Shadow Touched: A Paranormal Vampire Romance (A Touch of Vampire Book 1) Becky Moynihan (read novel full .TXT) 📖

day of school, Reid thought he’d accidentally scratched you. He saw your claws the night of the bonfire, so assumed you lost control and wolfed out on August. That’s why he started following you around, because he felt responsible for turning you and wanted to help you learn control.

“Anyway, he was going to invite you into his pack the day of the lakehouse, but he couldn’t suppress the change and had to leave in a hurry. Unfortunately, he didn’t get far enough away and found you and Peyton in the woods. That’s when he accidentally bit and turned Peyton. She endured the transformation into wolf form last month and hated it so much that she blamed you for not saving her. Ironic, since Reid had initially tried to save her from you.

“Then, right before the Halloween party, she couldn’t control her urges and ended up eating her rabbit. Poor little guy. It freaked her out so bad that she went to the party, desperately wanting to feel normal again. That’s when she saw you, and”—Isla shrugged—“you know the rest.”

I absorbed the news in silence, letting the pieces click into place. When the entire picture was clear, I blinked, muttering, “Well, crap.”

That whole messed-up situation had been my fault.

Isla’s expression flipped to concern. “Ah, Kenna, I’m so sorry. This was too much.”

The car door opened and Kade was suddenly in front of me, tilting my chin up with a gloved hand. “You okay? What do you need? Should I take you to the hospital?”

I would have laughed at his excessive concern if I wasn’t so tired. “I’m fine, really. Just need some more rest.” In my peripheral, I caught Isla gawking at Kade, probably from witnessing his vampire speed. Her stare slipped to his backside as I added, “I might not be able to go home though. I’m sure my aunt is all set to move after I disappeared for the weekend.”

Isla’s gaze flew to mine, her cheeks pinker than her dyed hair ends. “Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. I told her you were spending the weekend with me.”

My brows rose. “And she believed you?”

“I think so. She didn’t seem upset or anything. I used your phone to call since you left it in my car.”

Relieved, I slumped against the Mustang and Kade’s hand fell away. “Could I borrow some clothing before I go?” I tugged at the long hem of Lochlan’s shirt, this one a dark blue. “She might get suspicious if I walk in like this.”

Isla’s lips curved into a mischievous smirk. “Of course. But when you’re feeling better, I need details as to why you’re dressed like that.”

“Me too,” Kade said, sliding me a wink.

Heat engulfed my entire face and neck.

Fates. I was so screwed.

* * *

“So how was your weekend at Isla’s?” Aunt Tess asked.

Although it was a normal question for a dinner conversation, the words rang through the dining room like a death knell. My loaded fork paused halfway to my mouth, and the meatball tumbled off, plopping into the red spaghetti sauce. I quickly stabbed it again.

“Oh, um, it was good. Just didn’t get enough sleep,” I replied with a weak smile and raised my fork.

She casually sipped her iced tea, but her eyes were sharp over the cup’s rim. I popped the meatball into my mouth, chewing slowly in the uncomfortable silence.

“Where’s your bracelet? I’ve never seen you without it.”

Caught off guard by the subject change, I swallowed too fast and a chunk of meatball lodged in my throat. I grabbed my drink, guzzling half the glass before meeting her keen stare. “In my room. It broke. I must have worn out the clasp.”

Her knife scraped across the plate as she cut into a meatball. “Hmm, that’s a shame. I know how much your mother’s bracelet means to you. If you give it to me, I’ll fix the clasp.”

Outwardly, I remained calm and murmured a soft, “Sure, thanks. I’ll give it to you after dinner.” But inwardly, panic revved my heart rate into overdrive. If what Lochlan had written in the note was true and my bracelet was spelled to ward off vampire thrall, then maybe my parents or Aunt Tess knew that vampires were after me. Combined with the jewelry box’s contents, I was almost certain.

Yet I looked my aunt in the eye and didn’t say a word. If she knew that I knew, she’d force me to tell her everything. Which was why I needed to sneak the jewelry box back down to the basement as soon as possible. If she chose to swap my bracelet for the unused one instead of fixing it, then the box needed to look undisturbed.

I excused myself and went up to my bedroom half an hour later. Earlier today, I had added the vial of Lochlan’s blood, along with the silver dagger he’d given me, to the jewelry box. I removed the box from the armoire now, careful not to make a sound. Not knowing where else to hide the items, I shoved the vial and dagger in the bottom of my underwear drawer alongside my extra cash.

I had so many questions about the blood in that vial. Did Lochlan expect me to drink it? Wouldn’t that turn me into a vampire or something? Argh. There was so much for me to learn.

One thing I knew for certain: I needed to start wearing gloves.

I didn’t want to experience being a werewolf ever again. And who knew how many supernatural beings were out there. During the daytime, they all looked human. I may have eluded supernaturals for nearly eighteen years, but I’d already run into several this past month. It was time for me to protect my skin from theirs.

After Aunt Tess went to bed with my bracelet in hand and I’d returned the jewelry box to the basement, I could barely keep my eyes open. A few werewolf side-effects still lingered, but Kade assured me they would disappear in the next