Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Untouched
    Untouched
    Untouched
    Ebook99 pages1 hour

    Untouched

    By Jus Accardo

    3.5/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Until he met Dez, Kale's days were filled with violence and death. He was used as a weapon of destruction by the power hungry men of Denazen. He's a Six. A person with an abnormal ability. Some people call them gifts, but not Kale. Kale's touch means instant death to anyone.

    But now there's Dez, the girl he can touch, and they're hunting down Sixes and warning them about Denazen. Kale is learning about the world outside captivity and trying to put his dark past behind him. But they underestimated how badly Denazen wanted him back.

    When Dez sacrifices herself to save the new Six they rescued from falling into the corp's hands, Kale is lost. Denazen has brought out its best to get the job done. Samsen, a nightmare from Kale's past—the only person he's ever truly feared—has come for them, and it soon becomes obvious he has his own twisted agenda.

    Kale will need all his training to get Dez back and ensure they all make it out, free–and alive. But will it be enough?

    The Denazen series is best enjoyed in order.
    Reading Order:
    Book #1: Touch
    Book #1.5: Untouched (novella)
    Book #2: Toxic
    Book# 2.5: Faceless (novella)
    Book #3: Tremble
    Book #4 Transcendent

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateMar 27, 2012
    ISBN9781633750357
    Untouched

    Read more from Jus Accardo

    Related to Untouched

    Titles in the series (6)

    View More
    View More

    Related ebooks

    Children's Love & Romance For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The Family Plot

      May 7, 2020

      The Family Plot
      10 min read

    • Article

      The Thin Place

      Nov 16, 2020

      We looked out of the window at the torrential rain. We’d booked tickets for the Castle’s Halloween event. The Castle was famous for being haunted by the ghost of its last court jester and made the most of this reputation every October, hosting a fair

      6 min read

    • Article

      Kıds & Angles

      Jun 24, 2023

      Kıds & Angles
      4 min read

    • Article

      The Freshening

      Sep 15, 2018

      My cashier’s black hair was beautiful. Though not unlike mine, it was shinier and thicker, and hung glamorously down to her waist. It looked strong, too, like Christopher Reeve’s in the Superman movies. A strand of Superman’s silvery hair could hold

      21 min read

    • Article

      That Particular Sunday

      Jul 6, 2023

      That Particular Sunday
      26 min read

    • Article

      Prey

      Mar 10, 2024

      As I drove slowly toward the mob of angry protestors and my meeting with 200, I thought of 199. The ashes of a once hard man, staring at me with wide eyes that pleaded for hope like a dog begging for treats. I’d somehow found a way to give him that h

      41 min read

    • Article

      The Duplex

      Jun 9, 2020

      I moved to Los Angeles to sing. When was this? August? June? I was twenty-nine, and those were shapeless months, when the days blended together and I refused to pull them apart. My landlord was unusually close to her adult son. His name was Jeffrey,

      21 min read

    • Article

      I Met Myself Coming Back

      Oct 6, 2022

      I Met Myself Coming Back
      6 min read

    • Article

      Prey

      May 10, 2021

      As I drove slowly towards the mob of angry protestors and my meeting with 200, I thought of 199. The ashes of a once hard man, staring at me with wide eyes that pleaded for hope like a dog begging for treats. I’d somehow found a way to give him that

      41 min read

    • Article

      The Silence of Witches

      Dec 10, 2019

      The Silence of Witches
      6 min read

    • Article

      Foxes

      Jun 15, 2019

      What’s worth happening happens in deep woods. Or so my daughter tells me. Her plotlines: In the deep woods someone is chasing, someone else is getting hacked. Hatchets are lifted, brought downdowndown. Men stutter blood onto snow. A cast of animals—s

      17 min read

    • Article

      Growing Close

      Aug 25, 2020

      Growing Close
      6 min read

    • Article

      Lost for WORDS

      Sep 23, 2020

      Lost for WORDS
      6 min read

    • Article

      Tomorrows

      Mar 15, 2022

      The night, as most nights, was like a dream. At ten, once I’d fed the dog the last scraps off the stove. Once I’d cursed the cat for scratching up my mama’s antique furniture, then welcomed him back into my arms. Once I’d slicked my hair into a ponyt

