Consume (The Devoured Series) by Shelly Crane Read Free Book Online

idiot," I chastised softy. "She's trying to remember who she was before she got sick."
     
    "Got sick? She got sick at your house last night?"
     
    He didn't know… Yikes. That's a big cat to let out of the bag. I looked away, but still saw his wheels turning.
     
    He cursed. "I knew something was going on. I knew it. She always said it wasn't, but…"
     
    "She's in remission," I offered.
     
    "So the whole…piercings and hair and clothes was to hide her being sick?" I nodded. "And she wants to go back to being normal again because that's really what she was all along and this was just a front," he said, not phrasing it as a question because it no longer was.
     
    I nodded again."Yep."
     
    "But why was she so scared then? She looked like she was about to throw up. That's why I thought you were pushing her into it. If she was really wanting to change, she wouldn't be so upset-"
     
    "Idiot!" I said again and laughed. "You're such a guy."
     
    He took a deep breath and stuck his hands into his pockets. Then it hit him and I saw it take him over. He grimaced and then looked at me in question. I nodded. "Yes, Pat. You're a jackass."
     
    "I am a jackass." He rubbed his head. "I always wondered. I mean…we both had a crush on each other and went on a couple of dates and then she just stopped…being interested. Oh, crap." He grabbed his head. "That's when she got sick! That's when she cut her hair and missed so much school and I thought she was just over me, like I was a phase." He shook his head. "I thought she wanted to just be friends. Ah, man. I'm such a jackass."
"We've established that, Pat." I grinned. "Now put some feet to the pavement."
     
    He took off after her. Our other lunch buddies came and asked what was going on. I just waved them off and dragged Eli to the lunch line. It was pizza day, so I resorted to the salad bar.
     
    It was when we were laughing about something later that I felt hands on my shoulders. Eli was sitting next to me, so it could only be one other person. "Tate, don't-" I started, but when I turned it wasn't Tate I saw, it was Finn…and Enoch was standing by the door.
     
    "Hello again, lovely," he sneered at me and then looked at Eli, who was stunned silent, but still wrapping his arm around me in protection as he stared at him. "Come with us outside and nothing happens to the feelers. Just you though. The girl stays."
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Six
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    "Finn, what are you doing?" Eli asked him.
     
    "Saving your life."
     
    Eli scoffed, but gulped as we stood and he pulled me behind him. "What's this about?"
     
    "Hey," Dee interrupted. "Who's this?" she asked of Finn. No one answered her and she huffed. "Well? New guy? What's your name?"
     
    "My name's get lost ," he spouted.
     
    She shrieked and Tate wasn't far behind. "What's going on?" He looked at me. "You ok? What's going on, Clara?"
     
    "Nothing for you to worry about, buddy," Finn said and patted Tate on the arm. "Now run along."
     
    "Watch it, buddy, " Tate sneered. "Eli, this a friend of yours?"
     
    "I'd use that term loosely."
     
    "Come on, Clara." Tate held his hand out for me. "Let them settle whatever this is."
     
    "Nope," I said, shaking my head. Tate still thought that after everything he could come over and order me around and I'd just go with him like a scared little girl. "I'm not leaving."
     
    Tate's jaw tightened. "Don't be stupid, Clara. Come with me. Now."
     
    Eli turned to him, but before anything could be done, Finn punched Tate in the jaw, letting him fall to the floor like a lump. Finn growled, "Outside."
     
    "I'm not leaving Clara."
     
    Finn laughed and ticked his head toward the door. "Enoch is coming with us. But it wouldn't matter, now would it? Since she's bound the Thames family to her like the evil succubus she is."
     
    "Don't," Eli hummed low and inched closer to Finn. "Don't, Finn."
     
    "Why not?" he laughed and got right in Eli's face. "That's what