In an instant I saw my whole life flash before my eyes.
I saw myself suspended for my cell phone, then refused any kind of scholarship, then stuck waitressing at the I-Scream, U-Scream ice cream parlor slash diner, which is currently my after-school job, for the rest of my life.
All because I forgot to put my damn cell phone on silent.
Bran seemed to understand at once what was going on—I must have looked really panicked and guilty. That or else my pulse, which he was still taking, had suddenly gone into overdrive.
“It’s yours?” he asked me in a low voice.
I gave a quick, jerky nod, unable to speak.
“All right,” Mr. Barron snarled, slapping down his cup of coffee so hard that the bitter brown liquid slopped over the side and splattered his newspaper. “I said whose is it?”
“Which pocket?” Bran asked me softly.
I frowned at him, what was he planning to do?
“Number seventeen,” I whispered back.
He nodded and then looked at the shoe rack, concentrating so hard it almost seemed like he was trying to burn a hole in the plastic pocket which held my phone with his eyes. I thought I saw him whispering something to himself but none of the words I heard made sense to me. They sounded like they were in some other language—one I’d never heard before.
Suddenly my phone cut off in mid-ring. I threw an amazed glance at Bran. Did he do that or was it just a coincidence?
Whichever it is I wasn’t out of hot water yet. Mr. Barron was stalking over to the phone holder, a scowl still on his face. He looked like he was dying to suspend someone.
“Whose was that?” he demanded, glaring at the class. “I don’t care that it stopped ringing, whoever owns that phone had better come up here and turn it off now so it doesn’t ring again. If you get up here quick I might only give you detention for a month.”
Detention for a month? That would spell the end of my after-school job and then I wasn’t sure how Mom and I would make ends meet. She earned enough as a medical transcriptionist to pay the rent on our crappy little apartment and keep the electric on but my salary from the I Scream was what mostly bought the groceries and paid the water bill.
Still, detention was better than suspension. Maybe my boss, Joey down at the I Scream would let me take a leave of absence or maybe just come in an hour later. I doubted it—he wasn’t exactly the most understanding manager—but I had nothing else to hope for.
Slowly, I began to raise my hand.
Only to hear Bran say, “Excuse me, Mr. Barron—I’m afraid that was my phone. It sounded like my ring-tone, anyway.”
“All right then get up here and turn it off, O’Connor,” Mr. Barron snarled. “And you can count yourself lucky all you get is detention.”
“Yes, Sir.”
As I stared incredulously, Bran made his way to the front of the room, fished my phone out of pocket seventeen, and turned it off. Thank goodness I didn’t have an overly-girly phone case like Morganna’s. My plain green case really did look like it could belong to Bran or any other guy in the class for that matter.
“All right, good,” Mr. Barron grumbled as Bran let the phone slide back into its pocket. “And it had better not happen again, O’ Connor.”
“No Sir, it won’t,” he promised and came back to slide in beside me at our lab table.
I waited until everyone had gone back to their lab, including Morganna Starchild who was staring with sharp interest at the two of us. But when she finally turned around and focused her attention on flirting with Elian Darkwing again, I felt free to talk.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I murmured to Bran. “I mean thank you—it was amazing—but you really didn’t have to do it.”
“I know.” He gave me a smile that was surprisingly attractive on his homely face. “But chivalry isn’t dead—at least where I come from. I couldn’t leave a lady in distress.”
“Where did you come from?” I asked curiously as we resumed doing the lab. “I mean, I know you’re not from this armpit of a town but where did you transfer in from?”
“Someplace very far away,” was all he said but there was a distant and almost melancholy look in his no-color eyes that touched me somehow. Wherever he came from, it seemed like he missed it and wished he was back there instead of here in Frostproof at Nocturne Academy.
Not that I blame him—Frostproof isn’t exactly the most exciting place on the planet. It’s just this tiny little town in the belly button of Florida, right in the middle of a bunch of orange groves. The town’s website likes to point out that it’s a short distance from Legoland (if you call an hour and a half drive through the middle of nowhere short.) But really, the orange groves are all it has going for it. In the spring when the orange blossoms bloom, the whole place smells amazing.
And that’s it. That’s the nicest thing I can say about my hometown.
God, I wanted to get out of here so badly sometimes I could taste it.
We finished taking each other’s pulses, making small talk as we did, and I was surprised to find that Bran had a quick, witty sense of humor. Several times he made me laugh and I found myself really enjoying his company. There was just something about him…I didn’t know what it was but it was definitely there, like a gem buried just under a thin layer of dirt.
Which may not seem like a very nice description of a person, but it was the best I could think up.
As class was about to end, Bran reminded me that I’d better take his cell phone on the way out the door and he would take mine.
