Anomaly (Causal Enchantment) Read Online Free PDF Page B

the small of my back. “It’s a blink in our time, really.” I knew what he was really telling me. It’s not forever. I would be fine. Eventually.
    I gritted my teeth with the thought of Caden seeing me with those eyes , the bag in my hand suddenly feeling like a lead weight. I’d be hideous. But, there was no point in stalling this any longer.
    Shaking my head, I muttered, “Let’s not bug Sofie.” With everything else she had on her plate? She worried more than any biological mother ever could. “I want to get this over with.” My attention was on the red bag but I didn’t miss the sharp look between Caden and Amelie. I was probably the first reluctant fledgling in all of vampire history. I was probably also the first one to question how gross this might taste. “How do I open it?”
    Amelie smirked. “Just bite it.”
    “But I don’t—”
    “Just bite it!”
    Trusting my friend—a seven-hundred and fifty-odd-year-old vampire who knew more about this than I obviously did—I held the bag to my open mouth. With wary eyes on Caden, and a glib mumble of, “See you in a few days,” I sunk my teeth in, anticipating resistance.
    My teeth sliced through the thick plastic and liquid burst out unexpectedly, rushing into my mouth, a small amount trickling down along my chin. Trying to stem the sudden flow, I took several long drags of the sweet liquid. It was like nothing I’d expected and nothing I could describe. It reminded me of a high-quality maple syrup, but without the sickly sugariness. I certainly couldn’t guzzle a bottle of maple syrup and yet here I was, draining the bag with little effort, my mental conflict dissolving as I felt the thick fluid flow down my throat into … where? How did this new body of mine process it?
    Within seconds, my muscles felt stronger, my mind felt more alert. I felt more alive.
    When nothing but a flimsy pouch remained, I pulled it away from my mouth.
    “So?” Caden’s brow furrowed deeply. “How do you feel?”
    “ Fine. Great, I guess. Stronger?”
    “Here .” Amelie tossed me another bag. It came fast and to the far left and yet all I had to do was think about catching it and it was in my hand. I drained four more bags in under five minutes and waved Amelie away when she moved to toss me a sixth, earning a hard look from her.
    “What? I’ve had enough.” I wiped the blood from my chin.
    Amelie and her brother exchanged another raised stare. One that finally spiked my irritation.
    “Would you two stop doing that? I get it. I’m not normal ! But you’re starting to freak me out!”
    Amelie gestured at Veronique and Julian. “Those two haven’t so much as looked up to acknowledge you since you stepped in here, and yet you just waved this away with a ‘no thanks’?” Her ringlets whipped through the air as her head spun back, scowling. “And your eyes! They didn’t change.”
    “Uh … I’m sorry?” I said a silent prayer of thanks.
    Amelie ’s pretty face pinched in thought for a long moment. I caught her swift movement a second before a snapping sound followed by sharp pain rocketed through me.
    “Amelie!” Caden roared through my cry as Amelie dropped my arm . It hung limply next to my body, my forearm bone protruding through my skin.
    “You broke my arm!” I shrieked in horror. “Are you insane?” No sooner had the last word crossed my lips than the bone began to fade. Before my eyes, it vanished and the wound sealed itself. Mouth agape, I flexed my hand to test my strength. Perfectly normal, once again.
    “ At least we know you can heal like the rest of us,” Amelie explained.
    “And what if she couldn’t?” Caden snapped.
    “Well , then, I guess she wouldn’t be jumping in front of any bullets now, would she!” Amelie retorted. “But you’re right. We should tell Sofie about this.”
    “ Tell Sofie about what?” a voice called out behind us, making me jump. Even with my new abilities, I guess the woman was still capable of