Carnal (Deviants #2)

Prologue

ESSENCE

Thick smoke fills my throat and lungs, choking me with its pungent fumes. I bolt upright in bed, fully awake now, and look around in alarm.

Covering my face with my shirt to avoid any more smoke inhalation, I blindly reach over to wake up my boyfriend Evan, but my hand only grazes the cool sheet.

“Evan?” I call, coughing as soon as I open my mouth.

Where the hell is he? Did he even come home?

I can slightly make out his work bag by the closet, and that’s all the answer I need.

I quickly get out of bed and go to run out of the room, but my foot catches on something and I go crashing to the floor. I cry out in pain when my temple catches the corner of my bed frame.

“Evan!” I call out again, or I try to anyway, but I feel like I’m going to pass out.

Is this where I’ll die? Alone in the blazing inferno of my bedroom? I hope Evan at least made it out safely.

He didn’t even try to save me.

My head is so heavy, and a sharp pain lances through my skull. Heavy footsteps pound down the hall towards the room, and a voice I don’t recognize calls out, “Is there anybody in here?”

I try to lift my head, try to respond back to let them know that I’m alive and waiting for them to come, but my mouth is too dried up.

Suddenly, someone bursts into the bedroom. He immediately spots me on the floor and rushes over.

Crouching down, he rolls me over, places an oxygen mask over my mouth and nose, and picks me up like I’m featherlight.

“Don’t worry,” he says, his deep voice calming the anxiety creeping up inside me. “You’re safe now. I’m going to get you out of here.”

I want to thank him for saving my life, but I don’t get the chance because everything goes black.