Fractured Soul by Rachel McClellan Read Free Book Online

asked again, my voice low, “Seriously. Why are you here?”
    He glanced behind us, seeming to share my thoughts, and whispered, “Right before I was to leave for Oregon, I got a call from your aunt. She told me to come out here instead of returning to the training facility.”
    “Why?”
    He shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m in more trouble than I think.” He smiled like it wasn’t a big deal.
    I stopped and looked at him, really looked. He was the same Christian, but he seemed stronger somehow, more sure of himself. When I noticed he was staring back at me the same way, I quickly glanced away, afraid he’d see something new he didn’t like. “Are you sure it’s a good idea for you to be here? With me?”
    He looked around one more time before he took me in his arms, hugging me tight. “It’s the best. It about killed me to say good-bye to you.”
    “I know the feeling.” I breathed him in. The smell of cologne, mixed with the smell of cotton and Tide, filled my nostrils. Instead of wondering how I was able to smell his laundry detergent, I remained still, my head resting on his shoulder.
    We stood like that for a while, alone in the dark, listening to the quiet rustlings of the forest. He sighed and leaned away. “This is going to be harder than I thought.”
    I panicked. This was it. He could sense that something was wrong with me. “Please don’t say it. I know—”
    Christian’s mouth found mine. His lips were warm and soft, moving over mine, yet the deep kiss held more passion than ever before. I melted into his arms, held in place only by his tightening grip, pressing me closer to his chest. When we finally broke apart, he said, “I wish we had more time, but I have to go.”
    I barely nodded, my knees weak.
    He kissed me again. “We have to be careful, Llona,” he said when he let me go. “No one can know we’re together or they’ll kick you out.”
    More secrets. My hand went to my neck, to rub or hide my bite marks. “Maybe we should stay away from each other while you’re here.”
    His eyes widened, and he took my hand. “What? No, that’s not what I mean. I’ve missed you so much. I don’t want to be apart anymore. We just have to be careful is all. That’s something we’re used to, right?”
    I didn’t know what to say. My brain and my heart were fighting each other.
    Looking into my eyes, Christian raised his hand to push aside my hair, but when I realized he was about to expose my bite marks, I panicked and stepped back.
    “What’s wrong?” he said
    I quickly smiled and started walking again. “Nothing. I should probably get back too. Vykens outside of the school and all.” How could I ever tell him about the poison inside me? If it repulsed me, what would Christian, or anyone else for that matter, think?
    After a moment I realized Christian wasn’t following me. I stopped and turned around. He was a ways back studying something on the ground. “What is it?” I asked.
    Christian stood up, holding something plastic in his hand. His face was pale, but I couldn’t tell if it was from the moonlight spilling in from the tops of the trees or something else. “Do you know what this is?” he asked, moving toward me.
    As he drew closer, holding the object up, I knew exactly what it was. “Sure. It’s an IV bag. The nurse used one on me tonight when she drew my blood. How did it get out here?”
    “I don’t know, but I don’t like it.”
    I took it from him and held it to the light. “There’s still a little blood in it,” I said and shivered. “You don’t think a Vyken has access to our blood, do you? ’Cause that would be really bad.”
    Christian looked all around us, his face serious. “It would be bad. Even worse than finding a Vyken outside of the school.”
    “I take it that’s not normal?”
    “It happens, but it’s rare. Looking back, though, Jackson didn’t seem surprised. I’ll ask him about it.” He took my hand. “Come on. Let’s get you