3. Girl, Immortal

  The Half-Blood Huntress Chronicles


  Prequel: Deck the Demons (Exclusively in Such Violent Delights)

  1. Curse of Iron

  2. Heir of Storm

  3. Master of Magic

  4. Reign of Rebels

  5. War of Thrones

  The Shadow Creatures Series

  1. Gravestones & Wicked Bones

  2. Cursed Moons & Ancient Runes (Coming 2019!)

  How to Be A Necromancer

  1. Grave Promise

  2. Grave Debt

  3. Grave Mistake

  4. Grave Magic

  5. Grave Chance

  Alana Creed: Timejumper

  1. Fae Kissed

  By Graceley Knox

  The Wicked Kingdoms Series:

  1. Mark of Truth

  2. Crown of Betrayal

  3. Throne of Secrets

  3.5. Yuletide Revelry (A Wicked Kingdoms Christmas Short)

  4. Castle of Illusions

  The Dragon Stone Saga:

  Kiss of Frost

  Up in Smoke (Coming Soon)

  Shake the Ground (Coming Soon)

  By D.D. Miers

  The Relic Keeper Series

  1.Dark Summoner

  2.Dark Illusions

  3.Dark Secrets (Coming Soon!)

  4.Dark Destiny (Coming Soon!)

  Standalones:

  City of Shadows: The Dark Fae Hollows

  Wicked: The Isa Fae

  Slayer in Lace

  About the Authors

  USA Today bestselling authors, Graceley Knox and D.D. Miers may be long-lost sisters, but their moms continue to deny it. They are most definitely the co-writers of the Kresova Vampire Harem series, as well as a multitude of other upcoming projects they can't wait to share with readers.

  Together they tend to share the same brain, finish each other's thoughts, laugh way too hard at inappropriate comments, drink enough coffee to qualify for an intervention, and talk about their fur babies. When they're not chatting, which is always, they can be found all over social media hanging out with their author friends and readers!

  Visit them at www.knoxandmiers.com

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