Read Second Skin (Skinned) for Free Online

metal hood. A chug of steam burped from the engine.
Oh, they’re tricky little suckers. Come on, Eryn. Think. What the hells bells were these things ? Gremlins ?
Matt pulled ineffectually at the axe handle, but it was lodged like the sword in the stone. Apparently he wasn’t King Arthur.
“Check on Kate,” Alec yelled, and Squire Matt ran to in- vestigate the body abandoned along the brick wall of Conundrum café. I drew up onto my knees, straining for a better view of Kate, but she’d slumped forward, folding over, and all I could make out were her slim shoulders and the awkward tilt of her head.
Alec dove across the buckled hood as the beasties launched onto the roof of the cab. The roof crunched down on Brit’s side first, then mine. Alec stared at us through the front window, his expression grim.
“What are you waiting for?” He jerked his thumb to my door. I dove for the handle, but above us, the roof continued to collapse under the weight of the creatures. Cold metal squealed in protest, inside the cab and to my sensitive wolven ears, the sound
was magnified into Tyrannosaurus rex roars. I covered my ears.
Brit screamed. I yanked her down, ducking low to avoid being crushed. Each step the creatures took smashed another depression in the roof. The truck gave one mighty shake as the cloaked figures jumped off the back of the cab. Brit and I sat up and stared out the window in time to see the small but mighty duo soar into the air, arms over their heads as if propelling them. No need for wings, these guys flew Superman style.
Their cloaks swirled in the wind as they disappeared into the night sky, taking their stench with them.
“Show-offs,” Brit said, her wings twitching.
I released a shocked laugh. This was one freaky town. Getting freakier by the minute. From vamps to weres and now miniature shriveled dudes in cloaks.
Alec heaved on my severely imploded door. It did more than open, it dropped to the ground with a clatter. I kicked the gear bags out first. Alec caught them in his stomach with a loud oof and a glare. While he was occupied with stowing the bags in the back of the truck, I scooted across the seat.
Obviously I wasn’t moving fast enough.
“Hurry up, let me out.” Brit’s hands beat at my back. “Damn.” I snarled, sidestepping the fallen door and a scowling
Alec.
Brit scooched along the seat, a mess of limbs and wings, and exploded from the truck with a frustrated roar. Her mouth opened wide to reveal sharp white teeth, pointed as though she’d filed them that way.
“Over here,” Matt called, and Brit bolted ahead, flexing her wings high above her shoulders in agitated twitches.
I kept close to her heels, though out of striking distance of her wings, with Alec’s controlled steps behind me.
As we approached the entrance, I recognized Kate’s voice. “I’m all right already,” she told Matt who was efficiently
patting her down, testing for broken bones. Ever the healer, our Matt. Her words held all her usual snark, but came out breathless and scared. Not what I’d come to expect from Redgrave’s most powerful witch. “For the love of the goddess, guys can’t ever resist a quick grope, can they?” She slapped at his hands. “I thought you had a girlfriend,” she joked, her many facial piercings glinting in the headlights, harsh against her pallid skin.
“He sure does,” Brit said. “And she’s right here.” Kate took in Brit’s scales. “Oh, sweetie. Not again?”
Brit ducked her head. Getting the nod from Matt, she helped him lift Kate to her feet.
“I’m fine,” Kate said. “They drained me of some power, nothing more. A few minutes and I’ll be ready to help you track them.” The slight witch wobbled, unsteady on her feet, but with Matt and Brit supporting her under each arm, she was able to stand.
“No internal injuries,” Matt said, meeting Alec’s concerned gaze over Kate’s head. “Not even a scratch. As far as I can tell, she’s okay.” He wrapped a