Madly and Wolfhardt Read Online Free PDF Page B

walked.  Aidan was leaning toward Kellina to listen as she spoke.  Kellina had her face turned up toward Aidan and, even at a distance, I could see that she was enamored.
    I’d never believed in love at first sight for a variety of reasons, but it was plain to see that there was something far from casual between the two.  And Aidan, I’d never seen him act this way before.  Ever.  Not even when I’d sensed his attraction to me.  It was mild in comparison to this.  He was tying to Kellina.  I could see it, just like I could see it with my parents.  There was no mistaking it.
    My envy and irritation turned to sympathy for Aidan’s plight.  If my tie to Jackson was strictly forbidden, Aidan’s tie to Kellina was an abomination.  It wasn’t just frowned upon or criticized.  It was one of the most egregious insults a Mer could deal to his own kind.  Such unions were supposedly how the pure royal blood had become polluted, giving the Mer non-pure varieties such as Sentinels and bondservants.
    Shaking off such thoughts, I turned back toward the dwindling party to search for Jersey.  It was then that I saw that someone else was watching Aidan and Kellina walk away.  It was the skinny kid with glasses I’d seen earlier.  Once again, I thought he looked as lost as I felt.
    Just then, he glanced in my direction and forced a tiny, troubled smile.  I returned it, like the kindred spirit that I felt like I was.
    He turned to wander off in the opposite direction and I concentrated my attention on the search for Jersey.  When I finally spotted her, she was talking and laughing with two good-looking guys.  They both had blonde hair and athletic builds and, by the looks of them, one had taken a particularly keen interest in Jersey.  Watching her, it was apparent that she wholeheartedly returned the feeling.
    I couldn’t help but sigh.  It seemed that everyone was winning tonight.  Everyone but me.  Well, me and the skinny kid with the glasses and braces.
    Loathe to interrupt them, yet desperate to get away, I approached Jersey and her two friends.
    “Hey, you about ready to go?” I asked without preamble.
    All three heads turned toward me.  Jersey’s smile was rife with excitement as she darted her eyes meaningfully to blond number one, the one closest to her.
    “Um, not really.  Are you?”
    I looked up toward the starless sky. 
    “Well, yeah.  These clouds look pretty promising for some rain, don’t you think?”
    “Yeah, you’re probably right,” Jersey grudgingly admitted.
    “Who’s your friend?” blond number two asked.
    I glanced toward him and introduced myself.
    “I’m Madly James, Jersey’s roommate.”
    “Madly?  As in ‘I’m madly in love’?” he teased with a wink.
    I felt a blush warm my cheeks and a smile tug at my lips.  As I looked into his appreciative brown eyes, it occurred to me how nice his attention felt.  It was like a soothing balm to my bruised and battered ego.
    “That’s right,” I confirmed.
    “I’m Berlin.  How have I missed you in school?”
    “We both just started here this year.”
    “Who can I thank for that?”
    Thoughts of my parents sobered me, putting my ego in the backseat, where it belonged.  There was no room in my life for such frivolity.  I had serious responsibilities that these carefree boys knew nothing about.
    “Hey, we could go to our house,” blond number one suggested.
    “That sounds awesome,” Jersey exclaimed excitedly.
    “Maybe another time, boys,” a deep voice said from behind me.
    Chills broke out all over my arms and my breath caught in my throat.  Pleasure flooded me as all my senses honed in on the presence at my back.
    Jersey sighed, a loud, put-upon gesture that didn’t go unnoticed by any of us.
    “This is my bothersome brother, Jackson.”
    Jackson’s long tanned arm shot out from my right side as he offered it to Berlin.
    “I’m Berlin Kender,” he said as he shook Jackson’s hand.  “This is my