Kindled (Book 3 The Kindred Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

was coming behind her.
       Disgust and anger boil ed through her, she shoved the door of the girl ’ s bathroom open. It crashed against the wall with a resounding thud. Slamming her books on top of the counter by the sink, she spun toward Melissa as she entered slowly. “I don’t need a damn watch dog!” she exploded, fury boiling through her.
       Melissa quirked a dark eye brow but simply folded her arms over her chest as she leaned against the wall. Her onyx eyes were inquisitive and sad as she studied Cassie; her black hair fell around her shoulders in gentle waves to the middle of her back. “Maybe not, but you’re going to have one.”
   Cassie glared fiercely at her, fighting the urge to rip the sink from the wall, something she felt she could actually do in the mood that she was in . She settled for gripping the sink tight, taking gulping breaths of air as she tried to calm her racing heart and shaking body. How on earth was she ever going to survive this? She wasn’t , that was how.
       Turning the cold water on, Cassie slipped her glasses off and splashed her face, hoping to revive herself at least a little. She turned the water off as she lifted her head slowly; she hat ed the sight of th e girl staring back at her. Hands fisting, Cassie had to fight the urge to smash her fist into it, destroying the image that she hated so much.
       Blinking rapidly, she lifted her glasses from the sink, and slipp ed them on. The dark lenses eased the burning in her eyes , but they did not ease her pain . Every part of her body ached and hurt lately. She didn’t know what was wrong with her , well except for the obvious. Shuddering, she grabbed hold of her books, trying to ignore the bone deep, aching chill that had become a constant part of her .
         “No one would blame you if you went home,” Melissa said softly. Cassie shook her head and pull ed her hood tighter around her face. It did not make her invisible as she longed to be, but she hoped that it helped to hide her at least a little. “Cassie…”
   She sidestepped Melissa, pulling the door open she escaped into the now crowd ed hall. Blending into the masses , she made her way slowly down the hall with Melissa close on her heels. Sighing in resignation, she slipped into her next class, relieved when Melissa did not attempt to try and start taking Calculus with her.
       It was a long, slow, tortuous day. She felt like she was walking through quicksand as she wandered through the halls, moving stiffly, ignoring the students that surrounded her. Cassie slid limply into her seat at lunch . F olding her arms over her chest , she kept her head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone else.
       “Do you want me to get you some lunch?” She shook her head in response to Chris’s question . “You have to eat.”
       She shot him a dark look. He stared fiercely back at her, his eye brows drawn tightly together, his eyes narrowed. “I’m fine,” she grumbled.
       He shook his head and shov ed his tray aside in frustration . Loud laughter drifted through the cafeteria, drawing Cassie’s attention. Marcy and her group of followers were gathered around one of the back tables, laughing and talking eagerly. Cassie watched them, confused and fascinated by their behavior. Then, they broke apart slightly , causing an opening in the table that they had swarmed.
       Cassie’s heart lurched, her hands fisted, pain and anger tore through her in equal measures. Devon was in the center of the group, sitting casually in his chair , his long legs stretched before him. He was leaning back against the table, his arm resting upon it as he flashed a beautiful, heart stopping grin at Kara. His black hair fell around his magnificent face, highlighting the bright emerald color of his eyes. Eyes she could see in vivid detail, even from her position of fifty feet away. No matter how much she didn ’ t want to see him, she still couldn ’ t help but admire