A Demon's Harmony Read online

  A Demon’s Harmony

  Dark Lullabies Series Book Two

  E.C. Land

  Contents

  Available Now

  Coming Soon

  Acknowledgments

  Soulful Harmony

  Prologue One

  Prologue Two

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Epilogue

  Sneak Peek

  Prologue

  A Demon’s Harmony

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to persons, organizations, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.

  A Demon’s Harmony. Copyright © 2020 by E.C. Land. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations used in articles or reviews. For information, contact E.C. Land.

  https://www.facebook.com/e.c.landauthor

  Published by Knox Publishing

  Publishing Link: www.knoxpub.com

  Cover Design by Charli Childs, Cosmic Letterz Cover Design

  Editing by Kim Lubbers

  Formatting by E.C. Land

  Proofreading by Jackie Ziegler

  Created with Vellum

  Available Now

  By: E.C. Land

  Devil’s Riot MC Series

  Horse’s Bride

  Thorn’s Revenge

  Twister’s Survival

  Reclaimed Boxset

  Cleo’s Rage

  Connors’ Devils

  Hades Pain

  Badger’s Claim

  Burner’s Absolution

  Devil’s Riot MC Originals

  Stoney’s Property

  Owning Victoria

  Blaze’s Mark

  Dark Lullabies

  A Demon’s Bliss

  A Demon’s Harmony

  Inferno’s Clutch MC

  Chains’ Trust

  Royal Bastards MC (Elizabeth City Charter)

  Cyclone of Chaos

  Anthologies

  Guns Blazing

  Rocked to the Core

  Twisted Steel

  Coming Soon

  By: E.C. Land

  Devil’s Riot MC Originals

  Taming Coyote

  Luna’s Shadow

  Choosing Nerd

  Carrying Blaze’s Mark

  Ranger’s Fury

  Neo’s Strength

  Dark Lullabies

  A Demon’s Soul

  A Demon’s Song

  Inferno’s Clutch MC

  Breaker’s Fuse

  Ryder’s Rush

  Axel’s Promise

  Tiny’s Hope

  Fated for Pitch Black

  Royal Bastards MC (Elizabeth City Charter)

  Spiral of Chaos

  Anthologies

  Remembering Ryan

  The Elites

  Twisted Steel: Second Edition

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  Author Page

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  For those that allow themselves to risk second chances at love.

  Never let the small things keep you apart. We all only have this one life to live make the best of it with the one your heart speaks to!

  Acknowledgments

  My Family – I’ll always be thankful toward my husband as he continues to show his support in my writing. No matter how annoying I become he lets me ramble on and on with the different things I come up with. Even sends me music when I need encouragement. My kids now are a huge part of this as I show them you can follow your dreams and shoot for the moon if you put your mind to it.

  My Betas – Thank you all for being the first to read the stories as they come alive. It means the world to me. Especially when you all start to get mad. That’s when I know I’m doing something right. And in doing so pushing me to keep going with all the different plots that form in my head. I’m thankful to you all for being ready and willing to read and give your input.

  My Knox Publishing People – I don’t know what I’d do without you all. You’re all wonderful in your own right and I wouldn’t have it any other way. From encouraging me to keep going when I feel like giving up to kicking my ass when it needs it. The best thing I’m grateful for is when you listen to the different plots and scenarios I come up with. As well as the family you all have become to me.

  Liz – If not for you, I don’t know if I’d ever be where I am today with my writing. Thank you for always pushing me and encouraging me. Even on my worse day. You’re more than just my Publisher/Boss, you’re my best friend. My sister from another mister.

  Diane – I couldn’t be more grateful to you. You help me so much with all you take care of and have become one of my good friends. I don’t know what I’d do without you considering all that you do.

  Kim and Jackie – Thank you both for agreeing to work with me on all of my books. You both rock and I cannot wait to work with you both for the foreseeable future.

  Playlist

  Someone You Loved – Mitchell Tenpenny

  Tears Could Talk – Jelly Roll

  Cover Me Up – Morgan Wallen

  Legendary – Skillet

  Woulda Left Me Too – Ryan Griffin

  One Night Stand – Murphy Elmore

  Nobody But You – Blake Shelton Ft Gwen Stefani

  Trigger Warning

  This content is intended for mature audiences only. It contains material that may be viewed as offensive to some readers, including graphic language, dangerous and sexual situations, murder, rape, and extreme violence.

