Read Kindred: Book 1 A Realms of the Otherworld Book for Free Online Page A

I take all of her in. Her auburn hair hangs in gentle curls around her face and reaches more than midway down her back. Her emerald green eyes are large and shimmering with unshed tears. Her skin is fair with a light dusting of tiny freckles over her nose. She and I have always been on the petite side both standing only around five foot. The bandage around her head has been replaced with just a bandage on the right side of her forehead, her right leg is in a cast, and her right arm is in a sling. I place my hand gently on her left cheek and repeat my question from before in a soft voice, “Are you okay?’
    Lexie lowers her eyes and looks down to her lap as the tears begin to fall in earnest. I can’t imagine what she has been through since the accident. I reach up to take her in my arms careful not to squeeze her too tightly not wanting to hurt her. “Shhh, its okay I’m here now. You’re not alone anymore, I’m so sorry.” I say as I begin to cry right along with her. Our grief rolls out of us for all that we have lost. We both stay that way just clinging to one another and crying until we can’t cry anymore. “We’re going to be okay, you and me. Whatever happens from this point forward we’re a team, okay?” I ask as I pull back and look into her tear streaked face and for the first time I notice the uncomfortable silence in the room as the men shuffle their feet from side to side. I look at each of the men and ask, “What? Have you never seen two women cry before? Seriously, you would think that we just grew horns or something.”
    At that moment I notice Jasmine for the first time, she is fluttering about around Lexie and me snickering, “I knew I liked you Ashlinn, you have spunk. These guys aren’t going to know what hit them.” Then looking between me and Lexie she says on a more serious note, “I look forward to getting to know the both of you, I think that we’re going to be spending a lot of time together.” Then she lands on my shoulder and latches on to my hair to steady herself as I pull back to look at Lexie.
    Lexie looks at me with wide eyes, “What was that Ash? You look different.” Lexie says as she looks me over. “Wow, you’re beautiful, not that you weren’t before but now. Just, wow. You’ve changed, you have this pixie like look to your features, and your hair has this shine about it. I don’t want to spoil the surprise so I’m not saying anything else until you’ve had a chance to see for yourself. And Ash? Don’t beat yourself up for not being here for me after the accident, you couldn’t help what happened any more than I could. You’re here now and that’s what matters. We can face the rest together. I’ve missed you.” She says with a wistful smile and squeezes my hand. Then she looks up at the handsome elf that has not left her side and her smile widens.
    If I didn’t know better I would think there was something there between the two of them, or was there? I’ll have to ask Alaric about that later. About that time I feel Alaric behind me helping me to my feet and turning me to face him. He surveys my face with a tiny frown and gently wipes the remainder of my tears away with his calloused thumb as he asks, “You okay?” I nod and then he says, “Tolin, Torin, I need you to round up some food for all of us dawn approaches and we have much to do in the days to come before we can head back to the Otherworld. Nemus, can you see to Alexia’s injuries? Jasmine I need you to help Ashlinn get cleaned up.”
    “Whoa, there mister, I know you like to give orders and I know you mean well and all but I think I can manage in the bathroom on my own. No offense Jasmine, I’m really not sure just how much help you would be. Besides I have a feeling that I will need some time to myself. A lot has happened and I need to see these changes for myself. I would prefer to do that on my own.” I say to Alaric.
    He gives me a long hard look and then asks, “Are you sure? You