Fire Baptized Read Online Free PDF Page A

stirring up memories of Orisha beach during the summer, salt on my tongue, sand between my toes, and the calming waves of the ocean pushing me forward.
    I sighed.
    “You’re lucky to live here,” I whispered. Zulu’s body tensed under my arms.
    “Luck has nothing to do with it,” he said as we stopped at a light. “It’s a way for my mom to pay me off. To make sure I don’t call her Mommy in front of her Pureblood friends.”
    “So then, what do you call her?” I asked, watching a couple stroll by, hand in hand.
    Each time the Pureblood laughed, her massive diamond earrings sparkled like expensive champagne. I shook my head. Her jewelry could fund both MeShack’s and my education and provide us room and board for several years. I hated her for flaunting her wealth and looked in another direction.
    “I usually call my mom by her first name,” Zulu replied.
    “Which is?” I raised my eyebrows.
    “Nice try, Lanore. If you want to know my secrets, then tell me yours.”
    I laughed.
    Zulu maintained a reasonable speed as we passed high-end restaurants painted in cobalt blue. An aroma of slowly roasted meats and simmering delights tugged at my senses. Crystal fountains glowed, producing playful shadows of fish. Luxury condos with bricks the color of the ocean decorated the clean streets. There was no litter—anywhere. Nothing to suggest Supes walked on the sidewalks at all.
    “I’m going to have two Rebels follow you around until we catch this guy,” Zulu said, getting my attention.
    “No Rebels. Are you insane? My professors already hate that I’m in their classes. And you want me to bring two Rebels?” I shook my head. “Not happening. They can’t come with me.”
    The Rebels were a group of Shifters who considered themselves revolutionaries. They hated Humans and shunned most laws, wearing bright colors instead of the blacks and whites that you saw Humans wear on TV . They remained in partial animal form, which freaked out most Purebloods, even regular Shifters.
    Fur covered their faces. Animal ears stuck out of their hair. Fangs were usually fully extended and protruded out of their mouths. Whenever I was near them, my skin always felt like hundreds of ants were crawling up my arms.
    “I don’t know why you hate them. They’re great for MFE ,” Zulu said as we sped off, just as the light turned green. “They listen to you and me, which is a miracle.”
    “I don’t hate them. But if we continue to involve them, they’ll ruin us.” A tiny pain began at my temples. “And those freaks destroyed my peace demonstration.”
    He shrugged his shoulders. “I didn’t like the peace thing either.”
    “Peace demonstration,” I corrected. “And like it or not, nonviolent actions are going to get us funding. And funding is what will help MFE get results.”
    He glanced over his shoulder at me and smiled.
    I opened my eyes wide and screamed, “Keep your eyes on the road!”
    He laughed, turned his head forward. “Besides the peace stuff, your ideas are brilliant. This is why you’re second in command.”
    “Don’t start with that again, Zulu.” The pain at my temples transformed into a pounding headache. “I don’t want the position or any leadership responsibilities.”
    “If you won’t take the Rebels, then consider a regular guard,” Zulu said, ignoring my refusal to be his number two. “You’re too important to me. Just one guard?”
    “Fine. But he can’t come into my classrooms.”
    “Deal.”
    We turned into the driveway of a turquoise condo building.
    “On another topic,” Zulu said. “When are we going to talk about the fun we had on my desk? I would like to try that again, though your escape last time tells me that I’ll have to wait.”
    I opened my mouth but was unable to find the words that I’d planned on saying. He parked the bike and kicked the stand down. Regret filled me. He stiffened under my arms.
    “Are you going to answer me?” he muttered, not looking at