Alliance Read Online Free PDF Page A

the girl’s shoulder. She’s pale from holding the druggie using her telekinesis, but she gives me a jerk of her chin. She’ll get Rachel back to her room.
    The nurse wheels Rachel down the hall to her room, Hannah following, and I’m grateful for her absence.
    The two security guards are shooting suspicious looks over their shoulders. They don’t understand how a short girl took down a linebacker like I just did. One set of eyes stays riveted on me. Rachel’s brother stares like he’s waiting for me to explode. I have to smooth things over, so I make a joke.
    “Thank God for tae bo and gym class, right?”
    The two security guards roll their eyes, but walk off with the druggie and don’t give me another glance. As usual, they don’t want to believe in the supernatural.
    A quiet sob breaks the silence and Rachel’s brother looks down in surprise at the little girl next to him. Did he forget she was there? She’s trembling and my heart breaks just a little. Edward was that age when he died.
    “Is she okay?” I ask, taking a step towards them. There’s something about her…
    The boy’s burning eyes snap back to me. “She’s fine,” he spits.
    What is his deal? I just saved her.
    The girl’s wide blue gaze is fixed on me; she has the same color eyes as her brother. She’s… hurt.
    “Maybe you should have a nurse take a look just in case,” I say.
    My extra senses tell me something’s wrong. In my human form the smell of fear radiating off her overpowers my ability to know exactly what’s hurt, but I know that something’s not right.
    His eyes narrow into slits and he shepherds the girl further behind him, blocking my view of her. “Thanks for your opinion.”
    He’s acting unexpectedly. Most people just avoid me, but he’s facing me head on. And almost projecting violence. Is this a reaction to seeing what I really am? How can I convince him that his sister needs medical attention?
    The girl sobs harder, trying to muffle the sound in her right fist. She’s holding her left arm gingerly away from her body, and I realize she has a fracture, probably from hitting the floor when I got her away from the druggie. And he is so focused on me that he doesn’t even know it.
    “It couldn’t hurt to let someone take a look. Maybe it’ll calm her down.”
    “I think you need to mind your own business.”
    Why isn’t Hannah back yet? I could use a little help getting this guy to see things my way. I’m cranky enough without sleep or food.
    Seriously, what is his deal? For someone as attractive as he is he doesn’t have the manners to match.
    “Why don’t you just ask her? She’s obviously in pain.”
    I can almost hear his teeth grinding together; a muscle jumps in his jaw. He kneels down next to the girl—keeping me in sight—and brushes away her tears with the back of his hand.
    “Come on, tough girl,” he says softly and I bristle. That’s what he says to a scared young girl? Then his demeanor changes and he clasps her shoulders in his big hands. “What’s wrong, Chloe?”
    She sniffles. “My arm hurts.”
    “Did that man grab your arm?”
    “No, I fell on it.”
    The boy gently takes Chloe’s hand and extends her arm. She flinches, but doesn’t cry out. Brave girl. I expect him to poke at her arm to see if something’s seriously wrong, but he doesn’t. Instead he motions for a nurse and asks her to take a look. At least he seems to care about his sister.
    Chloe looks nervous, but she follows the nurse over to a vacant room.
    The boy stands back up and faces me, his arms crossed over his chest. His cheeks are flushed, and the tenderness I just witnessed disappears.
    Maybe we just got off on the wrong foot. I know he has to be under stress with his sister—now both his sisters—hurt. I take a small step towards him so that I’m within a few feet.
    He uncrossed his arms, shifts his feet so he’s balancing on his toes. Does he think I’m going to attack him?
    I put out my hand.