  Soulful Harmony

  Souls sing together

  When they find each other

  No two are alike

  Yet those two connect

  Bringing peace and harmony

  Souls scream when apart

  Causing pain and havoc

  Breaking the peace, they once had

  Two souls bleed

  Two souls weep

  No harmony in sight

  Only when they are together

  Will the two heal

  Bringing back the peace

  Along with the harmony

  Leaving the torment behind

  Open your heart

  Let the truth be known

  Those two souls know

  What the heart is so blind to see

  They belong together

  Through and through

  ~ E.C. Land

  Prologue One

  Alexis

  18 years old

  “Why did I agree to come to this football game with you?” I groan as my best friend drags me through the stands to where the rest of our friends are sitting.

  Dang it, I don’t want to be here. I would have preferred to have stayed home reading one of my books on the kindle. I had just started this whole series about werewolves and such by one of my favorite aut
hors earlier today.

  “Oh, suck it up buttercup and have some fun. Besides you never know you might see your boyfriend here,” she mutters. Lori has never liked the fact I’d gotten with Tanner and is constantly bitter about the fact.

  “Will you just stop with the sarcasm? Tanner has never done a thing to you,” I say in defense of my boyfriend. I’ve known him since my sister and I moved here to live with my grandmother. My little sister introduced me to him in the hallway one day when she’d been talking to him and Chaz, her boyfriend.

  I had immediately wanted to know more about Tanner. Only I didn’t know how to talk to him without embarrassing myself. Unfortunately, I’d ended up stumbling over my words. After that day I’d avoid him as much as possible. Wasn’t always easy when my sister would drag me along to listen to their band practice.

  Tanner would always grin at me which caused me to blush and divert my gaze. One day he’d approached me and asked me to go with him to the movies. From that day we were together. If I wasn’t with him, I was with my friends. However, Lori had distanced herself from me after finding out about Tanner and me.

  “Tanner is with the guys tonight so I’m sure they’re probably here. He never misses his brother’s games,” I shrug.

  No matter how different the two brothers are they are tight just like he is with Chaz, Hunter, and Lex. Kobi is there to support Tanner and vice versa. I admire the relationship he has with his brother. They don’t have the best of dads. He's a drug addict and is always mean. Tanner doesn’t like for me to go over there for that very reason.

  “I’m sure that’s the only reason,” Lori snipes.

  “You know what. I think I’ll just go home. I don’t need to sit here and listen to this mess from you. When you get over your problem with me being with Tanner then we can hang out,” I snap as I stand up and head down the bleachers. I’m not going to subject myself to negativity. Not when I don’t have time for it.

  Making my way toward the exit, movement catches my gaze. Turning my head, my feet stop in their tracks at what I’m staring at. My boyfriend and Shannon, one of the high school cheerleaders, are making out under the bleachers.

  Tears well in my eyes as my heart shatters into a million pieces.

  Rushing out of there I can’t get the sight of Tanner and the skank out of my head. Why would he do this to me? I thought everything between us was great.

  Is this why Lori was being such a bitch? She knew but didn’t want to tell me?

  God I’m so fucking stupid.

  Since I didn’t drive, I start walking. We don’t live too far from the school. I’ll be able to get home in no time.

  Or so I thought when it starts to rain. Of course, it’s not just a drizzle or even a light rain. No, it’s as if the bottom drops. For a good few minutes, I can barely see in front of me.

  “Great, just freaking great. What did I ever do to deserve this?” I yell up at the sky.

  With tears falling down my cheeks I slowly make my way home. My heart is in complete shambles by the time I see the house in the distance. Lights can be seen through the darkened sky.

  The moment I enter the house I’m thankfully met with silence. My grandma must have already gone to bed. Making my way to my room I touch the picture of my parents that sits on the table by the stairs.

  I miss them so much. It still hurts that they had to die leaving my sister Jamie and I.

  Now I might as well be dead on the inside. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get over Tanner. I was taught growing up that love is forever and when you find the one to give it to there is no other. My parents were soul mates who lived in harmony. Their souls died together.

  I wanted what they had, now I won’t.

  At least not when I’m this broken.

  Prologue Two

  Tanner

  19 years Old

  Staring out at the woman swaying her hips to the beat of the music pulsing through the speakers of one of the trucks parked in the field, I’m consumed.

