Read Online Chasing Shadow (Shadow Puppeteer) by Christina E. Rundle - Free Book Online Page A

pacing in the hall.
    “We need to talk.”
    I hoped I appeared indifferent to his tone. He held my eyes for only a moment before he started pacing again. It gave me a chance to study him. He usually had better control over his intensity, which meant something was really bothering him. Was it Amber or was it me?
    “If you came to apologize for your girlfriend, don’t bother,” I said.
    He stopped pacing. “Amber? No. It’s not about her, but if she’s bothering you, I’ll talk to her.”
    “We haven’t spoken for months, so I can’t imagine what you’d have to say to me.”
    I was proud that I kept the hurt from my tone. When he severed our ties, he didn’t so much as cast a look in my direction. I just stopped existing in his universe. That hurt more than the breakup.
    “What did the patroller want with you?” he asked.
    His mood was strained. When he was in a bad mood, like now, his golden brown eyes were more brown then golden. On his good days, the gold almost appeared amber. I wish this was a good day. His temper flooded me even without lowering my shield.
    “Just asked a few questions about Len,” I said.
    He swooped in, closing the distance between us. His hand circled my waist to keep me from tripping as I tried to step away. All my focus went to that sturdy grip at my painfully bruised back. I was dizzy with the mixed pleasure of his touch and the pain that radiated from it. That wasn’t the only part of me involuntarily reacting. A grunt slipped my lips.
    “Damnit, Belen, this isn’t a joke.”
    I opened my mouth to comment and couldn’t find the words. My head was woozy and all I really wanted to do was lean in and smell him. Curse my swollen nose. I really missed the cedar scent of his skin.
    “Lay off, Rex. I told you what I know. World Congress thought I could answer questions about Len, but I can’t. I have a few classes with her, but I don’t know her.” Lying hardly disturbed me. I’ve been doing it for a long time.
    He let me go, but the heat of his hand still warmed my skin. My breath hitched and when he glanced back at me, I thought he might have heard it. His hearing couldn’t be that good.
    “Brian’s only using you.”
    “You didn’t think I was going to stay your doting fan forever, did you?” Another lie.
    The heat from his glare could have burnt my clothes off. It would be a first being naked in front of him. Rex had a great deal more control over his primal urges than a lot of guys I knew.
    “I need to tell you something important,” he said.
    “Don’t you think it’s a little late to start making confessions?”
    As much as I liked him, I was pissed off and hurt. I wanted him to show he cared if even just a little bit. I wanted to stop being the throwaway child, the throwaway lover, the throwaway friend.
    “Suck it up, Belen and listen. It’s a matter of importance to your wellbeing and you should be aware of this,” Rex said.
    If he saw all the self-inflicted scars on my body, he’d know I didn’t care too much about my wellbeing. Sanity was a fickle thing.
    His attention snapped down the hallway towards the auditorium doors. It was distant, but I heard it too. Someone was coming.
    “We’ll meet tonight.”
    That was definitely not a request.
    I don’t let anyone push me around. “I’m busy.”
    “Not anymore. This is serious. We need to talk,” he said.
    I wanted to be angry with him, but there was something in his tone that worried me.
    “The tool shed is never locked and there are no cameras on that side of the school,” I offered. There were never cameras near the forest limits.
    This time when he frowned, his eyes were golden, full and dark. I always felt like there was something kindred between us. Did it occur to him that we’d be alone in the shed?
    “I just don’t want to see you hang yourself over something you don’t understand. Once you have World Congress’s attention, things get dire,” he said.
    My muscles tightened again,