“I’ll walk with you to your next class and we can switch there,” I told him.
“Works for me,” he said, giving me that smile again that had no business being so attractive.
I was a little dazed about the fact that I’d just offered to walk with him even knowing that Morganna Starchild was going to make jokes about us. But suddenly I didn’t care so much what she said.
Yes, she might make my life here at Nocturne Academy hell, but I wouldn’t be here forever. Someday soon I was going to get far away from this crappy little town and never look back.
Of course, at that moment I had no idea then how soon my exit from Frostproof was going to be or how far I would go.
But I was about to find out…
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Also by Evangeline Anderson
Below you'll
find a list of available and upcoming titles. But depending on when you read this list, new books will have come out by then that are not listed here. Make sure to check my website for the latest releases and better yet, sign up for my newsletter to never miss a new book again.
Brides of the Kindred series
(Sci-Fi / Action-Adventure Romance)
CLAIMED (Also Available in Audio)
HUNTED (Also Available in Audio)
SOUGHT (Also Available in Audio)
FOUND (Also Available in Audio)
REVEALED (Also Available in Audio)
PURSUED (Also Available in Audio)
EXILED (Also Available in Audio)
SHADOWED (Also Available in Audio)
CHAINED (Also Available in Audio)
DIVIDED (Also Available in Audio)
DEVOURED (Also Available in Audio)
ENHANCED (Also Available in Audio)
CURSED (Also Available in Audio)
ENSLAVED (Also Available in Audio)
TARGETED (Also Available in Audio)
FORGOTTEN (Coming Soon in Audio)
SWITCHED
UNCHARTED
UNBOUND
SURRENDERED
VANISHED
IMPRISONED
TWISTED
DECEIVED
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME ONE
Contains Claimed, Hunted, Sought and Found
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME TWO
Contains Revealed, Pursued and Exiled
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME THREE
Contains Shadowed, Chained and Divided
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME FOUR
Contains Devoured, Enhanced and Cursed
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME FIVE
Contains Enslaved, Targeted and Forgotten
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME SIX
Contains Switched, Uncharted and Unbound
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME SEVEN
Contains Surrendered, Vanished, and Imprisoned
All Kindred novels are now available in PRINT.
Also, all Kindred novels are on their way to Audio, join my Audiobook Newsletter to be notified when they come out.
Kindred Tales
The Kindred Tales are side stories in the Brides of the Kindred series which stand alone outside the main story arc.
These can be read as STAND ALONE novels.
MASTERING THE MISTRESS (Also Available in Audio)
BONDING WITH THE BEAST (Also Available in Audio)
SEEING WITH THE HEART (Also Available in Audio)
FREEING THE PRISONER (Also Available in Audio)
HEALING THE BROKEN (a Kindred Christmas novel) (Also Available in Audio)
TAMING THE GIANT (Also Available in Audio)
BRIDGING THE DISTANCE (Also Available in Audio)
LOVING A STRANGER (Also Available in Audio)
FINDING THE JEWEL (Also Available in Audio)
BONDED BY ACCIDENT (Also Available in Audio)
RELEASING THE DRAGON (Also Available in Audio)
SHARING A MATE (Also Available in Audio)
INSTRUCTING THE NOVICE (Also Available in Audio)
AWAKENED BY THE GIANT (Also Available in Audio)
HITTING THE TARGET (Also Available in Audio)
HANDLING THE HYBRID
TRAPPED IN TIME
TIME TO HEAL
PAIRING WITH THE PROTECTOR
FALLING FOR KINDRED CLAUS
GUARDING THE GODDESS
STEALING HER HEART
TAMING TWO WARRIORS
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 1
Contains Mastering the Mistress, Bonding with the Beast and Seeing with the Heart
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 2
Contains Freeing the Prisoner, Healing the Broken and Taming the Giant
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 3
Contains Bridging the Distance, Loving a Stranger and Finding the Jewel
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 4
Contains Bonded by Accident, Releasing the Dragon, and Sharing a Mate
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 5
Contains Instructing the Novice, Awakened by the Giant, and Hitting the Target
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 6
Contains Handling the Hybrid, Trapped in Time, and Time to Heal
Born to Darkness series
(Paranormal / Action-Adventure Romance)
CRIMSON DEBT (Also Available in Audio)
SCARLET HEAT (Also Available in Audio)
RUBY SHADOWS (Also Available in Audio)
CARDINAL SINS (coming soon)
DESSERT (short novella following Scarlet Heat)
(Also Available in Audio)
BORN TO DARKNESS BOX SET
Contains Crimson Debt, Scarlet Heat, and Ruby Shadows all in one volume
Alien Mate Index series
(Sci-Fi / Action-Adventure Romance)
ABDUCTED (Also Available in Audio)
PROTECTED (Also Available in Audio)
DESCENDED (Also Available in Audio)
SEVERED (Also Available in Audio)
ALIEN MATE INDEX VOLUME ONE
Contains Abducted, Protected, Descended and Severed all in one volume
All Alien Mate novels are now available in PRINT.
