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Read Burning Alive (Sentinel Wars, #1) online free by Shannon K. Butcher

Burning Alive (Sentinel Wars, #1) Author: Shannon K. Butcher

Chapter 1

June 27, Olathe, Kansas

The man who was going to stand by and watch while Helen burned to death liked his coffee black.

Helen looked up from her menu and, across the little diner, she saw him sitting there, not twenty feet away. He was the man of her dreams—or more accurately, of her visions. Technically it was just one vision. Over and over. She was going up in flames while he watched. Smiling at her.

“See something you like?” asked Lexi, the diner’s only waitress on duty. She’d been working at Gertie’s Diner for only a couple of months now, but there was something about her that made Helen trust her enough to share things no other living person knew, including Helen’s vision of her own death. “Cook’s gone for the day, so all we have left is meat loaf, baked chicken, and pot roast. Pick your poison.”

Across from Helen, her dinner companion, Miss Mabel, sat low in the red vinyl booth. Her age-hunched shoulders barely cleared the table. Her gnarled hands gripped the laminated menu, which wavered so much Helen wasn’t sure how she could read it without getting motion sickness.

“How’s the meat loaf?” asked Miss Mabel.

Lexi was a petite twenty-something with a killer body and a brain to match. What she was doing waiting tables in Olathe, Kansas, living in her car, was a total mystery to Helen—one Lexi refused to solve no matter how many times Helen... Source from: Read Burning Alive (Sentinel Wars, #1) online free by Shannon K. Butcher

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Read A Shiver of Light (Merry Gentry #9)(8) online free by Laurell K. Hamilton

A Shiver of Light (Merry Gentry #9)(8) Author: Laurell K. Hamilton

Doyle had felt instantly bonded with Alastair, but he hadn’t helped feed and take care of him as much as Galen had. Maybe it was what Galen had said: He hadn’t felt bonded, so he’d worked at it. Doyle had, so he didn’t have to work at it. Or maybe Doyle was just too busy trying to keep the Queen of Air and Darkness from doing something bad to be a baby-daddy right now.

“Did the queen threaten us, or the babies?” I asked.

The men shifted uneasily—Galen looking at the floor, not meeting their eyes; Rhys kissing the baby again and again purposefully not looking at the other men. Sholto glanced at both of them and then back at me. His face was very serious, arrogant, unreadable, which let me know that whatever the queen had done was frightening, or would at the very least upset me.

My heartbeat was in my throat now, and I was frightened. What could the queen have said, or done, to make them not want to tell me? I probably didn’t want to know. I just wanted to enjoy being a new mom and watch the men I loved be fathers, and just enjoy the moment, but my relatives had been ruining the happy moments of my life for as long as I could remember. Why should this be any different?

“One of you talk to me,” I said. My voice was only a... Read more: Read A Shiver of Light (Merry Gentry #9)(8) online free by Laurell K. Hamilton

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Read Her Dark Curiosity (The Madman's Daughter #2)(20) online free by Megan Shepherd

Her Dark Curiosity (The Madman's Daughter #2)(20) Author: Megan Shepherd

I slid out of my coat and left it hanging over a branch, then fumbled to open the top buttons of my dress. Sweat was already forming on my inner layers. Somewhere, the line between this world and another blurred.

I was back in the jungle.

The hiss of steam jets replaced the ocean tides. Machinery squealed like jungle birds. Steam filled my lungs with memories: Jaguar, with his flicking tail; the smell of burning refuse and unwashed animals in the islanders’ village; the salt in the breeze. In a strange way I missed the island terribly, heartsick for a place I’d hated and a father I’d wanted to die.

No—a father I’d helped murder.

“Edward?” I called as loud as I dared, uncertain if it was an enormous mistake to come here.

A chain rattled overhead. Iron catwalks spanned the ceiling where visitors could walk among the treetops, and a well-dressed figure now descended the spiral staircase. Edward stopped a few feet from me, as quiet as the steam at our feet.

“Hello, Juliet.”

Being here, in this place so reminiscent of the island, beastly things stirred inside me, taking me back to the island where we had learned to move through the trees quiet as animals, where he’d kissed me behind the waterfall. My pulse quickened, hungry for those things again despite my better sense.

