Silver Mortal (The Gracen Chronicles) by Jenna Kay Read Free Book Online Page B

doesn't have a sensitive bone in her body when it comes to someone else in pain.
    And just as I suspected, she blows off what I said about Jude being beaten to a pulp. “He'll be fine. After a good days rest he'll feel good as new.”
    I roll my eyes. “Whatever you say, mom.”
    Mom walks to the door then stops, leaning an elbow on the doorjamb. “Gracen?”
    “Yeah?” I answer, plopping back down against my pillows.
    “I'm not going to let anything happen to you—I promise.” And with that odd little tidbit said she closes the door.
    I stare at the closed door a long while, thinking about my insane, Touched life. Really, I've got to be the most screwed up sixteen year old girl on the face of the planet. At thirteen I see a werewolf, find out I'm not completely normal and move up to New York City to live with my neurotic mother. I have dreams about a psycho Night Viper, get superhuman powers after midnight, and kill demons with my pure silver Katana—which I can use skillfully.
    Messed-up with a capitol Screwed .
    In hopes of getting a few hours sleep, I flip over to my side and sink into my fluffy pillow. My mind starts to rest and I feel sleep getting close...that is until my cell phone begins to vibrate. Letting out a groan, I grab it from my nightstand and see that it's Bets. Reluctantly I answer, knowing Bets has my whole Saturday planned out like she always does.
    “Hello?” I whisper groggily.
    “ Wassup chica ?” Bets's voice rings in my ear. “Were you sleeping?”
    I yawn and stretch, cradling the phone with my chin. “Sort of.”
    “What?!” she exclaims shrilly. “You do know it's two in the afternoon, right?”
    “I do now,” I reply annoyingly.
    She sighs loudly into the phone. “Have you forgotten about the day we have planned? You know, shopping, eating, a movie, maybe talking to that cute waiter that goes by the name Mark Hopkins at Applebee's?”
    I groan. “Bets, I've already told you—I'm not interested in dating him or anyone right now, so quit pressuring me!”
    “Come on, Gracen! I'm your best friend and I'm only trying to help you out!”
    I laugh out loud. “Bets, really, you don't have to—”
    “ Please , Gracen?” she whines. “Please let me help you get some!”
    Bets has been on my case for months to start dating, and I keep telling her over and over again that I'm not interested, but she's too stubborn to listen. I'm not saying this Mark guy is a dog or anything. On the contrary he's quite nice to look at, with his wavy brown hair and hazel eyes. When he smiles a dimple appears on his left cheek, and his body looks muscular and fit under his waiter uniform. Not to mention being the perfect height in my eyes, just topping six feet. And whenever we visit our favorite restaurant Mark is always there, even when he's not waiting on us, talking to us and being super nice and...
    OK, here's my point. It's not that I'm uninterested in him—it's because I can't be interested in him. My life is chaotic enough without adding a juvenile, romantic relationship into the mix, so I figure the single life is the only way to go. And anyway, a boyfriend would just make matters even more strained, and I was stressed enough without having a guy to deal with. Of course I can't tell Bets all this. She's my bestie and all, but she doesn't know my secrets; I also plan on keeping it that way.
    “Look, how about this,” I remark, trying hard not to laugh at her antics, “why don't you just come pick me up and we'll have a girls day, alright? No boys, no getting some ...just girly crap. Sound good?”
    “Fine,” she replies. I can almost hear the pout in her voice. “I'll be there in an hour, and since I'm conceding to your harsh no boys rule, you've got to listen to what happened to me last night!”
    I groan, knowing that the details would be juicy. Not a good juicy, but a nasty juicy.
    “Did the cops come?” I inquire curiously.
    She giggles. “No, but I know someone who