Ravens Read Online Free PDF Page B

Julie’s voice, just his, and I’ve been dreaming more and more about him
and what happened.”
    “I see.” He exhaled. “Maybe you just
still feel guilty for some reason. You shouldn’t, but I understand you might
need to take things slow. I’m willing to wait.” He smiled.
    “That’s sweet of you when you have all
kinds of taut, young things throwing themselves at you in class.”
    “I don’t really notice. I just do my
work.”
    “Hmm. You know what I need for my new
image? A leather outfit and a motorcycle,” she said without thinking. A mere
flash in her thoughts, she didn’t personally know of anyone who wore leather
and rode a motorcycle.
    “A biker chick? I like that. But don’t
change the subject. Are you sure you want to be left alone today?”
    Kendra paused, deliberating. Should she
go with Randal, or listen to the increasingly aggressive voice in her head like
a girl about to open a can of all kinds of crazies?
    Tell him to go away. You have to stay
and see the truth ,
Liam snarled.
    Kendra jerked.
    I want you to stay and to stay alone, he said in a
demanding tone as clear as Randal’s voice
    “Yes,” she finally answered.
    “Positive?” He nudged her shoulder
again, tempting her with lingering touches. “Are you sure I can’t interest you
in a nice, cool hotel room and room service? Maybe even a dip in the pool?”
    A pool sounded nice, and an
air-conditioned room at night, what could be better?
    I’m better . Liam growled.
    Kendra cringed.  
    I’m better, and the truth is better than
any night with him.
    Kendra rubbed her temples. If only she
could physically remove the voice from her head.
    Randal sighed. “That’s my cue,” he
muttered, stood, and left.
    Liam’s snarls didn’t cease until Randal
closed the barn door after him. Kendra groaned, relieved when Liam’s voice
faded. She alerted herself to her surroundings, both Randal and Liam were
absent, and she was alone to wallow in her misery.

Chapter Five
     
    Kendra tossed keys in her palm once,
twice, and a third time. She narrowed her sight on the distorted shadows beyond
the curtains. The disturbing and bitter stillness didn’t take long to gather
itself and take its toll. If the uncanny voice didn’t get to her, this constant
obsession with the truth would. The wind howled outside and rattled the many pecan
and oak trees on the property. The sunset absorbed light.
    “Well?” she grunted. “Where are you when
I actually want to talk to you?”
    No one answered, of course.
    Kendra scoffed, and decided to lie in
bed while she waited. She didn’t know what she waited for or why she waited;
she just did. Eventually, sheer boredom drove her crazy. She restlessly moved
around the loft. An increasing agitation faced her as an invasion, which began
in the center of her mind, radiated outward to the remainder of her body.
    Standing at the bottom of the stairs,
Kendra glanced at the full-length mirror, tugging at her lower lip with her
teeth. She wore the same outfit from her outing with Randal. With her wild
hair, piercings, and tattoos, she appeared to have become a darker person. Did
she expect to impress Liam like this? She couldn’t amaze him with her new,
grown-up body, so what sane explanation did she have for the anticipation?
    Whether she actually waited for Liam or
not didn’t matter, since insomnia gnawed at her. She might as well practice for
her upcoming black belt test. Despite her boots being oddly comfortable, she
never wore shoes on the mats. Rolling the mats up and setting them aside, she
glanced at the exposed floor. It hadn’t been bare in years.
    Kendra practiced her kicks and blocks in
her boots, finding them to be quite comfortable. She could not only run in
them, but she could kick butt in them too. She imagined herself being a real
comic book vixen. They looked like this: busty and trim with sexy outfits, a thick
head of hair, and a commanding presence. She could be a superhero. She just
needed a