Free Mallory of Strange Valley (Strange Valley Immortals #1) by Kassandra Coley

CHAPTER ONE
     
     
     
     
    For Mallory Mackenzie, fall meant a new school year at Mead Community College. It also meant a new name and a new face. Last year, she was Gena Briggs, with straight blonde hair, narrow hips, and high cheekbones. This year, she was brunette, curvy, full-lipped Mallory.
    If anyone was perceptive enough to notice that both Gena and Mallory wore the same shade of lip gloss - cherry red crush - and occasionally hummed Motown hits, well, it was unlikely that anyone would ever guess the truth.
    That was the thing about humans. They had their ghosts, superstitions, and mythologies, but remained largely oblivious to the supernatural creatures that walked among them. Seduced them. Preyed on them.
    Mallory traced the familiar route from the west student parking lot to the stately, red-bricked Harris Building. She watched the students filing along the sidewalks, and smiled at a trio  of freshman girls who were trying to stroll casually, but kept glancing around with that wide-eyed newbie gape. She’d done the same thing her first semester.
    The familiar, primal awareness deep in her mind intensified, and her eye was drawn hawk-like to a tall guy with thick blond hair and a cute ass a few feet ahead of her. Fall not only brought a new identity, but also a new crop of freshman.
    She pushed the metal bar belting the middle of the Harris Building’s heavy double doors. It was time to start another semester of Western Civ with Professor Kitson, he of the salt-and-pepper beard and corduroy jackets with elbow patches. What was this, her fourth year in his class? She kept coming back not because he was a great teacher, but quite the opposite. He hardly bothered to acknowledge his students, which gave her ample opportunity to scope out her classmates.
    As at any community college, there were always a few older students—middle-aged mothers returning to school, retired people taking classes for fun—but Mallory zeroed in on the males who were straight out of high school. They were the easiest prey. And there was something delectably nubile about them, right on the tipping edge of manhood. Tight bodies and skin, still years away from the deteriorating effects of age. Awkwardness mixed with energetic egoism. And most important, sex drives that could satisfy even a girl like her.
    She slipped into a chair at one of the tables near the back of the classroom, next to a girl with curly brown hair and stylish glasses. The brunette glanced up.
    “Hi,” Mallory said. “I haven’t missed anything yet, have I?”
    “Nope.” The girl tilted her head toward the front of the room where Professor Kitson was staring at his computer monitor, his eyelids heavy. “I’m not sure anyone has powered him up yet.”
    Mallory snorted a laugh. “I’m Mallory Mackenzie.” She held out her hand and the girl grasped it.
    “Brandy Hovencamp.”
    With barely a glance at his audience, Kitson rose and launched into his usual opening day spiel.
    “This is Western Civ, in case you’re not sure where you are.” He looked up at the words projected on the screen at the front of the room. “I’ve posted the syllabus online. We’ll have weekly quizzes, a mid-semester exam, and a final paper. . . .”
    As Kitson droned on, Mallory tuned into the energies of the mortals in the room. Sensing eyes trained on her, she stole a quick glance to her left. A dark-haired guy who looked barely old enough to have graduated high school was doing the eye grope on her chest. Pretending she was absorbed in Kitson’s lecture, she folded her arms and leaned forward, pushing her breasts up and out. The v-neck of her lavender sweater pulled taut, revealing several inches of cleavage.
    Mallory gave Mister Hungry Eyes a wicked little sideways smile, and his tongue darted out to lick his dry lips. She faced front again, but she wasn’t finished with him. Using her telekinesis, she feathered pressure across his crotch. She sensed him stiffen and he inhaled