Free Blood Cruel (Gods of Blood and Shadow Book 1) by Simon Cantan Page A

Caterina hugged him more carefully, letting him go after a moment. “It’s good to see you, Jaden.”
    He nodded to her, uncertain what to say. Without another word, he turned and hurried home before his father could wake.

Chapter 13
     
    Mondays
     
    K atie woke and stretched, instantly regretting it. She’d no idea the backs of her arms could get so sore. It wasn’t as if she used them much, usually.
    “You’re up?” Loki asked, manifesting in her desk chair. “Let’s get back to it.”
    “Training?” She could barely imagine standing. She’d spent her whole Sunday with Loki shouting at her about defensive postures. After cutting the grass and clearing it, he’d had her construct a makeshift training dummy.
    Once she’d destroyed that, he’d had her make another. By the end of the day, she’d only just been able to keep herself upright.
    “I have school,” she said.
    “Skip it. This is more important.”
    She debated that, then shook her head. “No, I want to talk to Jaden.”
    Loki sprang to his feet, looming over her. “You can’t do that. He’s the enemy now. You need to stay as far away from him as possible.”
    “He’s my friend.” She rose, pushing past Loki, and got dressed, trying to ignore him. She expected him to whisk her things away from her as she reached for them, but he didn’t.
    Once she had her bag ready, she moved for the door and found Loki in the way.
    “I could lock it,” he said.
    “But you won’t. You need me to cooperate, if I’m going to be a vampire-slaying, death machine.”
    He stepped out of the way. “I do. I still think this is an awful idea. However, if you need to figure out what we’re up against, then be my guest. It will only end in tragedy.”
    “We’ll see.” She left the room and made her way downstairs. Her father had already gone to work, and she was running late. She grabbed a banana and ate it on her way out of& the front door.
    She hurried to catch the bus, which was full to the brim with people. After finding a seat near the back, she tried to ignore the press of people and the thick air. She couldn’t even look out the window as her mind raced, the condensation blocking almost all view of the outside world.
    She didn’t know what she should say to Jaden. He was a vampire. Or a vampire-to-be, at least. And she was meant to be some kind of vampire slayer, if she believed Loki. A week ago, she would have laughed if anyone had told her that. But it didn’t seem funny now.
    At her stop, she moved to the door and got out, pausing on the path when she saw Jaden waiting for her a few paces away. He gave her a halting smile.
    “Hi,” she said, moving to join him.
    “Hi.”
    They both walked toward the school, neither seeming to want to say anything.
    Jaden finally spoke, “About Friday… it’s not that I didn’t like you touching me. It would make things too complicated between us right now. And I’ve got enough complicated stuff in my life.”
    Her eyes grew wide. On the mill of things whirling around her head, she’d forgotten about her kissing Jaden’s cheek. She blushed at the thought. “I understand.”
    “We’re best friends. I couldn’t get through a day without you, but I’m not ready for anything more.”
    She nodded, opening her mouth to tell him she understood why his life was complicated. But how could she put it? I know you’re a vampire? Want to eat garlic and check out this mirror? Loki had said those things didn’t even work.
    From ahead of them, the bell rang, summoning them to class.
    “I’ll see you at lunch?” he asked.
    “Of course.”
    He nodded and hurried away, leaving her lost in her thoughts. She let her feet carry her to the classroom, taking her seat and barely paying attention to Einar, the teacher. It was science, something she should be following if she wanted to pass. But thoughts of grades and college were buried deep under a mountain of vampire-related thoughts.
    She ran through every vampire