Free Silver Mortal (The Gracen Chronicles) by Jenna Kay

you.”
    Now I'm surprised. What did he mean by that? “What exactly did you expect from me?”
    After another sip of coffee he answers, “Well, all the times I've seen you in the restaurant you seem dark and mysterious. Like there's a bunch of stuff hidden under your deep exterior.”
    Confused and shocked I stumble out, “Y-You see me as dark and mysterious?” Never been referred to as that!
    “Well, yeah. That's what I like about you. You're not like other girls.” His expression turns serious. “What I mean to say is...that's what attracted me to you in the first place.”
    Overly stunned I whisper, “You're attracted to me?”
    A blush creeps across his face, his smile showing off the dimple on his left cheek. “Yes, I am.”
    “Wow,” I say, feeling as light as air.
    “You seem surprised,” he tells me.
    I nod. “I am. No one has ever been attracted to me before.”
    He laughs. “I doubt that, Gracen. You have the bluest eyes I've ever seen, a sweet smile. You're incredibly beautiful.”
    To say I'm surprised is a huge understatement. First of all, for someone to think of me as beautiful—I thought that would never happen. And secondly, for me to be enjoying this date after I'd sworn to never get involved with anyone...
    Priceless.
    The rest of the evening went better than expected. We talked for hours, getting to know each others likes, dislikes, and backgrounds. Though I had to keep the majority of my background locked in the vault. By eleven I find myself walking the streets, still finding stuff to talk about with him. The rain had stopped hours ago, giving way to a star-filled sky. Looking at my watch I'm astonished to see it's almost midnight.
    “Whoa! Mom's going to kill me!” I exclaim. “I've got to get home, but I'll walk you home first to make sure you get there safely.”
    Apparently amused by my words he says, “Hey, wait, I thought that was my line!”
    “Sorry,” I say, feeling heat rush into my cheeks. I mentally kick myself for being such a clueless idiot. Lifting my eyes to his I confess, “This was my first date, so I have no idea what I'm doing.”
    “What?” he exclaims, seemingly dumbfounded. “You mean you've never been on a date before... ever ?”
    Wanting to stick my head in the sand, feeling immature and stupid, I remark, “Kind of pathetic, huh? Being sixteen and just now having my first date.” I sigh, shaking my head. “You must think I'm such a loser.”
    “What? No, I don't think you're a loser.” He looks at me, his expression thoughtful. “Actually, I think it's pretty cool.”
    I snort. “Pretty cool? Ha! Yeah, if cool goes down the same line as hapless and sad .”
    “Gracen, I don't think your sad at all,” he confesses, taking my hands in his and pulling me to a stop. We turn and face each other, his hazel eyes staring intently at me. “In fact, I'm honored to be your first date. I hope we have more.”
    At that moment I don't know what to say or what to think. I'm completely stumped, at a loss for words, mystified by this whole evening. And when he leans down to kiss me I feel myself migrating toward his lips. Just when our lips are about to touch we're rudely interrupted by a group of raucous men.
    “Well, well, well. Looky what we have here,” says one of the men. “A little romance under the stars.”
    I turn and take in the three men who so rudely cut into my almost kiss. They're wearing worn, tattered clothes, smelling of cigarettes and alcohol. If I had to guess I'd say they were homeless, the streets being their territory.
    “Wonder if he'll let us have a turn with her,” another guy remarks, rubbing himself crudely and spitting a wad of tobacco on the sidewalk, his dark eyes scouring my body up and down.
    I roll my eyes. Great. Just freaking great .
    My supernatural alarms begin to buzz through my body, and I know it's close to midnight. I also know that these guys have been drinking and Mark is in terrible danger.
    “Mark, you need