Free Awaking (The Naturals, #1) by Madeline Freeman Page A

step ahead of everyone else. He always seems to know what the next big thing will be. And if he’s got the ability to… I don’t know… see the future or something, then all his success suddenly makes sense.”
    Morgan nodded.
    Corbin turned his attention to Tesin and Wen. “So,” he asked, “just how common are, you know, Naturals?”
    “Not common at all,” Wen said promptly. “You two are probably the only Naturals here.”
    “Wait,” said Morgan. “If they’re not common, then how is it that Corbin and I both are Naturals? I mean, we’re the same age, we go to the same school. That’s gotta be—I don’t know—statistically improbable, right?”
    Tesin laughed. “‘Statistically improbable,’” he repeated quietly.
    But Wen just smiled. “I think you’ll find most things happen for a reason.”
    Morgan opened her mouth to ask another question, but just then, Kellen walked into the room, half-carrying Ris along with him.
    Corbin was on his feet immediately. “What happened?” he demanded, crossing to where Kellen stood and leaning down to look into Ris’s face.
    But Kellen didn’t look concerned. He just chuckled. “I think the alcohol finally won,” he said simply. “It might be time for you two to take her home.”
    Morgan joined Corbin and looked at Ris. Her eyes were closed, so Morgan tried calling her by name. When that didn’t work, Morgan gave her face a series of light taps. Ris stirred momentarily before falling back into her stupor.
    “How much did you let her drink?” Corbin demanded, staring at Kellen.
    “How much did you let her drink?” Kellen returned easily.
    Corbin bristled and Morgan was afraid he might try to hit Kellen. She grabbed his wrist and tugged on it. “Corbin, help me carry her.”
    Corbin looked at Morgan and nodded reluctantly. Kellen helped situate Ris’s right arm around Corbin’s shoulders and her left arm around Morgan’s shoulders. Corbin and Morgan each placed an arm around Ris’s waist. Before they left the room, Morgan nodded a goodbye to Tesin and Wen. There was something odd in the way Wen was watching them, but Morgan was too distracted to give it much thought.
    As Corbin and Morgan half-dragged Ris through the hotel, they did not draw much attention. Indeed, most people seemed far too interested in themselves or their own friends to notice anything else. When they got to the front door, Corbin dug through his pants pocket for their valet slip and handed it to one of the valets.
    Morgan shifted uncomfortably as they waited for the valet to return with Corbin’s car.
    “It’s my fault,” he said quietly.
    Morgan looked at him, confused. “What?”
    Corbin shook his head. “I shouldn’t’ve let her drink so much.”
    “Let her,” Morgan scoffed. “Ris is a big girl. She’s never been to a party like this. And she was a little nervous to be coming out with you. I’m sure she didn’t realize the alcohol would hit her like this.”
    “Still.”
    Morgan was spared having to answer because the valet pulled up with Corbin’s car. It took some work, but she and Corbin managed to get Ris into the back seat. When Morgan took her place in the passenger seat, she cast a dubious glance at her friend.
    “I hope she doesn’t throw up.”
    Corbin didn’t dignify her concern with a response. Instead, he put the car in gear and headed out of the city.
    The ride to Ris’s house passed in silence. Ris’s living room light was on, and Morgan hoped that Ms Perry was asleep on the couch, not awake doing Sudoku.
    Corbin was able to get Ris out of the back seat. Instead of the two of them supporting her weight like they had before, Corbin insisted on carrying Ris into the house himself. Morgan walked ahead and tried the front door. As expected, it was unlocked. Morgan eased the door open, poked her head in, and smiled. Ms Perry was asleep. She turned back to Corbin and waved him in.
    The trip into Ris’s room was quick and quiet. Morgan took