Read Online Fledgling: Book 1 (Afterlife) by Katrina Cope - Free Book Online Page A

this feeling is stronger than the others I've had, until I realise I'm picking up on Blue’s feelings. The two stomach-churning feelings combined, are working out to be a powerful force. He has hidden it so well, sticking to his training and obeying the rules, but I've seen it now. I have seen his true feelings. He feels the same way I do.  
    Pushing past my disbelief of discovering his true feelings, I continue probing. I travel with him as he discovers the charm flashing, up until the moment he sees me in the desert. I am hit with a wave of emotions as he looks at me. I get the impression that he is fond of me and wishes for more than friendship. This puzzles me. We are not allowed to have anything more than friendships, nor are we supposed to even feel that way. Out of curiosity I want to dig deeper but I won’t. It has a feeling of awkwardness to it, as I stare into his eyes, and especially because my heart already belongs to another. I leave it. I'm also not supposed to be digging into his personal feelings. I search the next few minutes after we meet in the desert, and to see if I can find what happens next. As I follow the wavelength all seems complete but what I actually see, I know did not happen in that order. There were parts missing. What I see is me standing there when he arrives. The next scene is Blue grabbing my hand as we take off together.  
    I release my finger and focus on his eyes. A strange look is on his face. He almost looks embarrassed. Not knowing how to respond to his emotions for me that I picked up, I ignore this, and comment on his success. “You did it. You blocked me.” I smile. “And what was that I saw about your deep centred beliefs being compromised by your missions. You feel the same way as I do about the inserting of the conscience,” I lightly accuse.  
    He breathed out a deep sigh. "I have you and your last mission to blame for that. Before that I was on the straight and narrow.”
    The guilt washes over me again. I look down. "Sorry,” I mutter. "Now I've got you in a deeper mess."
    He shakes his head. "No, that's my fault. But if I managed to block you, then there is hope.” I lift my eyes back up to look at his. He continues, “It's your turn to practice. Let's see if you can block me.” A slight smile stretches across his face.  
    I lift an eyebrow. He looks as though he's going to enjoy this too much, but I know I should practice. I nod my head. He lifts his hand and touches his index finger to my forehead. I can feel the probing warmth immediately begin to spread. I track his moves as he goes through my day. When it comes to the part after I had dismissed Louisa, I direct the memory to when Blue lands in the desert, skipping the parts between. I then direct it past the next stage straight to when Blue grabs my hand and we take off to fly. Knowing the probing is finished I relax a little. I am surprised when I feel Blue probe other emotions. Not knowing where he was going, and not wanting to expose more than I am ready to part with, I immediately put up a wall.
    The warmth leaves my forehead as Blue removes his finger.
    “What was that?” I ask.
    He looks down. “Sorry. I overstepped my mark. I was just trying to get to know you better.” His face is a mixture of sadness and embarrassment.
    “Well then, you should do it the old-fashioned way, not by probing in places uninvited. I am your friend, not one of your victims.” My words are harsh, but the sternness did not carry through on my voice. I nudge him with my shoulder lightly. “Come on. There’s hope for us yet. We both managed to block each other.”  
    He relaxes and looks at me.  
    “We had better get going,” I suggest.  
    He nods and we both push off the ground together. A couple of seagulls squawk and scatter from the sudden movements. Our base is not far away. As we fly the final stretch I feel as light as the clouds surrounding me. I am more positive that Blue will not be caught for completing