Free Conflicted: Keegan's Chronicles by Julia Crane Page B

asked.
    Richard exchanged a glance with Creed, who
had been respectfully silent during the scene.
    “I can’t speak for Richard, but I’m starved.
I’d love to stay for dinner.”
    Emerald smiled and headed off to the
kitchen.
    “You might have made a mistake Creed. My mom
is not much of a cook.”
    “Keegan, that’s not true. Your mom is a
great cook.”
    Her mother peaked around the corner. “I can
hear you guys.”
    Keegan sat up straighter. “Creed, when you
get angry do you turn things into ice?”
    Creed laughed. “I can’t say that I have that
ability. Why do you ask?”
    Keegan sunk back into the couch. “That’s
what happens to me. When I get angry my body starts getting cold
and when I get really angry I freeze everyone around me. I thought
maybe it was a dark thing since you guys always have a lower body
temperature.”
    Her father stared intently at her. “Why am I
just hearing about this now?”
    “I don’t know, Dad, why am I just hearing
about Rourk leaving?”
    “Fair enough.”
    Creed watched her from across the room. “I
have to say that is very interesting, Keegan. I will ask around,
maybe someone can help from the side of the dark.”
    “That would be great. I don’t need to
attract attention to myself by randomly freezing people.”
    They chatted for a while and then had
dinner. Emerald had made chicken breast, rice, and corn and it was
surprisingly good. Thaddeus still hadn’t returned from his run. He
could spend all day out in the woods.
    Her father left and Keegan sat at the table
with her mom and had a cup of hot tea.
    “Mom, you don’t mind Dad being gone all the
time? That’s what it would be like for me if I stayed with Rourk.
I’m not sure I would like it too much.”
    Her mother looked over and smiled. “I don’t
think I could handle it if your father was home all the time. I
like having my space. Plus, it makes us miss each other more.”
    “I can see that, I guess.” She leaned back
and crossed her arms like a spoiled toddler about to stomp her
feet. “Mom, what am I going to do? I’m so confused.”
    “It will all work out. Life is funny. You
don’t always take the path you expected to take.” Emerald stood,
her mug in hand. “I need to make some phone calls. If you need to
talk later you know where to find me.”
    After her mother left, Keegan flipped
through the TV channels. Nothing good was on. There were so many
crappy shows out. She really didn’t get the interest. Too bad
Vampire Diaries wasn’t on, now that was a good show. There was
never enough Damon Salvator.
    Keegan looked down at her phone and realized
she never replied to Rourk’s text. She quickly typed. Sorry I didn't reply earlier, I
was at school. I got your letter.
    Keegan waited for a reply, but it never
came.
    Touching her lips she thought of the kiss
with Donald. She was so confused. She liked Donald, but she also
felt sad about Rourk leaving. Why did things have to get so
complicated?
    She felt like she was about to go stir crazy
staying in the house. She went up to her room to go through some
photos. On an impulse, she looked through the photos of her and
Rourk. She did this at random times in the hopes it would bring
back some feelings. Sadly, it did not.
    After a couple of hours of manipulating
photos, she got ready to go to sleep. She pulled her covers over
her head and fell back on the bed. She wasn’t tired. She would
probably be up all night going over everything in her head. It was
ironic that saving Donald severed her bond to her chosen. Maybe
fate really had stepped in.
    Her phone beeped which brought a smile to
her face. It was Donald.
    Goodnight, I can't wait to see you tomorrow.
    Ditto, sleep well.
     

Chapter 11
     
     
    It was early morning when Rourk walked
through the doors at the Military Entrance Processing Station. He
glanced around and saw many young guys and girls who appeared
nervous and unprepared. The building was sterile and drab. The grey
walls with the