He stepped forward, toying with his gold pocket watch, and I stepped back. “I told you, for the time... Read here: Read Her Dark Curiosity (The Madman's Daughter #2)(20) online free by Megan Shepherd

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Read Passenger (Passenger #1)(10) online free by Alexandra Bracken

Passenger (Passenger #1)(10) Author: Alexandra Bracken

The fight was finally slowing as more of the men realized the fact of their defeat. Bodies began to ache, and powder cartridges emptied; where there had been shouts, there was now a growing silence. The knife was lodged in the side of the sailor’s neck—he must have turned just before it struck. He’d given himself a bad death, drawing the whole business out as he drowned in his own blood. Nicholas leaned over him, instinctively bracing his weight against the swelling sea.

“Sent…down…to…devil”—the sailor’s eyes were narrowed, one last bit of defiance as he choked and hacked—“by—by—a—a shit-sack…negro.”

The last word was accompanied by a fine misting of blood across his waistcoat. The heat beneath Nicholas’s skin evaporated, leaving a perfect, cold diamond of fury in the center of his chest. He had been called far worse, been beaten for simply having been born on the wrong side of the blanket to a woman in chains. Perhaps it was the stark contrast of victory with defeat.

His life now held worth and value. On a ship, it mattered less what your origins were, and more what work you were willing to do; how hard you’d fight for the men around you. Nicholas had decided long ago to keep his eyes on the horizon of the future, rather than look over his shoulder at what he’d left behind.

Only—that expression the sailor wore. The way his snarl had curled the word into something hateful. Nicholas took... Continuous reading: Read Passenger (Passenger #1)(10) online free by Alexandra Bracken

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Read Passenger (Passenger #1)(13) online free by Alexandra Bracken

Passenger (Passenger #1)(13) Author: Alexandra Bracken

A ship.

With a pulse of fear, Etta leapt to her feet. The coat wasn’t a barrier against their gazes, and it wouldn’t be much of a shield against their weapons, but she felt better for having it close.

“Oh my God—” she choked out.

A ship. She’d seen it just before—before all of those sails had come crashing down and she’d been knocked clear into next Tuesday. Her back had slapped against the freezing water, ankle twisting down as she’d struggled to paddle up. All those years of swimming at the 92nd Street Y for nothing. Her fingers had been too frozen, her vision too blanketed with black, to untangle the netting.

It had hurt, so bad—her head, her chest, every part of her had felt like it was tearing apart with the need to breathe.

I drowned.

Etta looked from the young man with the wire glasses to the one who had spoken when she’d come to, the one with the dark, stern eyes. He watched her calmly, almost as if challenging her. The words registered almost as surely as if he’d taken one of his long fingers and stroked the letters into her skin.

Is this who you are?

He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back, bracing himself against the roll of the ocean.

The ocean.

Not the Met.

Not New York City.

Not a piece of land in sight.

Just two tall wooden ships.

Just men in…costume.…

They were costumes. They were.

You know they’re not. Etta tried to swallow, the... Read online: Read Passenger (Passenger #1)(13) online free by Alexandra Bracken

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Read Passenger (Passenger #1)(2) online free by Alexandra Bracken

Passenger (Passenger #1)(2) Author: Alexandra Bracken

“The old man had better be right this time,” Julian said, starting up the trail again. From where Nicholas stood, it looked like an endless ribbon of steps that had been draped over the rough, rocky face of the cliff, rising and falling with the natural shape of the landscape. “I’m tired of this game of his—the blasted thing is lost. Even he doesn’t win sometimes.”

He always wins, Nicholas thought, fingers curling into fists at his side. I am never going to be free of any of them.

“All right, come on then, Nick. We’ve a journey to make,” Julian called back. “And I’m hungry enough to eat a horse.”

The first fat splatter of rain caught him across the face, sliding down his cheek to drip off his chin. It was a strange, trembling sort of moment. Nicholas felt caught in that instant, glancing around for some form of temporary shelter, which he knew Julian would demand, rather than risk getting his boots wet. Aside from the choten—the low white buildings that sheltered the elaborate, brightly colored prayer wheels—there were a few small covered ledges where mourners had placed conical reliquaries of ashes.

