Kindred (Book 1 The Kindred Series) by Erica Stevens Read Free Book Online Page A

more. Cassie rolled her eyes; she heav ed a large sigh as she grabb ed her backpack and sl u ng it o ver her shoulder. Cars were lined up and down the senior parking lot, music blar ed from most of them as students t ried to outdo t he stereo s surrounding them . Puffs of smoke floated from some cars , drifting into the air in slow tendrils that marked the vehicle s .
       Students milled e verywhere, calling greetings to their friends as they moved swiftly through the cramped spaces. Some juniors had wandered over from the lot below, but most stayed by their own cars, trying hard to make their systems heard over the rising cacophony. Cassie usually enjoyed the noise and confusion of the mornings, it helped to wake her up . But t oday she found herself wishing that everyone would keep their music at a normal level, and their voices pitched below screaming. She had gotten very little sleep, and the dull throbbing in her temples was a constant reminder of that fact .
       “I’m going in,” she muttered to Melissa.
       Melissa frowned at her. “Are you ok?”
       Cassie frowned as she nodded and pull ed her glasses back over her tired, aching eyes. “ I didn’t sleep well, and that sun is awfully bright.”
       “Yeah, i t tends to be.”
       Cassie didn’t have the energy to come up with a witty re tort as she tightened her grip on the straps of her bag and made her way into the crowd. People called out loud greetings to her that she returned with a forced smile , and a cheery demeanor she didn ’ t feel. Her skin was still oddly electrified to the point that she wanted to rip it off , her mind still focused upon one clinging thought . Him . Being bright, cheery, and happy was not in her today, but she did a good job of f aking it.
       Swiftly climbing the steps, she was grateful when she reached the cool interior of the dimly lit foyer . The shade felt much nicer against her skin and eyes than the hot, bright sun. On days when she was run down, the sun was oddly draining , and painful to her. It stung her eye s more, and made her skin feel tight and itchy . She had never understo od it, but that was the way it was . I t was easier to avoid sun light when she was overtired . And she was most certainly tired today.
       A sophomore boy held the door open for her, making a grand, sweeping gesture that brought the first true smile to her face. With few students in the halls, it was far easier to move as she gathered her things from her locker and strolled to homeroom.
     
    ***
     
       Devon stood silently in the shadows, leaning against the cool wall as he watched her move slowly down the hall . H er head was bent forward; her golden hair cascad ed in thick waves to the small of her back. Though he couldn ’ t see her face, t he utter perfection of her beautiful , delicate features had been burned into his memory last night . Cassie, he recalled the small girl from last night call ing her.
       Sighing softly, he stepped away from the wall as she disappeared into one of the near empty classrooms. He didn ’ t know what he was doing here, he had never stepped foot in a high school before . He had never had any intention of ever doing so. But for some reason, somehow, he found h imself standing amongst the stark , foreign halls.
       Well, he knew the reason, and it was her .
       Ever since he had first laid eyes on her, first smelled her, he had been inexplicably drawn in. He had been passing through town, heading for the woods in search of food, when he had c aught her scent . T he blood flowing through her veins was strong , it s fragrance deliciously alluring . It had reeled him in like a fish on a hook , snagging hold of him and refusing to let go . She had been a bright beacon against the dark night encompassing her. 
       Though he hadn ’ t fed off a human in a very long time , he had been un able to resist the appeal of her enticing aroma. He was so ensnared by it that he had n’t been able