  I’ve loved her for years, but I only had her for a short period of time as mine. All because of some fuckin’ jealous bitch. The very same bitch that’s dancing with Alexis right now.

  Lori set me up and she knows it. I’d confronted her after the whole bullshit with Shannon. I can still hear her words ringing in my ear. “It’s for your own good. You and Alexis would never last, not when there is a major difference between the two of you. She wouldn’t be able to handle the criticism of you being together when people bring up the fact she’s white and you’re black. Don’t you see,” she’d said. I’d about knocked her to the ground for that.

  Alexis and I’d talked about this very issue before we’d gotten together. She’d never once thought it was a bad thing. “People can think what they want Tanner, it doesn’t matter to me, there is no difference between the two of us other than sexual organs and your musical talent, which I have none.” That was the night I knew I was in love with her.

  Too bad she wouldn’t listen to me about that night. If only she had, maybe it would be me she’s dancing with instead of the witch from hell.

  “Tanner, are you going to stand there all-night staring at her or are you going to go talk to her,” Lex says slapping a hand on my back as he chuckles.

  “Nope.” Is all I say making the P pop as I lift the beer I had to my mouth.

  “Why not? I mean that girl is yours after all,” Lex grins.

  “She’s not mine. Alexis made that clear the day she didn’t want to listen to my side of things. All because of that bitch Lori,” I grumble pointing my beer in their direction.

  I don’t know what Lori’s game plan is, but I know it’s to keep Alexis away from me.

  As the night goes on and the more I drink, the more I become frustrated with her. I’ve caught her glancing in my direction several times when she doesn’t think I’m watching. When the party starts to wind down, I ask Lex to distract Lori so I can snag Alexis. I need to talk to her away from the evil bitch from hell.

  “Come with me we need to talk,” I murmur as I get close enough to touch her.

  “What do you want, Tanner?” she slurs leaning into me.

  “To make sure you get home okay. You’re wasted baby and don’t need to be behind the wheel,” I say, pulling her toward the truck Hunter and I rode over in. He’d stayed sober tonight so that I could unwind by having a few too many. I’m not one to normally drink but today had been a bad one.

  My mom called asking me to come by only so that she could get money for groceries. Dear ol’ dad did what he does best and spent every last cent they had on drugs. Thankfully, Kobi was at school at the time and for the most part either staying with me and the guys or at one of his friends’ houses.

  “Lori was taking me home,” she says, weaving on her feet.

  “Not happenin’” I growl, grabbing her arm and dragging her to the cab of the truck. Picking her up, I put her in and slide her over.

  I climb in after her and close the door as Hunter does the same on the opposite side. Lex runs and jumps in the bed of the truck tapping the roof of the cab yelling. “Get the hell out of here this bitch is crazy talking about ripping my balls off and castrating Tanner.”

  “What the fuck? Is that woman a lunatic or something?” Hunter mutters.

  “Hey, that’s my best friend you’re talking about,” Alexis slurs, laying her head on my shoulder.

  “Think what you want baby, that girl is nothing but a snake out to bite anyone she can,” I mutter as Hunter hits the gas and spins the tires kicking up mud.

  Alexis doesn’t respond to me, but I can tell by her breathing she’s passed out.

  “Where are we dropping her off Tan?” Hunter asks as we hit the main road.

  “Our place.” She’s gonna be pissed but I don’t give a damn.

  “She’s gonna be pissed,” he grumbles.

  “She’ll have to get over it. I may be buzzed but Alexis is tanked,” I state.

  “It’s your
funeral.” He shrugs.

  Closing my eyes, I lean my head against the headrest.

  “Marry me Tanny, I don’t want to be without you.” My eyes snap open as I tilt my head toward Alexis at her words.

  Holy shit did she just say that.

  I know I shouldn’t do it, but I want her as mine. She said it, I’m gonna make it happen. At least then she’ll be mine in some way. Even if by name.

  Chapter 1

  Alexis

  Present Day

  “Why are you still working at that damn music shop?” my best friend Lori mutters as I take my seat in the booth across from her.

  Sighing I shake my head and reach for one of the nachos and salsa. Preferring to stuff my face rather than answer her question. It’s the same every time we have lunch. She gripes about me being around Tanner and I ignore it.

  Sure, I get she’s trying to protect me but I’m sick of hearing the same thing. I don’t know what Tanner did to her in high school and I really don’t care, I’m just over the whole thing.