“There!” Julian let out a sharp, joyful cry, pumping a fist into the air. The mist shrouding the monastery had settled, as if the rain had dragged it down. It sat like the foggy surface of a lake, disguising the thousands of feet between the ledge and the sheer, rocky drop... Read more: Read Passenger (Passenger #1)(2) online free by Alexandra Bracken

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Read Passenger (Passenger #1)(5) online free by Alexandra Bracken

Passenger (Passenger #1)(5) Author: Alexandra Bracken

“The Antonius,” Etta said gleefully. It was one of several Strads in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, and the very first one she’d been allowed to play.

“Ah, the golden child. It’ll take a bit of work to get him to behave himself,” Alice told her. “I don’t care what your mother says about preserving them for the future. Holding incredible instruments hostage in glass cases. You know that—”

“—the longer you silence a violin, the harder it is for it to find its true voice again,” Etta finished, having heard the argument a hundred times before.

A Strad—a Stradivarius—one of the stringed instruments crafted by the Stradivari family of northern Italy in the late seventeenth, early eighteenth centuries. The instruments were legendary for the power and beauty of the sound they produced. Their owners didn’t describe them as mere instruments, but like humans—temperamental friends with moods that could never be fully conquered, no matter how skilled the player.

No matter how lovely her own violin was—a Vuillaume copy of the “Messiah” Stradivarius she had inherited from Alice—it was still just that: a copy. Every time she thought of touching the real thing, it felt like sparks were about to shoot out of her fingertips.

“Back in a bit, duck,” Alice said, reaching up to give her an affectionate tap under the chin. Etta waited until she was safely down the stairs before turning back to squint her way through the darkness.

“There you are!”

Etta turned to... Continuous reading: Read Passenger (Passenger #1)(5) online free by Alexandra Bracken

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Read Be Mine (Holland Springs #6)(34) online free by Marquita Valentine

Be Mine (Holland Springs #6)(34) Author: Marquita Valentine

“Welcome to London, Your Grace,” was all he said in his heavily accented English. He guided her through the gate and the front door.

A baby’s cry greeted her as soon as she stepped inside. “Where are they?”

“Upstairs.”

Sebastian came bounding down the stairs, clothes and hair all disheveled, but he smiling. It was a good look for him. “Isabella, I’m so glad you’re here.”

She smiled back, despite herself. “Thank you for texting me.”

“I’ll take her up,” Sebastian said to Ivan.

The burly Russian grunted, and then lumbered out of the room.

“Don’t mind him. He’s suffering from cupcake withdrawal.”

Bella bit back a laugh. “What about you?”

“I’m a dad. Someone’s bloody father,” he said, and then inclined his head. “My apologies. I’m still… discombobulated—the birth… the pain.”

“Your pain?”

Sebastian stopped at a door. He turned to look at her, his pale blue eyes narrowing. “Really, Isabella. Do you think Daisy would marry a man who complained about himself before, during, or after she gave birth to his child?”

“Well, when you put it like that…”

“Exactly.” He opened the door and stuck his head inside. “She’s here, love. Ready to see her?”

“I am,” Daisy said, her voice soft, and Bella rushed inside to find her friend in bed. Baby Rhys was in her arms.

“Oh my gosh,” she breathed. “Look at the two of you.”

Daisy smiled. “Do you want to hold him?”

“Of course, I want to hold him.” Bella took the baby from Daisy. “He smells sooo good.”

Sebastian... Read here: Read Be Mine (Holland Springs #6)(34) online free by Marquita Valentine

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Read Be Mine (Holland Springs #6)(32) online free by Marquita Valentine

Be Mine (Holland Springs #6)(32) Author: Marquita Valentine

Smiling tightly, she hoisted her purse over her shoulder and wrapped her arms tightly around herself. She had no idea what the name of the hotel they were staying at was called, since Liam had wanted that to be a surprise, too.

This wasn’t like her. She didn’t run away from her problems anymore. She faced them head on and with guidance from those she loved. Only this time, the one she loved was the problem. Well, he wasn’t a problem, but his lack of feelings for her were. He didn’t love her. Right now, he barely liked her. That much she could read on his face.

