Shadow Touched: A Paranormal Vampire Romance (A Touch of Vampire Book 1) by Becky Moynihan (great reads TXT) 📕

how are you not freaked out? If I’d been shoved into a closet by someone who transformed into an inhuman creature, I’d be curled up in the fetal position and balling my eyes out.”

I snickered at the mental image. “No you wouldn’t. You’re much too strong for that.”

“Hey, we all have our breaking points. Lochlan is way too intense for me. Now, if Kade shoved me in a closet . . .” She grinned impishly at my raised eyebrows, then smoothly changed the subject. “So tell me again what instigated the fight between Lochlan and Reid.”

I shrugged, picking up my chicken wrap. “I’m not exactly sure. I mean, they’ve been glaring at each other from day one. There’s obviously bad blood between them. But Reid warned me today that Lochlan and Kade are dangerous. Then he mentioned a story his dad used to tell him, something about three dark princes who were searching for a way to break a curse. And then—”

“Then your smoking hot stalker interrupted and started wailing on him?” Isla snorted at my head nod. “I know this is serious stuff, but I’m still jealous of all your boy drama troubles. At least I can live vicariously through you,” she added, laughing when I rolled my eyes.

“I don’t care how sexy Lochlan’s voice is. What he did today was totally not okay. I’m super mad at him.” Recalling how he’d rendered me immobile without breaking a sweat, I savagely bit into my wrap.

Isla shot me a sly look. “But you think he’s sexy. That’s gotta count for something.”

I choked as a piece of chicken lodged in my windpipe. “That’s not . . .” I spluttered, coughing to clear my throat. “I said his voice was sexy.” When she merely snickered, I threw a fry at her. “Anyway, what if he’s part of a gang or the mafia? It would explain why my aunt is so secretive and why we move all the time. Maybe she’s running from someone. But that doesn’t explain the weird stuff.”

“Like the red eyes and shadow form?”

“Yeah. And how he can move so fast. And why I’m not supposed to touch him. And—”

“And why he’s so hot?”

“Shut up.” I threw another fry.

Her smirk suddenly vanished and she set down her fork. “Do you believe in supernatural stuff?”

“What, like demons and angels?”

“Yeah. But I’m thinking more earth-based, like witches and . . .” She paused to nervously chew on her bottom lip.

Oh no. So I wasn’t the only one thinking it. That maybe, just maybe, we were dealing with . . . “Vampires?” I whispered for her, feeling dumb just for saying the word.

But she met my eyes and nodded soberly. Ah crap. “Well, you said Shadow—I mean, Lochlan—had fangs in that dream you thought was real, right?”

“Yeah, but we had just finished watching that vampire movie. I could have imagined it.” I pinched my thigh, willing it to be true.

“But August was bitten and you said Shadow Man was there in the woods that night.”

“I’m still not entirely convinced that wasn’t an animal attack, Isla.” I pinched harder.

“But there’s something about that night I didn’t mention,” she whispered, panic creeping into her voice. “When they found August, he was almost completely drained of blood. The public report said his blood loss was from the bite and scratch wounds. But I overheard my dad saying to Deputy Lancaster that it was from something else entirely.”

Oh. Oh.

I barely managed to swallow as bile raced up my throat.

“Freaking fates,” I muttered.

* * *

“Lochlan D’angelo is a vampire.”

The words drifted on the air and I waited for them to penetrate my brain.

No such luck.

“Lochlan D’angelo is a vampire.”

Ugh. Still nothing.

Growing up in an anti-fantasy home made the concept beyond ludicrous. My mind wanted to explain away every single strange thing I’d seen, assure me that stuff like that only existed in books and movies. But the thought was there all the same, lingering under the surface like a tumor.

I killed the car engine and slumped forward in my seat, resting my forehead on the wheel. After the day I had, I was completely wiped of energy. Neither Lochlan, Kade, nor Reid had approached me after our disastrous morning encounter, but I’d still felt their eyes on me, more intensely than ever. And after seriously considering that Lochlan could be a vampire, every cell in my body had been on high alert.

Now, parked outside my ramshackle home, exhaustion consumed me.

I couldn’t rest yet though. I had one more thing to face, something I was dreading with every fiber of my being.

So much for boldly confronting my demons today.

When I entered the house, the interior was as somber as a tomb. I warily searched for moving boxes, expecting half the house to be packed by now, but nothing had been touched. Still, I treaded carefully, uncertain of this encounter’s outcome.

I found Aunt Tess sitting at the dining room table. As I approached, I noticed dark circles under her eyes and redness around the rims. She’d been crying. She never cried. Guilt twisted my stomach into knots. “You should have just dragged my butt out of school,” I said lamely to break the layer of ice between us.

She folded her hands on the table, lowering her gaze to them. “I almost did.”

I waited for her to demand where I’d been, to scold me, to order me to pack my things. The silence grew painful. “I’m sorry,” I blurted, but only halfway meant the apology. I was sorry for running off and ignoring her calls, but not for speaking my mind.

She raised her tired eyes to mine. “I’m sorry too. I know this way of life hasn’t been easy. I’ve tried my best to protect you, but . . . things will be changing soon.”

My stomach churned anxiously. “What do you mean?”

With a weary sigh, she stood and crossed over to me. Picking up my hands, she squeezed softly, saying, “Don’t worry, Kenna Joy. We won’t be moving. Not