Altered by Shelly Crane Read Free Book Online Page B

just to abandon you in some random spot on the trip? I think it’s obvious that there’s something more going on here, and you know it.”
    I sucked in a small, quick breath and looked up at him. He was so close I couldn’t breathe.
    “Clara?” I sneered and wanted to laugh at how jealous it sounded.
    He swallowed and I saw the clouds roll in behind his eyes.
    “Clara has nothing to do with the fact that you know what I am. I didn’t know you knew Clara when I saved you the first time. Now did I?” I pressed my lips together, but couldn’t look away from those violet eyes. I shuddered and shook with goose bumps, causing his eyes to travel down my neck and shoulders. He sighed. “You’re killing me, little human,” he whispered.
    I stared up at him, stunned that he was being so bold with me. He usually acted as though being in the same room with me was a chore in itself and now he was actually letting me see him. He was affected by…me? I didn’t see how that was possible when he was this beefy, worldly, not-human devourer and I was a very human and sometimes neurotic girl whose sadness he could literally taste. How was there anything appealing about that?
    I shook my head and steeled my back. “How do you know my sister?”
    He seemed surprised and released my arm gently. “Sister,” he repeated and crossed his arms. “Put your shoes on.” I glared up at him sullenly and he tacked on a, “Please.”
    As soon as we were sitting down at the cheap diner, he began to ask his questions, which didn’t surprise me in the least.
    “So you’re the sister that joined the military and left Clara to live with the pastor and his family.”
    That wasn’t really a question, but he was definitely implying some things he wanted me to answer. I sighed and swallowed down the guilt, hoping he couldn’t already taste it this early in the conversation. I scoffed and shook my head. Wow, I was so calm about all this devourer business. I looked up at him and saw him watching me closely.
    “Yes. I’m the sister that freaked when our parents died and abandoned her little sister to live with the pastor so I didn’t have to deal with her. She was our parents’ favorite and I didn’t want to have to console her when I didn’t even know how to console myself. We had nothing. No money, no house, no car. Everything was gone. All I got was a lousy thirteen hundred bucks from the stuff that sold after all the bills were paid. Clara and I both were a little spoiled by our father. He tried to pretend that we had more money than we did. He was a good man, but we had no idea how to take care of ourselves. So I took that little bit of money, all I had left in the world, and I ran like the coward I was and didn’t look back.”
    I felt a tear race down my cheek as I stared at the tabletop. So much for not letting him taste my sadness so early on, huh?
    “What can I get you…folks?” I glanced up at the waitress to see her sympathetic gaze and wiped my cheek. “Oh, honey. It’s not as bad as all that, is it?” She sent Enoch a small glare and a nod. “Is it this one?” Enoch was still looking at me and hadn’t spared her a glance. “I’ll toss him out on his keister if you say the word.”
    I shot my gaze over to Enoch at that, who was chuckling silently.
    “That won’t be necessary.” I looked back up at her. She was tall and thin, middle-aged and so normal looking. She was someone’s mother for sure. “But thank you. I’ll just take a coffee and whatever’s on special.”
    “Okay, sugar.”
    “She’ll have pancakes, a side of bacon, and bring us some fruit, too, please,” Enoch interrupted, his voice as smooth and creamy as the coffee I was craving. “I’ll take the same exact thing, just double it.” He winked at her. “And thanks for looking out for her. She’s having a rough time right now. It’s hard for her to let people look out for her so I appreciate the help.” He reached over and rubbed his thumb