Free The Living Curse: Book One of The Living Curse series by J.D. Swinn

imagination.
                  She turned back toward the building, and began to walk, still slowly.  They would be wondering where she had went.
                  All of her fantasies, or realities, that involved love seemed to end in pain and heartache.  She wondered, as she often did, why people even bothered; was it worth it?  She opened the heavy door to reenter the building and the heavy darkness greeted her.  She had long ago abandoned the girlish fairytale of charming princes and riding off into the sunset.  She would rather believe that she could slow the passage of time, keep all of the moments she would miss alongside her always.  Life flew past far too quickly for Nameh, at times, and she longed to slow its progress.  She might be more successful trying to capture the moonbeams that fell across the cold floor through the door that lay ajar for a moment.  She kicked at one with her toe as they laughed at her game, and its absurdity.
     
     

Chapter Nine: A Change of Plans
     
     
                  Now, as they walked the corridors of the Academy, they didn’t bother to shield themselves; everyone was asleep.  Max had insisted on seeing the girls back to their room, on the grounds that he needed to ensure Mira’s well-being.  Nameh was still trying to get used to his gentleman like report, which was also mixed with an unusual onslaught of sarcastic remarks and playful games. 
                  She pulled the small key out of her belt pocket and shoved it into the lock.  As she did, her Shask began to burn, but not the burning of danger.  She paused for a moment, trying to sort out her thoughts.  To her surprise, the door opened before she even turned the key and flung inward.  Standing on the other side of the door was a boy.  He had jet black hair that swooped across his forehead just above his dark, slanted eyes.  His tan skin contrasted the unnaturally white walls of the room, and she guessed that he was Asian of descent.
                  “Finally.” He said, exasperated.  He was looking beyond Nameh, his eyes resting on Max.  “Where have you been?” throwing his hands up and not waiting for an answer, he continued, “Get inside.”  Max gave a small sigh and pushed passed her.
                  “Dude, you have to stop using predictability spells on me.  It’s starting to piss me off.”  Max responded casually, though he didn’t seem that upset.  She and Mira followed them into their room, and both sat on Mira’s bed, because Nameh’s was inhabited.  On it lounged yet another unidentified boy, with hair the same length as the other boy’s, but his falling straight down his forehead in a golden-brown color.  His eyes were almost as dark as the other boy’s, but his skin was much paler.  This boy was lean and muscular like Max, while the first was not either, but seemed softer.  The boy with the brown hair turned, unconcerned, toward the girls, and flashed them a smile.
                  “Hey” he said simply.  The girls only looked at him for a moment, still under shock of having strangers in their room.  Nameh regained composure first.
                  “So, you must be the werewolf, then.” She said, testing him.  She often asked forward questions to get a completely honest reaction from the person.  She wanted to know if he was really as laid back as he was trying to seem.
                  “Born and raised.  So, you must be the mystery Markbearer, then.” He said easily.  As he said this, he slightly raised his eyebrows, telling her that he was a little surprised she already knew he was a werewolf, but couldn’t have cared less that she did.  He even seemed to be impressed that she had already found this out, and looked on her with some respect.  He passed the test.  In fact, he passed the test better than anyone she had ever met.