Kindred (Book 1 The Kindred Series) by Erica Stevens Page A

extend ed a slip of pa per to her . Cassie stared at the paper as she struggled to get her wildly spinning mind focused upon something other than the snapping of her body, and his startling presence in her normally calm day.
       With a bolt of certainty she knew that she was never going to have another calm day again.
       He turned slowly away from Mrs. Mann, his bright emerald eyes instantly latching upon her. Cassie inhaled sharply, tears once again flooding her eyes as a sense of peace and rightness stole through her. She wanted to cry, wanted to sob with the joy that suffused her entire being . She wanted nothing more than to go to him and bury herself within his embrace .
       His gaze did not leave hers; his eyes were bright and fierce. H e did not look at anyone else in the class as Mrs. Mann cleared her throat to get everyone’s attention . But everyone’s interest was focused upon the stranger in their midst. F ew new students ever moved to their small town, let alone one that was as strangely fascinating , and magnificent , as he was . He would be the center of attention for the rest of the year.
       “Class, I would like to introduce you to Devon Knight .”
       Something flickered in his eyes ; a small smile curv ed his full mouth as he finally turned his gaze to the rest of the students. That strange sense of loss suffused her again as his gaze left hers, but she found herself finally able to inhale once more. With the connection broken, p anic set in as a crushing sense of being trapped descended upon her. She could not be stuck here with him; she could not be forced into a destiny that she did not want again .
       And she did not want this, whatever it was, she told herself fiercely. Even thou gh she secretly feared that she did.
       “You are lucky Devon; we have plenty of people in this class who would be more than happy to show you around .” Cassie slid further down in her desk, trying hard to become invisible as Mrs. Mann’s gaze scanned the classroom. Th e last thing she wanted was to be chosen for this task . “Melissa, w ould you be willing to show Dev on around? ”
       Relief and disappointment crashed through Cassie in fierce waves that left her shaken and unsettled. Melissa stiffened sl ightly, her shoulders tightened in front of Cassie. “Of course,” she replied pleasantly.
       The bell rang, but nobody leapt to their feet as they all remained focused upon him . “Have a good day everyone,” Mrs. Mann announced loudly.
       The enrapt trance seemed to snap as everyone moved into action. Melissa turned to Cassie, a strange gleam in her onyx eyes. “Would you like to join us?”
       Cassie opened her mouth to answer, but no words would come out. She snapped it closed, and shook her head fiercely . She lurched to her feet , knocking her chair back . Both Chris and Melissa studied her in surprise as she scooped up her bag, and fl u ng it over her shoulder. “Cassie…”
       “I have to go, I’ll see you later, ” she interrupted abruptly.
       Her gaze darted back to the front of the class, where he was standing patiently, his eyes still focused on her. Cassie bent her head, afraid to stare at him much longer in case she go t sucked in by him again. If she did, she knew she would never escape. Keeping her head down, she joined the crush of students pushing into the crowded hallway.
       She hurried down the hall, barely acknowledging the greetings she received. Pushing her way into the bathroom she ignored the girls huddled by the window smoking cigarette s . They didn’t acknowle dge her presence either. Turning the faucet on, Cassie eagerly splashed her face with cold water . She was trying hard not to spill the tears that burned fiercely against the backs of her eyes.
       She would not cry, she could not cry . If she did she knew she would n ever stop. Turning the water off, she placed he r hands on the edge of the sink, gasping in air as she struggled to