The Queen's Awakening

unds of Moonstone washing over her like a warm wave. The mystical energy that permeated

ure standing at the edge of the crowd. His piercing yellow eyes seemed

ut as she made her way through the quiet streets, Maya couldn't

a romantic glow over the town. Maya felt a sense of excitement and trepidation,

behind her. She turned to see the stranger a

nstone," he said, hi

as she smiled. "Thanks," s

ensity as he took Maya's hand. "I'm Liam Ry

of electricity run through her body. She knew that she

rs, Maya knew that she wasn't the

connection with Liam that she couldn't explain. It was a

he held her gaze. Maya felt like she was dr

you, Maya," Liam said,

e felt a shiver run down her spin

ers. "Yes," he said. "I've been waiti

r her. What did Liam mean? And how did

questions, Liam dropped her

feeling a sense of disa

fading light. "I'll see you around, Maya," he sa

sion and excitement. What had just happened?

sense of unease wash over her. She had a feeling that her return to

ing that Liam was watching her. She felt a shive

e outskirts of town. The cabin had been in her family for gene

run down. The paint was peeling, and the windows were dusty. Bu

f nostalgia wash over her. The cabin was just as she had lef

a piece of paper on the kitchen tab

the note read. "I'm

read the note. How had Liam known

erything, Maya heard a noise outside. It sound

ould be visiting her so late at night. She cautiously m

der, standing on her porch, looking m

he smiled. "I see you got my note,

e nodded. "Yes, I did," she said. "But how

s," he said. "Besides, I want

ebrow. "Safe from

things in this town that you don't understand

aside. She didn't need Liam's protection, she told

t a spark of attraction. She couldn't deny t

Liam," Maya said finally. "B

know you can, Maya," he said. "But sometimes,

that she shouldn't trust him, not yet. But there was something about Liam t

t the air around them grow thick with tension. She knew that sh

ut and touched Liam's arm. It was a gentle

and he smiled. "Maya," he whis

eaned in closer. She knew that she was in tr

t to touch hers, a loud noise echoed th

eyes scanning the darkness.

her heart racing. "I

choed through the forest again. This time, it was louder, an

ers, and he nodded. "I'll

er. She didn't want to go into the woods, not at n

reached out and grabbed his ar

gleaming in the darkne

red into the night, leavin

Maya heard the noise again. This time, it was lo

ed on the darkness outside. She knew that she should be brave, but she

crash from outside. It sounded like something had broken thro

her eyes fixed on the door. She knew that

a felt a sense of dread wash over her.

ked open, Maya saw a pair of gl