Grady's Awakening by Bianca D'Arc Read Free Book Online

forward either. He found her utterly charming and her conversation interesting. They talked on many general subjects and laughed a great deal before she looked at him with curious eyes.
    “You’re not like other Alvians.” Suspicion sounded in her low, melodic voice. “Are you a throwback?”
    Grady Prime put down his fork and turned to face her. This was too important. He wanted to see her reaction to the news of his altered status.
    “I was not born a throwback, but due to some recent changes, I now have emotions. Sharp of you to notice, Gina. If I may ask, what gave me away?”
    She tilted her head to one side in a way he was coming to love. In fact, he was charmed by everything about her. Her laugh, her smile, her sparkling eyes and her quick wit were very attractive.
    “You smile more than any of them, even the winged ones. And you seem to have a better understanding of humans than most Alvians.”
    “I have been around humans many times in my duties even before I gained emotion. I did not truly understand them until recently.”
    “You captured humans?” Her tone was accusing and sent a shaft of shame and regret through his heart, but he couldn’t lie to her.
    “I did. I have superior tracking skills. I was only sent after the hard cases. Others did the bulk of capture detail. I will admit that even before I could feel as I do now, I never enjoyed what came after the chase ended. I liked pitting my skills against a worthy opponent and coming out the victor. In those days, the echoes of exhilaration, satisfaction and even a small amount of triumph were the closest I could come to true emotion.”
    “So you’d be the kind of fisherman to go after a shark, land him, then throw him back to fight again another day.” Her lips curled in amusement, and he was sidetracked by the sight until he got himself in hand. It wouldn’t do to make a fool of himself with the first attractive female to actually Hum with him.
    “I have never fished for shark, only small fish to eat while camping, but I think I understand what you mean.”
    “Do you like camping? I never did as a child, but the great outdoors has grown on me since living with the Zxerah .”
    “I love sleeping under the stars, or the tree canopy as it sighs overhead. I even like the patter of rain in manageable quantities when I have suitable gear with me.” His small attempt at humor met with success as her lips lifted in that lovely smile once again. “Tell me, do you like your life among the Zxerah ? Would you not rather be among humans?”
    Suddenly her answer took on great importance to him. Would she prefer the company of her own kind or could she be happy among Alvians? He had to know.
    “I didn’t do too well with the other humans I encountered during my first few weeks in the wilderness. Then I ran into the Patriarch and all in all, I celebrate the day we found each other in the woods. The more I think about it, the more I believe God must have led me to that place and played a role in our meeting. Few women were trained as I was, and I don’t think someone with lesser skills could have impressed the Patriarch enough to take a second look at us humans.”
    “Of what skills do you speak?” Grady Prime was pleased by her answer. He wanted to know everything he could possibly learn about this beautiful creature.
    “She has a mean right hook and her flying roundhouse kicks are a guaranteed concussion if you don’t duck fast enough,” Sinclair Prime put in from across the table. The man chuckled and Gina followed suit, sharing a glance with the winged warrior that made Grady Prime feel an altogether new emotion—jealousy. He didn’t like the feeling.
    “You are a warrior?” he asked, regaining her attention. Frankly, she was so petite in comparison to a typical Alvian that he doubted the claim. Perhaps Sinclair Prime was teasing her.
    “In the old world we had a sports contest every four years called the Olympics. The best athletes in many