      26 min read

    • Article

      Kids & Angels

      Jun 25, 2019

      Kids & Angels
      4 min read

    • Article

      Haunted

      Sep 27, 2023

      Haunted
      6 min read

    • Article

      Equinox

      May 18, 2022

      In this strange world, where identities change with the rising and setting of the sun, supernatural forces are at work – and they’re causing trouble… St Leonars prison was an appropriately imposing building. It rose out of the surrounding shacks and

      5 min read

    • Article

      After “The End”

      Oct 10, 2022

      I walked down the road with a hunched back and a wet cigarette in my mouth—the fire had died a while back. My hands were tucked into the pockets of my jacket, and my hair fell over my face, limiting my sight. But I wasn’t really seeing where I was go

      10 min read

    • Article

      The Truth Never Dies

      Feb 23, 2022

      The Truth Never Dies
      7 min read

    • Article

      Supportive Husband

      Sep 12, 2023

      There were less intimate places available, so it was odd when a woman took the seat directly facing mine across the subway aisle. I looked up from my book and right back down: a couple of months before, we’d gone home together. She had a Southern acc

      22 min read

    • Article

      There Goes the Neighborhood

      May 1, 2024

      There Goes the Neighborhood
      5 min read

    • Article

      Penny

      Jul 2, 2020

      Penny
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Truth Never Dies

      Feb 23, 2022

      The Truth Never Dies
      7 min read

    • Article

      The Memory Box

      Sep 26, 2023

      The Memory Box
      6 min read

    • Article

      Where Have All The Young Girls Gone?

      Sep 10, 2022

      The little fat man squirmed in his chair, sweat running down his red cheeks. I thought he was going to cry. Instead, he stared at me as though I had arrived from another planet, an alien being sent solely to torment him. I didn’t know why Professor H

      7 min read

    • Article

      Just The Way YOU ARE

      Feb 7, 2023

      Just The Way YOU ARE
      9 min read

    • Article

      Claire

      Feb 1, 2018

      Claire
      4 min read

    • Article

      The Mr Darcy MYSTERY

      Nov 23, 2022

      The Mr Darcy MYSTERY
      6 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Untouched

    3.5/5

    16 ratings4 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      Untouched (Denazen # 1.5) by Jus Accardo

      Untouched is a short novella, all told from Kale’s point of view, the interesting thing about the story being told by Kale is that he sees things very different from everyone else due to he was locked up and isolated for a very long time. Since he has never experiences everyday things we get to see firsthand his confusion and lack of humor. I have to say it was great reading this story from Kale’s point of view.

      Kale and Dez have set out to track down other Sixes, warning them of the Denazen Corp and offering them a safe place to go. Of course people from the Denazen Corp are right behind them trying to capture Kale once again. Kale and Dez will have to fight for their lives and Kale knows that no matter what he has to keep Dez safe. Dez is the only person he can touch without killing them and Kale would do anything to protect her.

      Jus Accardo has done an excellent job writing this short novella, the story is written extremely well and of course you never set it down till you reach the end. I cannot wait to read book 2 in this series….....Toxic is to be released in September 2012.

