Ethereal Knights by Addison Moore Read Free Book Online Page B

to hold her attention or she’ll never notice me. At the rate I’m going, I’ll be less visible than air by the time we leave.
    “You get the comedy channel?” I blink into my own stupidity and snatch the remote from the coffee table like I actually meant it.
    She opens her mouth as if she’s about to answer then turns abruptly like she’s thought of something better. “Hey”—she bites down on her lip while looking at Logan—“would you like a tour of the house?”
    Perfect. My stupid inquiry about the fucking comedy channel inspired her to give Logan a sneak preview of her mattress. I’m sure she’s dubbed me the scary Oliver by now.
    Logan glances at me for a moment with a mournful look before perking back to attention. “Why, yes. Yes, I would.”
    Must be nice up on cloud nine.
    “You’re going to miss the movie.” Kate snatches at Skyla as she drifts by.
    “That’s the point.” Natalie hugs a pillow like it was a body. “They’re going to entertain themselves.”
    Nat’s words slice through me as I shoot a look up at Skyla. She catches my eye, and I beg her with everything in me not to go anywhere with Logan, just to sit right here next to me and watch the crap movie I’m about to put on.
    “We’re just going to talk.” She says it sweetly, directed to me of all people, and a part of me swims with relief. Skyla winces as she drinks me in. She’s feeling something, I can tell, and for a brief moment, I’m sure she’ll be mine one day.
    “Hey, Skyla?” Her brother shouts as she and Logan head for the stairs. “There’s a stack of rubbers in my top drawer. Feel free to grab one. I hear it’s a safe way to ‘talk’ to people.”
    There goes that brief moment.
    She’s all Logan’s again.
     

5
     
    Logan
     
    The Bloody Party
     
     
    Skyla’s bedroom is sweet in nature, not at all the vixen den that Chloe had set up for herself. A wicker-framed bed sits in the corner with a canopy floating above it like a cloud. A plain white desk with a laptop sits against the opposite wall.
    Skyla’s hand warms to mine, and I can hear her worry over how well she hid her stuffed animals. I can’t help but listen in. Her inner dialog is too damn cute not to. She does a spastic inventory of the floor while her face lights up the exact same shade of pink as the quilt on her bed. A stack of boxes sit untouched in the corner, patiently waiting for someone to tend to them, and I give her hand a squeeze as if to say it’s not a big deal.
    Skyla shoots a look of dismay at the walls. One day this summer, I for sure want to paint it a really pretty green .
    “I’ll help,” I offer.
    “Help?” She drops me like a bad connection and leaps over to the mattress, smoothing her hand over the spot right next to her.
    “Paint your room.” I land beside her in one fell swoop, no formal invite needed.
    “Are you kidding?” She lies back and turns her head into the pillow as if she’s somehow mortified by this. Her bare shoulder pops free from her sweater, and I want to press my lips against it, graze my teeth over her flesh for the hell of it. Every move she makes, feels like an invitation. 
    “And, you hid things pretty well.” I reach under her bed and retrieve a scruffy blue elephant.
    She lets out a bubbling laugh while trying to grab it.
    “Give me that,” she cries. I let her reach it, and she smothers its face in her cleavage. Damn lucky elephant. “Don’t touch him,” she hisses. “He’s mine.”
    “So…” I start. Skyla mentioned just before dinner she wanted to know why Michelle Miller harassed her at the mall today, claiming I gave her a special invite to the party. I reach over and run my fingers through her hair, soft and slippery. “You want to know why I was at Michelle’s.” I’m not looking forward to any part of this conversation. Nor do I enjoy spending any of my time with “Michelle.”
    “It’s none of my business where you go.” She glances at the door. Wonder if