Read Celestra Forever After for Free Online Page A

crap,” I say as she strides in this direction. Crap and Chloe Bishop are one and the same these days. She’s made life on Paragon miserable the last two years and happens to be the sole reason I’m stranded on the other side of the eternal veil.
    “My, my…” She walks a slow circle around my brother. Chloe looks sharper, more refined, far more wicked than I ever remember. She’s been relegated to the Transfer to endure Ezrina’s punishment, only it turns out Ezrina’s tattered features were of her own doing. Chloe can be as beautiful as she wants. And judging by my brother’s reaction, he completely approves.
    Chloe locks eyes with him while wearing her lust on her sleeve. “Who in the hell are you?” She moans it out as if he were everything she wanted. But both Chloe and I know that’s a lie. For one, he’s not Gage.
    “By all means, ladies first.” He walks his own circle around her, and now it feels as if I’m intruding on some primitive mating ritual.
    “Chloe Bishop.” She holds out her hand, and he’s quick to bring it to his lips.
    “Liam Oliver.”
    “ Oliver ?” Chloe’s eyes widen to the size of Texas. “Do tell…” She looks from me to my brother. “Where have they been hiding you all these years?” Chloe looks genuinely thrown for a loop.
    “None of your business. Come on, Liam.” I try to pluck him out of her midst, but he’s screwed his toes into the ground.
    “I think Liam wants to stay,” Chloe coos, threading her fingers with his. “You up for some coffee? Maybe catch a good old-fashioned steak and egg breakfast? My treat.”
    Liam perks at the mention of a juicy tenderloin.
    Chloe is good at what she does, I’ll give her that. I’d better set my brother straight before she gets her hooks in too deep.
    “She’s the reason I’m dead, Liam. She hacked my head off without thinking twice, and she’s got it out for Celestra.”
    Chloe tilts her head in my direction. “And I’m going to kill Skyla, knock Celestra off its imaginary pedestal, and have Gage all to myself one day. There.” She gives one of her deranged smiles over to my brother. “I believe you’re all caught up. Shall we?”
    “Yes, we shall.”
    “Would you care to join us?” Her eyes spit a fire into mine.
    “ No .” I tap my brother. “Let’s get out of here, Liam. I’m sure Barron and Emma would love to see you. We can take a light drive—visit Mom and Dad. We can even hunt down that girl you’ve been telling me about. I bet she’s still as beautiful as you remember.” Right about now I’d offer to take him to the moon if he wanted. I used to be the last person to light drive— time travel —anywhere, but Skyla helped me overcome my fear.
    Liam stares off at the woods while considering my offer. He’s falling hard under Bishop’s spell, and it’s not a good thing—especially since he’s looking to get laid, and she’s all too willing to provide the ride.
    A horn blares into the virginal morning as the ferry pulls away from shore. I turn to find the tailgate to Gage’s truck in its upright position, not a sign of either Skyla or him near it.
    I stare off at the ferry, trying to make out the passengers, but from this vantage point, everything looks like a sponge painting. It’s foggy as hell. Skyla and Gage are probably inside. Skyla never did like what the Paragon weather did to her hair—said it turned her into a bush. God, I miss her. I wouldn’t care if she were covered with fur from head to toe. I’d love her just the same.
    “Who are we seeing off today?” Chloe stands beside me, squinting as the ferry pushes toward Host.
    “It’s Skyla’s first day of school,” Liam offers.
    Crap. It’s pretty clear I’ve got a whole list of do’s and don’ts I need to go over with him, starting with don’t feed into Chloe Bishop.
    “Skyla’s first day of school? How absolutely precious.” Chloe nestles into her own skin as if she were pleased as hell with whatever it is