Thunder

Imagine a world where you can be protected by descendants of disciples with a multitude of magical powers. Some of these guys are unhuman, some are not; they're not all good, but they're not all bad either. When they love you--no one will harm you! I wrote four of these stories back in 2012 under the pen name Jocie Parker. Unfortunately they remained hidden in ebook land as I did little to no promotion. I've picked up on that a bit and I hope readers discover these not overly religious, often rebellious men who strive to find true love and their place in the world.

Disciple's Descendants book 2 is live at Amazon and Kobo! 

Thunder, who first appeared in Ander: Disciple's Descendants book one, is an unhuman disciple not sure of his heritage and he's spent the majority of his life protected by a dragon shifter. His story is short but he'll turn up in others lending a hand when his brothers need 'earth shaking' assistance.

Each story will have its own satisfying end; however, books are serialized and they will be better enjoyed if read in order. Here's a preview:

THUNDER

Death is overrated as punishment!

John Thunder will kill anyone who stands in his way to keep Layla Clark safe. That includes Gage, the disciple’s leader, who stopped him before and kept him from the only woman in the world he desires. Layla is his, she knows it, he knows it, and he will have her at any cost.

Layla’s mind is lost, dead to everything except the memory of John Thunder. She recalls his touch, how he held and comforted her when nothing else could. But will she be able to love the man she belongs to—the man who destroyed her husband?

Excerpt:

“Why initially select us to fix this if he refused to sanction our ending it? Hell, if he had allowed me to remove Wes from her life I could have…”

“Could have what? Loved her enough to make her whole again? Contrary to popular belief, love doesn’t heal everything. It was for the best.”

Thunder turned to see the one person he considered a friend watching him with as much pain in his eyes as he himself felt. Aside from Gage, Leviat was the only living creature who knew he loved Layla. “At least I could have kept her out of this bastard’s hands."

“Gage… Gage thought she’d be safe with the disciple who died trying to protect her.” Leviat’s eyes glowed yellow with anger this time. “Unlike you, I, and a few others who are unhuman, most descendants don’t live forever. Some can be killed.”

“Ain’t that a bitch? All these wonderful powers yet some still die at the hands of ordinary men.” His chest deflated beneath a deep sigh. Thunder had made note of Leviat’s hesitation. “You know as well as I Gage always has another plan. I regret the disciple’s death but it must have been his time to depart. By the way, we have a new brother among us. Our illustrious leader believes he can help Layla.”

“Jesus, he must be one hell of a mind bender.”

“He’s got a rough road ahead.” Thunder grunted. “Name’s Ander and Pet loves him.”

“Rough road my ass, Gage is going to crucify that poor bastard if he so much as says he doesn’t like Pet’s cooking.” A dark brow quirked up. “Does he know about…?”

“My inability to move through the atmosphere? Yes.” Waves slapped against the stone cage jostling it sideways. “He spent but seconds in my fucked-up head.”

“Shit, that’s impressive. Can he heal Layla?”

A moan filled the air and Thunder was glad for the distraction as Leviat’s question had plagued him since meeting with Gage. Both men swiveled to see Dean scramble to his feet. “Let me out of here.”

Leviat spoke first. “Why? You calling the cops or something? Sit down and shut the fuck up before I eat your sorry ass.” Humans did not often see a dragon’s true face. This one did. Claws sprung from Leviat’s hands and scrapped noisily across the rocky surface. A reptilian mouth opened wide shooting a burst of flame toward the man whose scream sent a gaggle of geese skyward. Leviat’s visage changed back quickly and he jerked around. “Go, I’ll look after this one.”

Thunder felt a grimace contort his face as he growled, “Thank God you did not touch her.” Clapping his hands, he sent a ripple across the ground splitting the crevice beneath the formation another few inches tossing the man to the ground. “The devil will roast your balls for dinner if you’re lucky.”

Waking with a start, every bone in Layla Clark’s body vibrated when the bed shook beneath her. He had finally come. On the other side of her bedroom door stood a killing machine who… No matter, it was too late and history couldn’t be rewritten.

Neither could the future.

She found that out the hard way. In the past, her feeble attempts to warn people, change destiny, had always gone miserably wrong. People either shunned Layla or called her crazy, and on occasion they locked her up in squalid institutions. When some believed in the prophecies, and even heeded her dire warnings, a domino effect proved even worse than what she originally saw befall them. Innocent people became caught in the backlash dying horrible deaths. Each one left a scar on her soul. Some things were meant to be.

John Thunder’s deadly involvement with Wes was one of those things.

The moment her protector died and her home was taken over by Dean Jergens, an old associate of her dead husband, Layla envisioned John’s arrival and wasn’t afraid. Not of him. Thoughts of John kept her from going completely insane as she waited for this day but years of hiding in her mind took a toll. Try as she might, Layla couldn’t put apparitions of death and carnage from her. The only other person once able to break through was Petula, her little girl. She had to send her away, and there was no doubt Gage Harrow would keep her safe always. Not a day passed she didn’t struggle to see her daughter live and grow into a beautiful woman.

Her heart pounded painfully against her ribcage when fleeting visions of John appeared walking with Pet or lifting her high in the air spinning until Layla’s little girl giggled. Petula had a wonderful life and her gift of prophecy had been buried deep in her psyche by the disciple’s leader and, for that, Layla would forever be beholding to him. Her baby wouldn’t be haunted and used as she was by people she trusted and loved. Thinking of Pet today, an odd peace stole over her, the kind of peace which often carried wariness. Seeing the future of one you loved was practically impossible. Layla shook her head unable to believe what she glimpsed.

Finally, the bedroom door slowly squeaked open and there he stood clothed only in leather pants, skin glistening under a sheen of sweat, and short, wavy black hair slicked back failed to hide a few streaks of gray. His chest heaved up and down, stomach muscles knotted together, and thighs bunched beneath thick material as he strode toward her. Lips formed a slash under a proud nose and high cheekbones stood prominent on a shadowed face creased and hardened by years of delivering death. Fire flashed in emerald green eyes gazing in her direction.

Layla couldn’t wait any longer to tell the man approaching her bed she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

“Layla.”

His voice soothed her unsettled soul and letting her mind go a little, she saw a bit more of their future. This time it was welcomed. Layla opened her arms. “John.”

Gage is bringing help.

Growl and roar-it's okay to let the beast out. - J. Hali Steele