Read Online Conflicted: Keegan's Chronicles by Julia Crane - Free Book Online

shouldn't do it, but he couldn't
help himself. He closed his eyes and thought of Lauren, and he
suspected, Keegan was with her. She was laughing at something which
brought a smile to Rourk’s face. He wished his ability allowed him
to hear what was being said and to hear her laughter.
    He watched Keegan jump up from her chair and
run over to the orange-haired boy. She looked so excited. It was
like a knife driven into his heart. He opened his eyes; he couldn't
watch any longer.
    Rourk grabbed his pack and decided to go on
a long hike to clear his head. He felt at home in the woods. He was
grateful to have work to keep him busy. At least all the training
kept his mind occupied and gave him a reprieve from his thoughts of
Keegan.
    He couldn't help himself; eventually he
checked in on Lauren again. Keegan was still there and she seemed
to hang on to every word the shape-shifter said. He wished he
wasn't capable of feeling the jealousy he felt. On an impulse he
pulled out his phone and sent her a text. When he hit send, he
closed his eyes to see her reaction.
    He watched Keegan look down at her phone and
put it back in her purse without a reply. She turned back to the
other boy. Rourk’s eyes snapped opened and his heart raced. It was
true; she really felt nothing for him.
    Rourk started to feel like he didn't stand a
chance of winning her back and that maybe he should just leave her
alone until she turned eighteen. After all, it was one of the elfin
rules. She was obviously not interested in him, and he didn’t have
skills in the romantic field. Perhaps if he let her obvious crush
on the boy run its course she would be ready to give him a shot
later on. It wasn't fair to her to make her choose. He was sure if
he asked her to pick he would lose, and he couldn't handle that
right now.
    Rourk finished his hike and headed back
home. He took a quick shower, grabbed a sandwich and read for a
little while, and tried to banish the memory of Keegan’s lips
touching the shape-shifter’s. After a time, sleep washed over
him.
    Hours later he woke with a start and knew
what he had to do. He threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt,
grabbed the keys to his truck and headed out the door. Rourk wasn't
sure where he was going so he looked it up on his GPS. The drive
wasn't long and he didn't allow himself to think too much. He was
afraid he would change his mind.
    It was nothing special. A single glass door
and picture window in a strip mall near the center of town. The
bell went off as he strode into the room. Without even bothering to
look around, he walked straight to the man behind the desk.
    "I'm here to enlist. I will be joining the
18X program.” Rourk stated in a clear, concise manor.
    The sergeant looked up from his paperwork
with a smirk on his face. "Is that so? You think you can just waltz
in here and tell us what you want to do? You think you can walk in
here and tell me you are going to try out for the Special Forces
off the street?”
    "I know I can. I am more than qualified. Of
course, I will have to jump through hoops and take your
assessments. I have no doubt I can pass anything you throw at me
with flying colors."
    The sergeant stared at him in silence for a
moment as if he were studying him. He leaned back in the cheap
office chair and tapped his pen on the desk. “Normally I would kick
a punk out for coming in and acting all arrogant in my office.
However, you don’t sound arrogant. You might as well have stated
the sky was blue.”
    Rourk met his gaze and remained
expressionless.
    "What is your name son?"
    "Rourk."
    "Rourk, do you have a last name?"
    "My last name is Kavanagh."
    "Rourk Kavanagh, how old are you?"
    “I’m 18.”
    "Do your parents know you’re here?"
    "No, but it has been expected. My family has
always known I would be a soldier, following in my father’s
footsteps."
    "So your father was in the Army?"
    "Actually, he was a Marine Recon."
    This brought a loud laugh form the
recruiter. "You don't think