Read Online Broken: Hidden Book Two by Colleen Vanderlinden - Free Book Online

have been guarding him.”
    I was about to sit up, then thought better of it. I looked under the sheet. I wasn’t wearing anything. My body was whole, unmarked. The new skin was sensitive to everything. Even the cotton sheets against me set my teeth on edge.
    “I am going to get up now,” I said.
    “Molly, relax a while,” Brennan said, meeting my eyes.
    “I’ve been out for four days, Bren. Who knows what the hell has happened since. Oh…the gateway. E?”
    She shook her head. “We’re still working on it, but they have not yet broken through. It’s fine.”
    Brennan looked between us, confused. I met his eyes. “We’ll talk later.”
    He nodded. “You should still relax. It hurts you when you heal. Rest.”
    “And how do you know that?”
    A pause. “You told me.”
    I studied him. “I have the feeling there are things you haven’t told me.”
    “Join the club,” he said softly, smiling a little.
    “We are going to have a long talk, you and I.”
    He nodded. “But not today.”
    “Not today,” I agreed. I tossed the covers back, gathered the sheet around me as I stood up.
    “Molly…” Brennan started. I glanced at him, and he was doing his best not to stare at me.
    I shook my head. “I regenerated half my body. I am starving,” I said to him. He looked up at me, and I met his eyes. “And you have lots of power and you’re sitting here tempting me.” I could feel my hunger, burning my throat, an internal ache, distracting and overpowering. “I have a demon to deal with. And I’ll feed.”
    He nodded, finally. “Fine. Call me if you need anything. I'll be right outside the door.” He and Eunomia walked out, and Brennan closed the door behind them. True to his word, I could feel him standing on the other side of the door.
    I hadn’t lied. I was starving, and I was weak with it for the first time in forever. I walked slowly into the bathroom, brushed my teeth and splashed water on my face. I looked at myself in the mirror. The impossibility of what had happened was too much to wrap my brain around.
    What was even more shocking was that, rather than feeling cheated that I’d been saved by myself once again, I was actually happy to be alive. I thought I was ready to leave. Nain’s death had undone me, taken the will to live from me. I thought I would greet death happily when Eunomia and her sisters finally came for me. Instead, I was thrilled to have another day. It was as if the fire, and whatever had happened between there and here, had cleansed me. Changed me.
    So much to do, still.
    People to take care of.
    Figure out who or what I was.
    I dressed. My uniform: jeans, black top, black Chucks. I braided my long hair over one shoulder. Finished, and leaned against the counter, looking at my reflection. I looked nothing like the girl I’d once been, but, somehow, this being with the white glowing eyes and alabaster skin was more me than I’d ever been. I didn’t know what it meant, but I was at home in my body for the first time ever.
    My body that fire and explosions, along with gunshots, stab wounds, and vampires could not kill. I remembered my dreams about women with swords of fire and smiled a little to myself. I had a demon to deal with.
     
    ♦ ♦ ♦
     
    I finished up and left the bathroom, walked through my room into the loft, where Brennan still stood right outside my door. He held a cup of coffee out to me.
    I met his eyes and smiled a little. Sipped the coffee and sighed with contentment as a shiver went up my spine. Brennan laughed.
    “Shut up, Bren,” I said, laughing a little.
    Shanti walked up to me. Her eyes were red, and she looked exhausted. She wrapped her arms around me, sobbing, and I handed my coffee back to Brennan so I could hug her back.
    “It’s okay,” I murmured against her hair as she sobbed. “You really think something like a little explosion is going to kill me?”
    She laughed a little, took a deep breath. “I thought you were gone. Don’t do