Chapter 1

I'm not like most girls my age. My name is Riley Simms and my father was murdered one month ago. The person that killed him was after the power my father possessed as a member of the Covenant. That was the same night my father willed me his power. Ever since then I have been struggling to keep the power in check, dreading my eighteenth birthday when I would ascend. My mother, Emily, was afraid that I would hurt myself or someone else if I didn't learn to control it. So she was sending to me to live with my cousin Tyler Simms and his family. She hoped that Tyler and his friends Caleb, Pogue, and Reid would be able to teach me to control the powers since they all had them too.

--

"Tyler I still don't get why we have to hang out with your cousin," Reid whined yet again.

"Dude he already explained it to you," Pogue practically shouted, "She got the power just like us but she can't control it. If we don't teach her how then she is going to kill herself!"

"Yeah man and her dad just died so you could try to be a little more understanding," Tyler said as he paced around the living room.

Caleb Danvers had yet to speak; he felt a strange kinship to Tyler's cousin despite never meeting her. Both of their father's had willed their powers to their children in an attempt to save them. Caleb understood better than any of the other guys what Riley must have been feeling right now. Slowly the front door opened and the four sons of Ipswich looked over. Tyler's parents walked in the door first. The last person through the door was Riley.

--

The drive to my uncle's home was long. I had been forced to make small talk the entire way there, discussing school, my plans for college, and all the things that didn't matter as much, now that my entire world had changed. As we turned into their driveway I could see the house through the gate, it was a massive three-story brick house complete with weathervane and lots of ivy. It was a nice place, old but nice. As the car rolled to a stop, I saw the curtains to one of the rooms slip open then shut again. Tyler must have been waiting for us with the rest of the Sons of Ipswich. My aunt and uncle climbed out of the car and started to pull my bags out of the trunk. I didn't have much stuff and they managed to grab all but one of the bags before I got back there. My uncle swung open the front door and marched in with my aunt following in his wake. I stood frozen outside on the porch knowing that as soon as I walked through this door my entire life was going to change. I was going to become a completely different person and that scared me more than knowing some crazy person was after me and the power that I didn't even want. I took a deep breath and walked through the door not quite ready to face my future.

--

Riley stood there in the foyer looking straight ahead, seeming unaware of the six pairs of eyes that watched her. Caleb, Pogue, and Reid were all struck by how beautiful she was. With bright green eyes, thick strawberry blonde hair, and full pink lips topping off a generous portion of lithe curves she was certainly a sight. Tyler glanced from her to each of his friends recognizing the look in their eyes. He wondered briefly, which of them would be the first to make a move. Especially since both Caleb and Pogue had recently gotten out of relationships and Reid was a total ladies man. Tyler knew that none of them would ever intentionally hurt her but he was still worried.

Caleb had never seen another girl like her before in his life. She was beautiful sure, but there was so much more to her than that. She looked like a girl with a thousand secrets and as corny as it may sound he wanted to know them. She also looked like she needed someone to protect her. It was as if she was expecting danger around every corner.

Pogue watched the girl walk slowly through the door never once looking away from her. It was almost like he had been put into a trance, a look at the rest of the guys told him that they all had similar things in mind. A quick glance at Caleb told Pogue that his best friend was already falling for the beautiful girl. It was all good though. Pogue had always wanted a little sister.

Reid stood there with his mouth hanging open like a complete idiot. Realizing that he must look crazy he snapped his mouth shut and begin to plan the fastest way to get into her pants. Reid felt Tyler eyeing him; when he met Tyler's blue eyes with his own he saw the pleading look behind them. Fine he wouldn't try to get in her pants, but Tyler wasn't going to stop him from at least flirting with her.

--

I could feel all of them staring at me, trying to decide if I was as dangerous as my mother had made me out to be. I refused to be the first to speak, so I stood there nervously feeling all six of them scrutinizing me. I smiled weakly at my aunt and uncle waiting for one of them to say something.

Tyler's mother was the one who finally decided to break the awkward silence. "Riley dear these are Tyler's friends Reid Garwin, Pogue Parry, and Caleb Danvers. Tyler why don't you show Riley where her room is and the rest of you can help her with her things," Tyler's mother suggested happily. "No really it's ok I can do it myself," Riley said quickly not wanting to impose anymore than she already was. The boys were already moving though picking up her bags and boxes with Tyler leading the way to the stairs.