      Oh yes and the cover is fantastic.
    • 5/5
      When I opened Untouched on my Kindle, I was surprised to find it is written from Kale's POV. This was a major plus for me!Dez and Kale are tracking down their fellow Sixes and warning them about Denazen and offering them a safe place to go. While trying to convince one of the Sixes they have tracked down, they offer her to go to an amusement park with them. Of course, trouble is never far behind Dez and Kale, and it catches up with them while at the amusement park.This novella definitely leaves you itching to read book 2 (Toxic), which will be available in September.
    • 4/5
      Untouched by Jus Accardo is a novella that takes place between the first and second book of the series. If you haven't read Touch, I recommend that you do so before you read this book. There are some definite spoilers if you haven't read the first book. I haven't read the first book yet so this is my first introduction to Dez and Kale. Accardo did an excellent job with filling in the blanks so I didn't feel lost while reading.In this novella, the main characters, Dez and Kale are searching for others like them. The find Kiernan McGuire. In order to convince her to come with them, they have to earn her trust. They end up at an amusement park where the atmosphere is more laid back. Kale starts to become paranoid that someone is following them. His worst fears are realized and he has to confront an old enemy.This is a great story line. The characters have abilities sort of like X-Men. The Denazen want to use them for their own evil purposes. The characters are great. I love the relationship between Dez and Kale. They compliment each other in a lot of ways. I think readers will like this series a lot. It has action, romance, and adventure.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed “Untouched”, I did. But I wanted more. I know, I know, this is only a novella to hold the readers over until “Toxic” is released, but I needed more.Let’s discuss the great things about “Untouched”, shall we?Kiernan, a character that I hope will play a larger part in “Toxic”, is introduced in “Untouched”. She is a lot like Dez, so she’s easy to like. In fact, I may actually like her better than Dez. She’s witty, her power is awesome, and she’s seriously kick-ass. The scene with the broom? Can I high-five my computer screen, or would that be strange? ‘Cause she is pretty awesome in that scene.The relationship between Dez and Kale: I loved the development of their relationship throughout “Touch”. What’s even better is that in this novella, you get to see just how much Dez means to Kale, as the story is told through his point of view. He would do anything for her, and he manages to prove that near the end.What I didn’t like:Honestly, my only problem with “Untouched” is that I needed more. I would’ve liked to learn a bit more about Kiernan. I would’ve even liked to see the Kale and Samsen battle play out a bit more.One of my favorite quotes: “Sometimes I wonder at your complete disregard for safety…” Her lips tilted upward and a grin lit her entire face. Leaning close, warm breath caressed my neck as she whispered, “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”Accardo, Jus (2012-03-27). Untouched (Kindle Locations 782-784). Entangled Publishing. Kindle Edition.If you haven’t already, may I suggest you pick up a copy of “Touch”? Seriously, if you haven’t checked out this series yet, you’re missing out.

    Book preview

    Untouched - Jus Accardo

    A Denazen Novella

    UNTOUCHED

    JUS ACCARDO

    This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

    Copyright © 2012 by Jus Accardo. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.

    Entangled Publishing, LLC

    2614 South Timberline Road

    Suite 109

    Fort Collins, CO 80525

    Visit our website at www.entangledpublishing.com.

    ISBN 978-1-62061-015-2

    Edited by Liz Pelletier

    Cover design by Liz Pelletier

    Manufactured in the United States of America

    As always, for Kevin. My own personal miracle.

    1

    This is the last one, right? Reluctantly, I pulled my hand away and wiggled my fingers back into the glove. There. Now it was safe to proceed. The material ensured I didn’t accidentally dust someone, as Dez liked to put it.

    She smiled and reclaimed my hand, fingers trailing to my wrist, then slipping beneath the cuff of the glove. Skin on skin. There was nothing like it. Dez was the first person—the only person—I’d ever been able to touch.

    Second to last. One more after this. Why? In a rush to go home? she said, nudging my shoulder playfully. Her grin widened. It was hard resisting the urge to remove the glove and run the tips of my fingers along the edge of her bottom lip when she smiled at me like that.

    Like I was the only other person in the world.

    We were standing on the sidewalk in front of a small, blue two-level house. To the left was a driveway with a purple SUV sitting at the edge. Beyond the truck was a thick batch of trees trimmed with bushes that were dotted with small pink flowers. It would be easy dragging Dez into the shade. A few kisses. That’s all. I could tickle the spot behind her left ear, making her laugh—my favorite sound in the world—and watch her eyes light up as she told me about the things she had planned for us. After we spoke with the girl who lived here—Kiernan McGuire—we were going to an amusement park.

