Fury Rising (Fury Unbound Book 1) by Yasmine Galenorn

been more emotional than is good for him.” The soft smile on her face was the last straw.
    “Aw, damn it, Shevron. I feel like a heel for getting angry.” I slapped the table, wanting to lash out at something.
    “What else is going on, Fury?”
    I shook my head. I really didn’t want to go into it any further. “Don’t you need to go over to see Jason? He’s going to need you and the last thing I want to do is to make things worse.”
    “Tam is with him. Now, tell me what’s stewing in that fiery heart of yours?” She smiled, and I had the feeling she knew the answer already, even though I wasn’t sure what it was.
    I closed my eyes, breathing softly. As I sorted through the tangle that my thoughts had become, I realized there was something I was hiding from myself. A feeling…of… relief ? What the hell was that about?
    “Oh hell,” I blurted out as I opened my eyes. I didn’t want to look at her. But the elephant in the room was loud and big, and I couldn’t avoid facing it. “I don’t know how to say this.”
    “Then just say it.” She waited patiently.
    I stared at the wall. I couldn’t look her in the face. Finally, I swallowed my pride. “Maybe…just maybe…I might have a crush on your brother. Or at least I did till he kicked me out a few minutes ago.”
    She nodded, taking her time. After a few beats, she asked, “Do you think it’s more than infatuation?”
    I blushed, so embarrassed I wanted to crawl under the table. “I don’t know. I mean, I really liked Eileen and I never would have interfered in their relationship. But…”
    “But the fact that she’s gone means the field is open?” There was no judgment, no anger behind her words. I nodded again, waiting for her to read me the riot act. She pursed her lips, then leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs. “Tell me about it.”
    Now that the gate was open, the words came spilling out. “More than once, I’ve had the fantasy of what it would be like if she was gone…or if he had…”
    “If he picked you instead of her?”
    I pressed my lips together, nodding.
    “You never fantasized her dead, did you?”
    I jerked my head up. “Of course not. No, never. I like Eileen…liked…”
    “Then you didn’t set the sky-eye after her?” She held up her hand as I bristled. “A stupid question, but to illustrate my point. You need to realize that you had no part in her death.”
    “No,” I answered slowly, beginning to understand.
    “Good. Therefore, any connection between your fantasy and Eileen’s death is accidental. You didn’t wish her dead, or cast a spell, or anything like that. You didn’t want her to die any more than you want my brother to be broken-hearted.”
    Exhaling deeply, I let go of the knot that had formed inside my heart when Eileen’s mother had called. “No, I didn’t.”
    “Take it a step further. You care about Jason, but you stay out of his relationship precisely because you do care about him. Then his girlfriend dies and you find yourself thinking there might be a possibility…right?”
    I blushed. “ This is why I feel so bad. How can I be such a fucking ass? How can I be so angry at him for asking me to leave when I know he’s hurting?”
    Shevron stood and took off her apron. “Honey, everything you’re feeling is natural. Don’t beat yourself up. You aren’t rejoicing in Eileen’s death. If you were, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” She held out her hand and pulled me to my feet, drawing me into a hug.
    “I really did like Eileen. I envied her, yes. It’s not easy being a Theosian. We’re always bound to the Elder Gods, and so often, we live lonely lives. Humans envy or fear us, the government is always looking for a way to use us, and…it’s just…it can be lonely. But I never wanted anything like this to happen.” I closed my eyes as I leaned against her shoulder.
    Shevron took me by the shoulders, forcing me to meet her gaze. “You listen to me, girl. And