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

“Goodwill, my butt. How about an apology?” I grumbled. Despite the bitter words, my stupid heart fluttered like a tipsy bird, happy that he’d finally answered one of my questions. My heart was way too easily pacified.

I set down the note to pick up the dagger. It was slim, tucked inside a silver sheath engraved with vines and roses. Wait a minute. The jewelry box contained a silver dagger too. Coincidence? With my luck lately, I didn’t think so. Chances were that the owner of the box knew about vampires. And if that was the case, either my parents had known about them or Aunt Tess did.

Freaking fates.

Maybe they all knew.

* * *

Finally. A stroke of luck.

The next day, Lochlan and Kade didn’t show up for school, which meant I could speak to Reid without interference.

I need to talk to you, I mouthed at him while the first period bell rang.

He nervously glanced around the room as if he expected Lochlan or Kade to materialize at any moment. I actually felt sorry for the guy after what happened with Lochlan last week. He had been so relaxed and happy-go-lucky when I’d first met him. Now, a month later, he was unpredictable at best. So when he acknowledged me with a frown and quickly looked away, I was more disappointed than surprised.

Still, I pursued him into the hallway when class ended, not missing the irony of our swapped positions. “Reid,” I hissed as he deliberately dodged me on his way to our history class. By the time I caught up with him, he was already seated inside the room.

Nice try, but he should have chosen a better spot. I boldly approached and plunked into the seat next to him. “I need to ask you a favor,” I spoke to his profile, since he wouldn’t look at me. Heaving a sigh, I continued anyway. “You don’t have to speak to me, but could you just text me that story your dad told you? You know, about the three princes?”

When his eyes darted to the door, I felt a pang of guilt for causing him stress. Normally, I would back off, but this was too important. My gut told me that this story was the missing puzzle piece, that if I could read the full thing, I would understand why my life had been so weird lately. Why it had always been weird.

“I can’t,” he finally whispered, so low that I almost missed it.

“Why not? Because of them?” Frustration crept into my voice despite an attempt to suppress the emotion.

“I can’t speak, text, or even write down words that pertain to certain things. I literally can’t. Sorry, Kenna. I would if I could.”

Understanding hit me, along with anger at those two meddlesome vampires. “Did they do that eye thing on you? Thrall?”

Alarmed, he finally looked at me. “You know about that?”

“Yup, among other things. So this story your dad told you—does he have it written down somewhere, by any chance? If so, are you allowed to give me a copy?”

He thought for a moment, fiddling with his pen. Then his hazel eyes brightened. “Yeah, I think I can. But I’ll have to find it on my own. I can’t even ask my dad.”

Grinning victoriously, I quickly scribbled my phone number on a scrap of paper and handed it to him. “Text me as soon as you find the story.”

“Sure,” he said, sounding relieved now. Before I could face forward, he added, “You should know something about Peyton. She’s not upset for the reasons you think. She’s been through a lot this past month and wants someone to blame. That person ended up being you. I . . .” He cleared his throat and glanced away. “Just know that it wasn’t your fault. It’s mine.”

I frowned, confused. “What—”

“Good morning, class,” Mr. Davis promptly said as the bell rang.

I tried to focus on the lecture, but found it hard now that I had yet another mystery to solve. Peyton still wasn’t talking to me, and to support her best friend, Hailey rarely hung out with me and Isla anymore. The separation stung, but I hadn’t given up hope that Peyton would eventually forgive me. Now Reid was saying I wasn’t to blame? Add that to the growing list of things I needed to figure out.

When I exited the building at the end of the school day, Isla as usual managed to distract my overworked mind with a few words. “So what are you going to be for Halloween next Friday?”

“Uh . . .”

She jabbed a finger at me. “Don’t you dare say you’re too old! The school throws a party every year. I’m pretty sure they do it just to keep us unruly teenagers off the streets though,” she said with an eye roll, then batted her lashes at me. “We should coordinate outfits.”

I smirked at her unrestrained excitement, but gave in. “Fine. You pick. But nothing too revealing, I mean it.”

Her eyes filled with fake innocence. “Would I do something like that?”

I glanced pointedly at her short skirt and tight crop top, but she waved my judgy look away.

“I’ll be good, I promise. Oh, this is going to be fun! You should come over after school that day so we can get ready together.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I said with a smile, genuinely looking forward to it thanks to Isla’s contagious enthusiasm.

We parted ways and I was nearly to my Honda, fishing for my keys, when a shoulder rammed into mine. The impact shoved me against someone’s car, smarting my hip bone. Grimacing at the ache, I straightened to face none other than August Henderson.

“You really should be more aware of your surroundings, vixen,” he said with a condescending smirk and stepped into my personal space.

I quickly backed toward my car only for him to follow, reaching out to grab my arm. I twisted away, but he snagged a handful