A little parade of children carrying ribbons and flowers cut in front of her to cross the street, and she stopped to watch them.

She hadn’t meant to say those three words, not right in the middle of sex. But his choice not to acknowledge what she’d said had taken every beautiful, sexy, and loving feeling out of her.

Stupidly, in that moment of them joined together, their hearts beating as one, she had felt overwhelmed with emotion. Foolishly, she had thought there was no way he couldn’t feel the same way.

Stupid and foolish, two very accurate words to describe her. Two very accurate words to describe her choice to lash out at him. She’d thrown everything that he prided himself on back in his face.

Instead of being kind, patient, and understanding, she had rejoiced in pointing... Continuous reading: Read Be Mine (Holland Springs #6)(32) online free by Marquita Valentine

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Read The Fill-In Boyfriend(7) online free by Kasie West

The Fill-In Boyfriend(7) Author: Kasie West

I really didn’t feel like rehashing the night even though I knew my parents would’ve been happy if I told them that Bradley and I were finished. “I’m tired. Thanks for waiting up.” I hugged my mom and then disappeared into my bedroom. I unzipped my prom dress and let it puddle on the floor, not caring enough to hang it carefully. It wasn’t really a memory I’d be looking forward to reliving.

I changed into my pajamas then padded to the bathroom to perform my other nighttime rituals of washing my face and brushing my teeth. When I went back to my room and saw my dress, blue eyes flashed through my mind. I was surprised that was the memory my mind decided to give me with the dress. Why had he agreed to be my fake date anyway? He said it wasn’t my smile but we’d been interrupted before he’d answered what it really was. Curiosity burned in my chest. Maybe he thought I was cute? I did look great in that dress.

I gently picked it up and placed it over my desk chair. Why was I analyzing his motives anyway? It didn’t matter. My brain was tired. I needed sleep.

But my brain wouldn’t shut off. It kept analyzing. It thought about prom and how half the school had witnessed fake Bradley’s breakup performance. They’d all be talking about it tomorrow. I didn’t need anyone feeling sorry for me. How could... Source from: Read The Fill-In Boyfriend(7) online free by Kasie West

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Read The Suffragette Scandal (Brothers Sinister #4)(28) online free by Courtney Milan

The Suffragette Scandal (Brothers Sinister #4)(28) Author: Courtney Milan

The man’s hand trembled. Edward reached out—his hand didn’t seem to be working properly—and crushed the flame with his glove.

His heart was beating like the wings of a flock of birds. The man kicked out once, twice—uselessly, now, because Edward had hold of him and was not letting go.

He could tell the moment the man gave up—when his limbs came to rest and he looked into Edward’s eyes, his lips pulling into a resigned frown.

“Oh, yes,” Edward said in a low growl. “You should be afraid. You are in a heap of trouble.”

BY THE TIME NIGHT FELL, the last remnants of Free’s home—charred and blackened embers, scarcely holding together in the shape of a building—had almost stopped smoldering.

It was gone. Her home, her place of safety… But that had been an illusion, too. Her hands were streaked with soot; her dress smelled of paraffin. But her press was still standing. Victory, of a sort.

Some victory.

She trudged back to her knot of tired, bedraggled employees. They’d all worked hard. She wished she could send them home. There was no time to be weary, though. There was too much to be done.

The most important of those things needed to be done quickly. “Amanda,” Free said, “you’ll need to leave now, if you wish to catch the night train to London.”

“But—”

“We can’t take even an instant to sit still and lick our wounds,” Free said. “Every moment we spend combating this is... Source: Read The Suffragette Scandal (Brothers Sinister #4)(28) online free by Courtney Milan

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Read Tell Me (One Night with Sole Regret #6)(10) online free by Olivia Cunning

Tell Me (One Night with Sole Regret #6)(10) Author: Olivia Cunning

“We decided to stop for sandwiches,” Nikki said. “Quick and easy so we can get to the concert on time. Parker still has to go to the hotel and pick up the rest of the band after he drops us off. I figured I could run in and get the sandwiches to go while you two continue to make out.” She looked from one of them to the other and offered a disapproving stare to the space between them. “Are you two even copping a feel?”

