Sundered by Shannon Mayer Read Free Book Online Page B

let’s be honest; this could be one of her last meals.”
     
    I swallowed my irritation. “You’re a good man, my love, I hadn’t thought of that.”
     
    The guest bedroom was painted bright yellow, including the door, something I hadn’t gotten around to changing yet, though it seemed fitting that she was there. I knocked three times. “Jessica, are you awake? We’ve got breakfast ready.”
     
    A shuffle, and then a groan. I backed away from the door thinking we’d made a serious mistake in letting her stay with us, even for the night.
     
    The doorknob turned slowly and Jessica peeked out, yawning. “Is that bacon I smell?”
     
    I let out a breath, relief rushing through me. “Yup, Sebastian’s been slaving over the stove all morning, just for you.” I smiled at her and patted her back as she flushed and ducked her head as she passed me and headed into the kitchen.
     
    What happened next was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Jessica, who couldn’t have been more than 5’4 and weighed maybe 110 pounds, ate at least as much as Sebastian, who was a full foot in height taller than her and was at least double her weight. To top it all off, it looked as if they were racing, popping sausages and bites of waffle in as fast as they could chew. The whole scene was more than a little disconcerting. It was kind of fun though to watch her face when she peeked under her eyelashes at Bastian, her blushing and head ducking almost comical in their lack of subtlety. The best part was that Sebastian was completely oblivious.
     
    I had a single helping, keeping it to oatmeal and a banana, then splurged and had some bacon with it. What the hell, if it was the end of the world, who cared about counting calories?
     
    “ What’s the plan today?” Sebastian asked, looking from me to Jessica then back again.
     
    “ Oh. Well, I thought that we should make a tally of all the food in the house, plant the garden, and check fences.”
     
    “ We just had the new page wire fence put up! And haven’t even pulled down the old barbed wire on the other side,” Sebastian said, his irritation filling the room. Jessica slouched in her seat and stared at her plate.
     
    I rubbed my face with both hands. “I know that. And maybe it’s good that we have a double fence line, but the deer can still get in. I know the deer can jump but what if there’s a little hole somewhere? One at ground level? The Nevermores maybe can’t jump but I bet they can crawl.”
     
    At that Sebastian paused, his mouth open to argue and then he snapped it shut and nodded. The thought of a horde of Nevermores pouring through a small hole was all too possible and all too frightening to take the chance that there was even one small opening on our first line of defence.
     
    “ We also need to find some way to store water,” I said, leaning back in my chair.
     
    Sebastian nodded and leaned back in his chair, mimicking me. “We can draw water from the well even when the power’s out, but you’re right, we should store some anyway.” He stood up. “I’m going to start with the fences and I’m going to throw another chain and padlock on the front gate. Why don’t you come with me, Jessica?” He glanced at me and I gave him a slight nod. Neither of us said what we were both thinking. The Nevermores saw her as one of their own and wouldn’t hurt her, and it might keep Sebastian safer too, having her at his side. Jessica nodded and took another bite of a sausage, her face glowing with pleasure. I smiled to myself, it would be good to keep her distracted, and having her crush all to herself was a perfect way for a young girl to have her mind taken off the scary parts of life. It didn’t bother me, Sebastian was not the type to wander or stray, especially not for a sixteen-year-old girl.
     
    As they headed out the back door I grabbed Sebastian by the hand pulling him back to me and planting a kiss on his lips. “Don’t forget to reinforce the