Libra Ascending: An Epic Urban Fantasy Romance (Zodiac Guardians Book 1) by Tamar Sloan (top ten books of all time txt) 📕

giggling. “Oh, that poor couple! I wonder if they have any idea what they’re in for. As a conscientious citizen, I should warn them.”

Coming out of nowhere, Adalind pops up between them and pushes Cassandra back. “You’ll do no such thing.”

Cassandra gawks at Adalind, mouth agape. No one has ever touched Cassandra like that, and she seems just as stunned. Cassandra may be athletic, but she’s not the type of girl to get into a catfight. Especially not at school.

Cassandra quickly reclaims both her composure and her catty mask. “You’re right, they’ll figure it out eventually. It’s only a matter of time before they see the truth that I know only too well. No family worth having would ever adopt you.”

The statement is like a slap in the face, the words stinging as they assault Brielle’s ears.

“Oh and your loss with Tristan is my gain. We’re going out this weekend.” She winks, the gesture feeling more like she stuck her tongue out, then she saunters away to the table her clique has claimed as their lunch time throne.

In her wake, Adalind is still standing in a battle-ready stance in front of Brielle, flexing her fists at her sides.

“Forget about her.” Brielle tugs on the bottom of Adalind’s shirt. “Let’s just try to enjoy our food.”

Sneering in Cassandra’s direction, Adalind pulls her tray closer and sits next to Brielle. “What is her problem with you, anyway? I mean, she’s nasty to everyone, but why does she have such a target out for you?”

Brielle returns to dressing her burger. “Believe it or not, but little miss perfect grew up in the same orphanage I did.”

Adalind’s mouth rounds into a perfect O. “What? Seriously?”

“We actually used to be best friends before she got adopted.”

Adalind leans in, starving for the juicy gossip Brielle’s about to share. “What happened?”

Brielle has been fighting the memory the last few days, but now that it’s been brought to the surface, she’s helpless not to relive it.

“Sister Agatha told me Cassandra was about to be adopted by some parents I’d just met.”

In fact, Brielle had rushed back to the room she shared with Cassandra as soon as Sister Agatha told her the news, her heart thumping with horror.

“Did you hear?” Cassandra’s face beamed with the brightest smile as she came up to grab Brielle’s hands. “I can’t believe it’s finally happening. I’m going to have a family, Bri! A real family!”

“Yes, I heard,” Brielle said, unable to lift her brow for the deep frown that held it so heavily down. “About that, listen—”

“Maybe they can adopt you, too!” Cassandra went on, so full of excitement that she practically glowed like the sun. “We could be real sisters! Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Brielle puts her face in her hands. “I found out some stuff… I had to warn her.”

Brielle’s heart had cracked inside her chest. Cassandra had been like a sister her entire life, and the thought of being sisters legally was truly wonderful. But it couldn’t happen. Cassandra didn’t know.

“Cass, that’s not going to happen,” Brielle had said, trying to find the right way to tell her best friend the truth.

Cassandra’s doll face pinched in confusion. “What do you mean? You don’t want us to be sisters? I know I’ve been spending a lot of time with Gabby lately, but you know you’ll always be my best friend.”

Gabby was a new girl at school who had recently been taking up a lot of Cassandra’s attention. And while Brielle had to admit she’d been a little jealous of the two getting so close, she held no ill will about the friendship. Cassandra was allowed to have other friends. That was a natural part of growing up. Well, for most people…

“This has nothing to do with Gabby,” Brielle prefaced. “Cassandra, I know the Sinclairs seem like they are the perfect parents, but they’re not. Please, you can’t let them adopt you.”

As Cassandra stared at Brielle, her usually sunny amber eyes darkened. Her smile faded. She dropped Brielle’s hands and stepped back. Cassandra was well-known for her quick temper, and Brielle had clearly set it off.

Drawing her hands down her face, Brielle looks at Adalind. “She wouldn’t believe me. She thought I was jealous.”

“Why are you trying to ruin this for me?” Cassandra had accused, her tone deep, angry. “You can’t get adopted so you’re trying to make sure I don’t either?”

“No! I want you to have every happiness in the world. I want to get adopted just as much as I want it for myself. But the Sinclairs are bad news. I’m just trying to protect you, you’re my best friend.”

Cassandra’s golden curls ruffled around her face as her body tensed. The explosion was imminent. “So that’s what this is about. I got a new friend and suddenly you’ll do everything you can to keep me around. Even make up lies about my new parents. I can’t believe you could be so selfish as to try to mess this up for me!” Her pitch rose with each word, amping Brielle’s desperation higher, too.

“I love you like a sister, you have to know that,” Brielle pleaded. “I swear this has nothing to do with jealousy or selfishness or anything that petty. I would never keep you from achieving the dream we both have, but if you go with the Sinclairs, that dream will become a nightmare.”

Cassandra shook her head, stalking closer. “You don’t think I know what happened? I heard from the other girls that the Sinclairs were interested in you first, and that they rejected you. I had hoped I could change their minds, plead on your behalf and they’d take both of us. But now… Now that I see you’d go to such lengths to ruin this for me because you ruined your own chances… I’m glad I’m getting out of here, and leaving you behind.”

Brielle had no other choice. She had to confess. If she didn’t tell Cassandra, so much more than just their friendship would be destroyed.

“You want to