Read Online Second Skin (Skinned) by Judith Graves - Free Book Online Page A

was always going to be some paranormal fire to snuff out. I stuffed down a twinge of guilt.
Or maybe a hunger pang.
I’d be no use to anyone if I starved to death. I desperately needed sustenance before braving yet another ride to school in Paige’s country music mobile.
Where was my annoying cousin? “Paige leave?” I asked.
Sammi looked around vaguely. “Oh, I haven’t seen her yet.” She glanced out the kitchen window. “Her car’s still parked in front. Don’t worry. We wouldn’t let your ride leave without you. Would we, Marcus?”
Another grunt.
Boy, someone hadn’t eaten their high-fiber cereal this morning. I opened the fridge, scanning the low-carb, green, and leafy produce that filled the shelves looking for something…meaty. I grabbed a chunk of ham sausage, a wedge of cheddar cheese, eggs, and a jug of milk. An omelet. That’s what I needed. Lots of protein.
I kicked the fridge door shut and placed my goods on the counter.
Hmm….where to find a skillet?
I didn’t want to stress Sammi out by asking. We’d finally gone beyond the stage where she hid all the knives and other sharp objects from me. My history as a cutter and her hyper-vigilance were not a good combination.
“Now this is interesting,” Marcus said, his voice gravelly as if he hadn’t spoken since waking up. I began opening cupboards, finding a bowl, a decent wooden spoon, heavy frying pan. Bonus. But, ugh , when was the last time Sammi did a spring cleanup?
These cupboards smell like…
“You won’t believe the contract I just discovered.” Marcus ground out the words.
The hair on my neck jerked to attention. They smell like…
“Contract?” I asked, whirling around.
…sour gas.
Marcus lifted his head. His eyes glowed red and foam gathered at the corners of his mouth. His skin gleamed with sweat like he was burning from the inside out.
I screamed and held out the skillet as if it were my trusty athame. Which happened to be stashed upstairs under my mattress.
Damn!
Out of the frying pan, into the fire.
“That’s right, Eryn.” Marcus’ voice was not his own. Deeper, fuller, crazier. “The contract for your soul on a silver platter. See?” He held up a piece of faded parchment. No modern photocopy, this was ritual—forged with the dark arts. The ink was bloodred.
I sniffed.
Nope, dried blood.
Not products of the night mare, but demonic all the same. Perhaps one of the bounty hunters Kate had warned me about.
Sammi giggled, her glowing eyes dancing with an evil mirth. Okay, make that two bounty hunters.
“You think a witch is going to keep us from getting to you?” The thing inside Marcus laughed. “Oh, please, you’re killing me. Or am I about to kill you?” It lurched to its feet.
I get my height from my father’s side of the family, and Marcus, my dad’s younger brother, wasn’t a lightweight. I tilted my head to meet his bedeviled gaze.
“Get out of my aunt and uncle, you stinking, hell-spawned, freaky-eyed jerks.” I shifted on the balls of my toes, ready to spring if I had to. “Leave them alone. Vacate the premises. Now.” My teeth ached. My wolf clamored to the surface. A rumble sounded low in my throat.
“Oh, is the little puppy coming out to play?” Demonic Sammi clapped her hands with glee. Purple veins spidered along the backs of her hands as if her skin could barely hold the demon in.
“Now, hon, you know we don’t play with our food.” Demonic Marcus shot her a frown and then sliced his attention back to me. “Seems not everyone back at home believes you’re so innocent, Eryn.” Those lips slanted up into a grin. “Did you really think they’d let you go after what you did to your parents?”
My heart pounded.
What did he mean? What had I done? I swallowed back a sob.
It’s messing with you. Wade’s voice whispered in my mind.
Attack. Call your wolf.
No! I growled. I can’t. The demons were hiding inside Sammi and Marcus. Buried within their vulnerable bodies. If I took the collar off