Runes (Paranormal Romance, YA,) by Ednah Walters Read Free Book Online Page A

drinking.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Yes, yes, no, and I don’t drink.”
    “I know, but peer pressure can make kids do crazy things. I’ll see you tonight, okay?”
    I put the phone down. “She said yes.”
    Cora rushed to hug me, hopping with excitement. Eirik lifted his camera. “Smile.”
    I forced a grin, and he snapped pictures. Me in a club? This was going to be interesting.
    “Can we go now? I’m starving,” Eirik said.
    “Give me a second.” I ran upstairs, changed into skinny jeans, ankle-length boots, and a light jacket. I was about to leave when I glanced outside. Cora and Eirik were talking to Torin, their laughter filling the air. No, Cora was laughing while Eirik looked uncomfortable. What were they discussing? Not that I cared.
    Suddenly, Torin looked up and stared straight at me before I could duck out of sight. My heart tripped. I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t. A tiny smile tugged the corner of his sculptured lips. Then he shifted his attention to Cora. I blew out a breath I hadn’t known I was holding. Not sure whether to join them or not, I headed downstairs and waited until Cora and Eirik were on their way to the Jeep and Torin was back to raking leaves before I went outside.
    “What’s going on?” I asked. Despite my vow to ignore Torin, he fascinated me.
    “I’m starving,” Eirik grumbled again.
    “You’re always starving,” Cora teased from the back seat. “I wanted to meet your sexy neighbor. Torin St. James. Even his name is sexy. He’s going to our high school, starting Monday.”
    Once again, my traitorous heart reacted, but I faked disinterest. “That’s nice.”
    Eirik mumbled something that sounded like, “It’s not.”
    I glanced at him and frowned. “Have you met his parents?”
    “He doesn’t have any,” he said in a tone that was hard to describe.
    “Everyone has parents, silly,” Cara said and pushed Eirik’s head. “He’s a senior, relocated here to be closer to a friend. He didn’t say what friend. I wanted to ask him whether he meant a girlfriend, so I could hate her. Have you seen his eyes, Raine? Gorgeous. Sapphire can’t begin to describe them.”
    Eirik snorted.
    I angled my body so I could see both of them and signaled Cora to stop with the gushing. She gave me a naughty grin that said she was just messing with Eirik. Seriously, she could be so childish sometimes.

    ***
               
    Lunar Creperie was packed, the aroma of fresh crepes, pastries, and coffee in the air. Located a block from my high school, the restaurant was a popular hangout for students. Kayville was home to three high schools—two public and one private Christian school. Ours was the largest and the only school located in the historic downtown Kayville, so we owned the Creperie as we often called it.
    Well, not owned owned. We just acted like the place belonged to us. We had our corners, the jocks and the cheerleaders, the preppies, the Goths and other rebels, and the swimmers slash band geeks—that was us.
    “Hey, Seville.” Tim Butler, a curly-haired guy, who played tenor saxophone in the band and was a backstroker on the swim team, waved us over. He was with his girlfriend and two other couples. We staked the table next to theirs and went to place our orders.
    A prickly feeling told me we were being watched, so I turned around casual-like and gave the room a sweeping glance. My eyes met the topaz pair of Blaine Chapman, captain of the football team. Blaine was already being courted by scouts across the state. He forked his fingers through his wavy brown hair and gave me his famous I-know-I’m-hot smile before glancing down at his girlfriend, Casey Riverside. Casey was head cheerleader and the girl guys fantasized about and other girls would love to hate. Only no one could hate her because she was so nice and sweet. Blaine and Casey were Kayville High’s perfect couple.
    With them were two blondes and a guy with silver hair, all of them strangers to me.