Dead Radiance by T. G. Ayer Read Free Book Online Page B

Custer had left early for church and the kids were enjoying a lazy morning.
    Our foster mom was a deeply religious woman, and often I'd sit on the porch with a book open on my lap, listening to her glorious rich voice render divine church songs. Her voice and her songs had soul.
    But with Aidan and my lack of appetite occupying my mind, not even the Divine melody could help ease my worries.
    My room offered much needed comfort, as far away from Aidan as possible.
    ***
    After a late breakfast of pancakes, Brody and Simon begged me to take them to the playground, and I relented. The desire for fresh air overpowered avoidance of a certain biker.
    The wooden seat of the swing moved back and forth in the filtered sunshine. The boys leaped and hurled themselves from bars manufactured especially for the two human monkeys, giggling with such abandon. A smiled curved at my lips, where in the last week no smile had dared to dwell.
    A hollow ache bounced at my temple, a side effect of my turmoil. The image of the Valkyrie twisted and turned over and over in my mind. Who was the woman in the painting? Was it just a coincidence?
    The name. The face.
    As far as I knew, my parents had no connection with archeology. But the Valkyrie's name was Brunhilde. The root of my birth name of Brynhildr. The painting itself dared me to deny what my eyes knew.
    I shivered in icy trepidation.
    It didn't help when a large shape moved into my sunlight.
    I stiffened and looked away from the two brats to Aidan, who stood staring at the boys as they giggled and squabbled. He turned, his smile congenial, almost conversational, but I rose. My knees wobbled as I tried to dampen the tiny spurt of joy, which flared on seeing his face this morning. Damn my traitorous emotions.
    "Since you’re here I can probably head back," I said. "Bring the boys with you." I stepped away.
    "When was the last time you ate?" Aidan's words were quiet and serious and I stopped. A cold breeze sent frigid fingers down my collar and I pulled my jacket close. Close against the wind and his scrutiny.
    "Why is that any of your business?" I stiffened, ready to flee to the safety of my room if he so much as stepped in my direction.
    The smile on his face froze and fell away at my cool response. I should have felt guilty but the words of the text message scrolled across my eyes like a neon sign. He'd left me in the lurch in mid-conversation. No explanation. And worse were those guilty glances I'd caught ever since that night. Didn't take a rocket scientist to tell he was guilty. He had no idea I'd read the text message from Cherise. I had no intention of telling him. Why give him the satisfaction of knowing I was burning with embarrassment and jealousy? I'd played the fool and I refused to audition for the part again. Ever.
    A boisterous shout from the boys on the monkey bars gave me an excuse to turn away from him. Not that I needed one. When I glanced back, he shrugged, still staring at my face. "You're not anorexic are you?" He shook his head and answered his own question. "No, no signs of weight loss or dehydration. You don't look like you're starving so where are you getting your nutrition from?"
    "Look, it's really none of your business, but I do actually eat. I'm not anorexic, or bulimic, nor do I suffer from any other kind of eating disorder. I eat when I'm hungry and drink when I'm thirsty just like every other person on the planet. So leave me and my food intake alone." Heat filled my cheeks as the lies tripped off my tongue.
    I looked away from his face again because my heart always melted when I stared at him. Because I had to acknowledge that deep inside I was thrilled he cared enough to challenge me on my health. Because I hated lying. And because the topic itself scared the crap out of me.
    I stared at the romping boys—and cupped my hand to my mouth to stifle a gasp. A sudden chill, icier than the wind, nastier than any winter snap, crept through my blood and froze me to the