The Cougarville series
(Paranormal / Action-Adventure Romance)
(Older Woman / Younger Man
BUCK NAKED (Also Available in Audio)
COUGAR BAIT (Also Available in Audio)
STONE COLD FOX (Also Available in Audio)
BIG BAD WOLF (coming soon)
The CyBRG Files with Mina Carter
(Sci-Fi / Action-Adventure Romance)
UNIT 77: BROKEN (Also Available in Audio)
UNIT 78: RESCUED (Also Available in Audio)
The Institute series
(Daddy-Dom / Age Play Romance)
THE INSTITUTE: DADDY ISSUES
(Also Available in Audio)
THE INSTITUTE: MISHKA’S SPANKING
The Swann Sister Chronicles
(Contemporary Fairy / Funny / Fantasy Romance)
WISHFUL THINKING (Also Available in Audio)
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR (Also available in Audio)
Nocturne Academy
(Young Adult Paranormal/Action-Adventure/Romance)
LOCK AND KEY
FANG AND CLAW
STONE AND SECRET (Coming Soon)
Detectives Valenti and O’Brian
(1980s M/M Romance)
THE ASSIGNMENT
I’LL BE HOT FOR CHRISTMAS
FIREWORKS
THE ASSIGNMENT: HEART AND SOUL
Compendiums and Box Sets
ALIEN MATE INDEX VOLUME ONE
Contains Abducted, Protected, Descended and Severed all in one volume
BORN TO DARKNESS BOX SET
Contains Crimson Debt, Scarlet Heat, and Ruby Shadows all in one volume
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME ONE
Contains Claimed, Hunted, Sought and Found
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME TWO
Contains Revealed, Pursued and Exiled
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME THREE
Contains Shadowed, Chained and Divided
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME FOUR
Contains Devoured, Enhanced and Cursed
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME FIVE
Contains Enslaved, Targeted and Forgotten
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME SIX
Contains Switched, Uncharted and Unbound
HAVE YOURSELF A SEXY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
Contains Kidnapped for Christmas, Cougar Christmas and Season’s Spankings
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 1
Contains Mastering the Mistress, Bonding with the Beast and Seeing with the Heart
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 2
Contains Freeing the Prisoner, Healing the Broken and Taming the Giant
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 3
Contains Bridging the Distance, Loving a Stranger and Finding the Jewel
/> KINDRED TALES VOLUME 4
Contains Bonded by Accident, Releasing the Dragon, and Sharing a Mate
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 5
Contains Instructing the Novice, Awakened by the Giant, and Hitting the Target
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 6
Contains Handling the Hybrid, Trapped in Time, and Time to Heal
NAUGHTY TALES: THE COLLECTION— Volume One
Contains Putting on a Show, Willing Submission, The Institute: Daddy Issues, The Institute: Mishka's Spanking, Confessions of a Lingerie Model, Sin Eater, Speeding Ticket, Stress Relief and When Mr. Black Comes Home.
ONE HOT HALLOWEEN
Contains Red and the Wolf, Gypsy Moon and Taming the Beast
ONE HOT HALLOWEEN Vol.2
Contains The Covenant, Secret Thirst, and Kristen’s Addiction + BONUS: Madeline’s Mates
Stand Alone Titles
(Sci-Fi OR Paranormal Action-Adventure Romance)
ANYONE U WANT
BEST KEPT SECRETS (Step-Brother romance)
BLIND DATE WITH A VAMPIRE
BLOOD KISS
CEREMONY OF THREE
DEAL WITH THE DEVIL (Also Available in Audio)
DEFILED
EYES LIKE A WOLF (Foster Brother romance)
FOREVER BROKEN (M/M romance)
GYPSY MOON
HUNGER MOON RISING
MADELINE’S MATES
MARKED
OUTCAST
PLANET X (Also Available in Audio)
PLEASURE PLANET
PLEDGE SLAVE (M/M romance)
PURITY (Also Available in Audio)
RED AND THE WOLF
SECRET THIRST
SEX WITH STRANGERS
SHADOW DREAMS
SLAVE BOY (M/M romance)
STRESS RELIEF
SWEET DREAMS
TAMING THE BEAST
TANDEM UNIT
THE BARGAIN
THE COVENANT
THE LAST BITE (M/M romance)
THE LAST MAN ON EARTH
Unbondable: Book 1 of the Kindred Birthright Series (Brides of the Kindred) Page 21