Free Lexia (The Deadwood Hunter Series) by Rachel M Raithby

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    “Fucking hell, Dan’s possessed,” said Alice, slipping her hand back through Lexia’s and dragging her off to class.
    “I’m going to kill you for that!”
    “Hey, I didn’t tell him you two were going out.”
    “Neither did I!”
    “Well, then Dan grew some balls,” she laughed.
    “He sure did!”
    “You like it don’t you!”
    “Alice, shut up,” Lexia giggled.
    “Girls, settle down.”
    “Sorry, Mr Peterman,” they said in unison.
    Lexia sighed, what was happening to her lately? Lincoln and Dan fighting over her and then there was the panther—what was he and what did he want?
    Lexia and Alice walked into the town center after school. They had sat in silence so far, each eating the slices of chocolate cake they’d ordered. Alice opened her mouth, she’d never been good at keeping quiet. “Spill Lexia, what the hell’s going on with you?”
    Lexia looked at her stern face, she and Alice had been friends since she’d first started school here and they’d been inseparable ever since.
    “Well, I already told you about Dad being weird lately, then there’s Lincoln, and now Dan’s acting insane, too!”
    “Well I think you’ve brought out Dan’s competitive side and really, can you blame him?”
    “But he’s just acting like we go out!”
    “Babe, you didn’t stop him. Come on, didn’t you feel anything when he kissed you in the school hall?”
    “I don’t know, maybe... I was just so shocked and pissed off at him acting that way but then... Well, I kind of like his bold side.”
    “God you have to like the bad side don’t you!”
    “But then what about Lincoln?
    “Lex maybe you should give Dan a chance. I mean, he lives here and he isn’t as scary as Lincoln.”
    “He isn’t scary and he just keeps showing up, like this morning and then both he and Dan were acting like cavemen.”
    Alice laughed. “Well, what did you expect? You’re gorgeous. But seriously, Lexia, be careful around him.”
    “I can take care of myself, don’t worry.”
    “Really? Because Lincoln looked like a well-built man and you don’t exactly work out.”
    They both burst out laughing and Lexia secretly thought if only you knew the things I could do, Alice .
    They walked together heading back out of the center of town, all talk of Lincoln finished. Lexia felt better after her talk with Alice but she still didn’t know what to do.
    After a while Lexia became aware that they were being followed. Every now and then she would see the panther watching her but he would disappear as soon as he caught her looking. The closer the panther got, the more on edge she felt; her skin prickled and she had to suppress the urge to turn and fight.
    Alice left in the direction of her home and now she felt the panther stalking closely from the shadows. He didn’t make any attempt to hide his presence, but Lexia kept her pace steady and looked straight ahead, determined not to play his cat games. If he wanted her, she was ready; all he had to do was make a move, but she decided he was just toying with her right now. He wanted her on edge so that when he did strike, fear would cloud her judgement making her an easy target.
    As Lexia turned down her drive, fear closed her throat for a moment and she bit her lip to stop herself from crying out. There he was standing in the middle of the drive between her and the house. She forced the fear down deep in her mind and carried on walking. She had killed three vampires at once and taken down a nasty wolf-man, she would not back down to this cat, even if a small part of her still thought the panther was good.
    Suddenly the panther vanished into the trees and as she moved to follow she heard the reason for his departure.
    “Lex, wait,” Dan called running down the drive.
    “Later, Kitty Cat” she murmured, and heard a low growl as her reply. Yes you are defiantly more than just a cat.
    “Hi Dan,” she said, turning around to face him but keeping her senses focused on the