    You promised me my first coaster ride, I said, leaning in to brush a quick kiss across her nose. She rose onto her toes and rubbed her nose against mine. There was a name for it—Dez had told me a few nights ago. Something about Eskimos, but I couldn’t remember, and it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered when I was with Dez.

    The sooner we get in, the sooner we get out. I’m dying for adrenaline-pumping chaos and some serious Kale time.

    I laced my fingers among hers and tugged her toward the house. I loved her idea of Kale time and was eager to get started. So what do we know about her? About Kiernan McGuire?

    We climbed the steps, and Dez pushed the small golden button next to the doorknob. Musical chimes sounded from the other side of the door.

    Um, pretty much her name.

    I frowned. That’s all? We’d spent the summer tracking down Sixes, kids with special abilities, on the list her cousin gave us. All targets of the Denazen Corporation, the Sixes were getting visits warning them of the danger one by one. Other than the obvious perks of getting to spend time with Dez, it felt good to be doing something helpful. Working to save lives instead of ending them. That’s inconvenient.

    Dez laughed and bumped me with her hip, and I in turn bumped her back. I was learning. You got spoiled with those last few.

    She was right. I knew none of these people meant us harm, but I still liked to know what we were walking into. The last few names on the list had been complete with information on the target. Age, ability—one even had a list of blood relatives and what state they resided in. But apparently not this one.

    Yeah? A girl appeared in the doorway. She was tall and looked a bit older than Dez, with long purple hair that hung wildly in her face. She must be the owner of the truck in the driveway. It matched her hair, so it made sense to me. Dez didn’t own a car, but if she did, I was betting it would be white and black. Cars were supposed to match their owners. I was pretty sure that’s how it worked. Or maybe it was furniture.

    Possibly pets...

    I was still getting a handle on things. Nothing in the outside world was simple.

    Dez smiled at the girl. My name’s Dez, and this is Kale. We’re looking for Kiernan McGuire?

    Who are Dez and Kale? the girl asked, folding her arms.

    I pointed to Dez and said, She just told you. Dez. Pointing to myself, I said, Kale.

    The girl blinked several times, and for a few moments, she said nothing. When she finally did speak, her demeanor changed. I’ve already seen the light. Praise the Lord, hallelujah, no meat on Fridays. All that happy horseshit.

    I glanced at Dez, confused. No meat on Fridays? Is there some rule no one’s told me about?

    She started to close the door, but Dez was too fast. She rolled her eyes, wedged a shoe in front of the door, and shook her head. "We’re not missionaries or whatever—we’re here about your ability."

    The girl’s eyes narrowed. She was instantly suspicious. Ability? You mean my super-exotic ability to tie a cherry stem into a neat little bow using me tongue?

    We’re Sixes. Like you. We have abilities. Maybe if I were completely honest, she would see she could trust us. Until recently, I was a prisoner of the Denazen Corporation. Have you heard of them?

    Just saying the name made my muscles twitch. Until a few months ago when I’d met Dez, I’d lived at the Denazen facility. A prisoner. Used and manipulated by power-hungry men for their own personal agenda.

    She turned her attention to Dez. Is it time for his meds?

    Dez folded her arms and stared the girl down. Her resolve face. You know damn well what we’re talking about, so cut the crap. We’ll be in and out and make this as painless as possible. I promise.

    The girl sighed, lips twisting into an unfriendly smile, but pushed the door open and gestured us forward. As I was about to step inside, a chill ran down my spine and I could have sworn I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. A white and black blur. I turned back to the street, scanning the area to the left and then to the right. There was nothing in sight except several parked cars and a man walking a very small dog—neither of which were black or white. As the door closed behind me, I tried to bury the uneasy feeling.

    The feeling that we were being watched.

    2

    I don’t have anything to offer you, so let’s get on with it. The girl settled on the couch, watching us with cautious eyes. She knew what Denazen was. I could tell from the slight twitch in her eyebrow when I’d mentioned it on the steps. Body language could give you more answers than actual conversation if you just knew what

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1