“We’re talking,” Melanie said.

“About?”

Melanie glanced at Gabe.

“What’s for dinner,” he said, not sure if Melanie wanted him to be the one to break the news to Nikki that Shade was currently seeing someone important to him. Gabe had to assume that Melanie didn’t want him to make her friend cry, so unless Melanie instructed him otherwise, he was going to keep his mouth shut.

“What do you like?” Nikki asked Gabe.

“I’ll eat just about anything, but hold the onions. I have some making out to do.” He winked at Nikki and she giggled.

“I’m sure Mel will appreciate that.” Nikki glanced at Melanie with an expectant look on her face.

“You know what I like,” Melanie said.

“Um, yeah, should I just use the emergency credit card or…” She glanced at Melanie’s purse.

Damn, where were his manners? Gabe dug his wallet out of his back pocket and pulled out several twenties. Nikki didn’t hesitate to accept... Continuous reading: Read Tell Me (One Night with Sole Regret #6)(10) online free by Olivia Cunning

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Read Big Rock(7) online free by Lauren Blakely

Big Rock(7) Author: Lauren Blakely

I end the call before she can protest and then give my dad a knowing look. “The woman needs me.”

My dad waggles his eyebrows. “You must heed the call.” He rubs his hands together. “This is the best news ever. I couldn’t be happier. I’ve always liked Charlotte.”

And I couldn’t feel any guiltier. I rarely lied to my dad as a kid. I’m pretty sure I’ve never done it as an adult. The morsels of guilt zipping around inside are new to me, and they’re kind of crummy. But it’ll be worth it. The deal memo’s done; the contract will be inked in a matter of days. This little lie will help the transition go smoothly.

He grabs me in a big embrace. “Call your mother later. She’ll want to hear it all from you.”

“I’ll give her all the mushy details,” I say, wincing inside as I prep to lie to Mom as well.

I catch a cab to Charlotte’s. Along the way I text Nick to cancel. Family stuff this weekend. Gotta bail tomorrow. We’ll celebrate another time?

It’ll take him hours to reply. Nick is the rare breed of modern man, sometimes spotted in the wild without a screen in his face. He’s a pen and paper kind of guy, due in no small part to him being a world-class cartoonist.

As the yellow car zips along Lexington Avenue, I look up Bang Her, the hot bartender, then fire off a quick text: Sorry, babe.... Read full: Read Big Rock(7) online free by Lauren Blakely

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Read Perfection (Neighbor from Hell #2)(6) online free by R.L. Mathewson

Perfection (Neighbor from Hell #2)(6) Author: R.L. Mathewson

Now she was facing a future of living out of a car, again. Granted her car at this very moment was rapidly filling up with water or being vandalized and might not be livable come morning.

"Zoe," she heard Trevor say through the wall.

"Go. Away," she said into the pillow, unsure if he could hear her and really not caring. She had enough problems without adding his bullshit into the mix.

"I'm really sorry," he said louder.

She didn't bother answering as she lay there, hoping he would just give up and leave. Of course he didn't.

"I'm really sorry," he said, again.

Frustrated that he wasn't going away and angry with herself for crying, she rolled over onto her side and demanded, "For what? For being a jerk or for calling me fat?"

"Hey! I didn't call you fat!"

"What the hell would you call it?" she snapped back.

After a short pause he muttered something before saying. "You're right. I'm an ass**le."

"At least we're in agreement about one thing," she said.

"Look, I'm trying to apologize here. Could you cut me some slack?"

She thought that over for a minute. "Are you going to give me back my pizza?"

His answer was a snort.

"Fine. Whatever. Keep the pizza," she said, half expecting him to offer to share it at least.

"Thanks," he said brightly, and she could have sworn it sounded like he was eating, but she couldn't really tell through the wall.

She grabbed Mr. Cuddles, the teddy bear she'd... Read more: Read Perfection (Neighbor from Hell #2)(6) online free by R.L. Mathewson

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Read Sudden Response (EMS #1)(13) online free by R.L. Mathewson

Sudden Response (EMS #1)(13) Author: R.L. Mathewson

"I'm sorry...didn't mean to," Sean said, panting softly.

