The Heavier The Chains… by M.E. Clayton

Kenzlee Mitchell was raised in a fairyland of the rich and privileged. She had a perfect life until, one night, her brother overdosed and she was forced to re-evaluate what was important in life. But just when she thinks she can finally move on from the tragedy, her father loses everything, and she’s shipped off to her uncle’s, making her their problem, until her parents got their act together. Kenzlee is, suddenly, faced with a new life, and that new life includes a new school, new friends, and a new future. Luckily, she has her cousin, Alexandria, to help see her through her final year of high school. However, all that changes when Kenzlee accidentally runs into Talon Draven and her life is upended, once again. But this time, even Alexandria can’t help her.

Talon Draven can count the amount of people he cared about on one hand, and he liked it that way. He didn’t have time for distractions in his life, and he didn’t welcome them. He had a mother and sister to help support, and that was enough responsibility for any 18-year-old. He went to school, minded his business, and fought in the underground fighting scene for the cash he needed to help keep food on the table. But then, one day-as he’s minding his own business-he’s run over by a goddamn Disney princess, and his entire life’s focus shifts into something he is not prepared for. Staring into the face of the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen, nothing will stop him from possessing her. Even if it means he has to rearrange his entire future to have her.

Kenzlee is trying to prepare for an uncertain future, while Talon is trying to prepare for an unequivocal future. But the one thing they can agree on? Staying away from one another is a lot harder than it should be.

Spoiler Alert: There’s no lake in the town of Lakeside.