Channeler's Choice by Heather McCorkle Read Free Book Online Page A

homework over and slapped it down on the bed between them.
    “ This isn’t going to happen, Bridget,” he snapped.
    Undeterred, she reached over and tried to massage his shoulders. Aiden’s energy snapped a bit, reaching out to shock her. He couldn’t help it, it just slipped out. Guilt surged through him. She flinched but didn’t let go.
    “ My parents went for a walk, there’s no one in the house but us,” she purred, breathing far too heavy. “This doesn’t have to be complicated. I can tell she’s not giving you everything you need. Most guys don’t consider oral sex cheating,” she went on.
    Aiden shoved her hands from his shoulders and jumped off the bed. Her touch made his skin crawl. How could she say that so casually?
    “ I’m only tense because you won’t leave me alone. Eren gives me all I need and more. I love her,” he said.
    His energy was building like flood waters behind a dam. It took a lot of concentration to keep it under control. This was the first time he’d ever wanted to slap a woman. She sat up straight, her skirt so high Aiden was afraid she was about to flash her underwear at him. God, he hoped she was wearing some. Disgust helped him quell a bit of his anger and allowed him to push his energy down.
    “ Please leave,” he said.
    Bridget stood up and this time she did pull her skirt straight. She looked like she was about to cry and Aiden felt a small pang of guilt. But he was pretty sure that was part of her plan so he didn’t apologize.
    “ Okay, but the invitation is still open,” she said.
    “ Out!” he snapped.
    Blond bob flying, she spun and left. As soon as he heard her footsteps retreat down the hall below, he pulled the ladder up and threw the deadbolt.
    Seething with anger, he grabbed the sweatshirt off the end of his bed and threw it on. As he stormed to the window, he stepped into his shoes. Barely losing stride, he called up his power, opened the window wide and jumped out. The second his feet touched the ground he was running. With hardly any effort at all, he leaped the six foot fence and left the Murphy house far behind.

 
    “ We must never forget that our kind were
    once used in battle. There will be a time when we
    will be called again, but it will not be to fight
    for humans, it will be to fight for the Earth.”
    ~from Life In A Society
     
    Chapter 6
     
     
    Snow still clung in spots to the shadowy areas of the forest, but a rare week of warm weather had melted it from the trees. Free of their frozen burden, the green boughs of the spruce trees lining the river were buoyed up, glistening in the sunshine. Water lapped beside Eren, mostly free of ice for the first time in months. She felt like the river, waking up from winter. The day was warm enough that after her and Aiden’s run, she shed her coat and was more than comfortable enough in her pale purple tank top.
    Smiling, Aiden moved the thick braid of her hair back over her shoulder and leaned in close. After a long kiss that pushed the borders of chaste and sweet, they stood with their heads leaned together. Eren ran her fingers over the swell of his biceps, down the length of his forearms, and took hold of his hands. They were both still breathing heavy from run and she had to take a step back so the rise and fall of her chest wouldn’t bring her into contact with his. That would be way more touching than her restraint could handle.
    The alluring mixture of brown and green in his eyes drew her in with the strength of a vortex. They seemed to glow with the light of his power behind them. Out here, alone at their spot by the river, it almost felt like they were the only two people in the world. The image of those eyes so close to her own, started to blur and she sighed and looked down.
    From somewhere above them the sweet song of a bird rang out. Eren’s gaze followed the noise to a small black and white bird that sat on a branch nearby. She could both see and feel its energy, a small green glow