"Don't worry about it," Joe said, knowing Eric was beyond speaking at the moment. He threw the bag over his shoulder and grabbed Sean's other arm.

"Time to do the shuffle," Eric said as he avoided her eyes. It was a good thing too because she knew one look from him and the damn would burst open.

Chapter 8

"I'm hungry," Eric announced as he plopped down heavily on the couch near Joe, well more like practically fell on her. He threw his arm around her shoulders as he leaned back against the faded material of the overstuffed couch. "Go cook for me."

She snorted. "I'm not your bitch."

Eric sighed heavily as he leaned into her even more. "It's really not healthy to live in denial."

"Uh huh," Joe said absently as she flicked through the channels of the station's large flat screen television. It figured the one time the station was empty and she had control of the remote there would be nothing on.

"Why are you not seeing to my needs?" Eric demanded as he stole the remote from her.

Normally she would steal it back on principal, but right now she really didn't care. They'd already been held over on their shift by four hours to cover two downed trucks. Also, thanks to three bang outs, people calling in sick, they'd been going all day and hadn't had a chance to grab food. In fact, they'd just got... Continuous reading: Read Sudden Response (EMS #1)(13) online free by R.L. Mathewson

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Read Passenger (Passenger #1) online free by Alexandra Bracken

Passenger (Passenger #1) Author: Alexandra Bracken

AS THEY ASCENDED, RETREATING FARTHER FROM THE winding trails that marked the way to nearby villages, the world opened to him in its purest form: silent, ancient, mysterious.

Deadly.

Nicholas had spent the better part of his life on the sea, or close enough to catch its perfume of fish and brine when there was a good wind. Even now, as they approached the monastery, waiting for it to appear through the heavy cover of mist and clouds, he found himself turning back, futilely searching beyond the towering peaks of the Himalayas for the hazy line where the sky met the curve of rippling water—something familiar to anchor himself to, before his courage disappeared along with his confidence.

The trail, a winding series of stairs and dirt, had stretched at first through the pine trees dripping with moss, and now hugged the sheer, vertical cliffs into which the Taktsang Palphug Monastery had somehow, impossibly, been built. Lines of bright prayer flags fluttered overhead in the trees, and the sight eased some of the tightness in his chest; it reminded him instantly of the first time Captain Hall had brought him to New York Harbor and the new frigates had been festooned with flags of every make and pattern.

He shifted again, a small, careful movement that would ease the sting of the rucksack’s straps digging into his shoulders, without sending himself plunging over the open side of the trail.

You’ve climbed the rigging any number of times,... Source: Read Passenger (Passenger #1) online free by Alexandra Bracken

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Read Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined (Twilight #1.75)(6) online free by Stephenie Meyer

Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined (Twilight #1.75)(6) Author: Stephenie Meyer

I decided the most beautiful of all was the smaller girl with the bronze-colored hair, though I expected the female half of the student body would vote for the movie-star blond guy. They would be wrong, though. I mean, all of them were gorgeous, but the girl was something more than just beautiful. She was absolutely perfect. It was an upsetting, disturbing kind of perfection. It made my stomach uneasy.

They were all looking away; away from each other, away from the rest of the students, away from anything in particular as far as I could tell. It reminded me of models posed oh so artistically for an ad—aesthetic ennui. As I watched, the wiry skinhead guy rose with his tray—unopened soda, untouched apple—and walked away with a quick, graceful lope that belonged on a runway. I watched, wondering if they had a dance company here in town, till he dumped his tray and glided through the back door, faster than I would have thought possible. My eyes darted back to the others, who hadn’t changed.

“Who are they?” I asked the guy from my Spanish class, whose name I’d forgotten.

As he looked up to see who I meant—though he could probably guess from my tone—suddenly she looked at us, the perfect one. She looked at my neighbor for just a fraction of a second, and then her dark eyes flickered to mine. Long eyes, angled up at the corners,... Read more: Read Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined (Twilight #1.75)(6) online free by Stephenie Meyer