Read Online Ravenous (Book 1 The Ravening Series) by Erica Stevens - Free Book Online

stop the rapid acceleration that was taking place. The internet was next, they did not offer a reason for this, there was no need to anymore as they methodically took everything over and shut it down. Vehicles and driving had been banned last week, and it was at this point in time that most people began to realize that we were separated from the rest of the world, cut off from the towns next to us even.
       It was too late by then. We had nothing left, they had taken it all, and we had allowed them to do it. And now they had come for our lives. They were sweeping through our streets, literally sucking the life from people. I shuddered, my hand pressed tighter to the glass. I wanted Cade back; I had to know that he was ok. I wished that Aiden was here, that I knew if my brother was safe.
       I needed Bret also, what I had done with Cade was awful, but I did love Bret. He was impossible not to love. He was so open and honest and caring that there were times when I thought he was too good to be true, but he was. Times when I felt like less of a person because I knew I was not as good as he was, and that I never could be. I was withdrawn; I was adrift in the world with little idea of where I wanted to go, even before all of this had occurred, and I could be very cynical. I knew the world was a cold, cruel place that was just waiting to strike the ones we loved down. But Bret did not see it that way. He saw it as something good and wondrous, something bright and beautiful. He saw it as something to be treasured and enjoyed every day.
      Bret was a true joy to me, an amazing man that I couldn’t begin to fathom, and wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to. Someone like Bret shouldn’t be figured out; he should only be enjoyed and cherished. And I did cherish him, even if his kisses didn’t cause the same heart stopping physical need, and yearning, that Cade’s did. Even if I had never felt completely understood and accepted by Bret. At least not in the same strange way that Cade seemed to understand and accept me. Bret thought I could be better; he tried in subtle and not so subtle ways to change my reserved nature. It was strange to realize that Cade seemed to accept me for me, seemed to believe that I was already stronger and more capable than I believed myself to be. He had more faith in me than anyone I had ever known before and it humbled and awed me.
       An aching sadness began to fill me. If Bret was frozen then there was a good possibility that his light would be taken from this world. That would be one of the greatest losses this planet would ever know. Yet, if he wasn’t frozen, there was the distinct possibility that he would not emerge from this the same. That his inherent goodness would be tarnished by the evil threatening us now. If he knew about my feelings for Cade, and what had just passed between us, a part of him would be broken.
       He trusted me completely, loved me unconditionally, and with an open honesty I hadn’t been sure I deserved even before I kissed Cade. Now I was certain that I didn’t deserve it. Bret could never know; I could never hurt him in such a way, or allow him to be hurt so badly. I had always known I was not the wonderful person Bret believed me to be, but he didn’t need to know just how awful I really was. Not yet anyway. He would find out soon enough, if he was still moving. Bret would finally see the darkness in me; he would finally acknowledge that I was not the perfect person he thought I was. I just hoped it didn’t destroy him.
       I moved away from the window. I hated the stars now , despised their mocking wonder and brilliance. The stars had held their own secrets, but they had been horrible secrets that they’d spewed upon us in waves of hatred and death. I wondered if the rest of the world was sharing in this horrendous experience, or if the aliens were moving slowly. Perhaps they were methodically taking over the world one town at a time until it was completely