Caged (Talented Saga) Read Online Free Page A

A perverse part of me also liked the reminder that I now owed Crane for more than just my parents’ murders.
    My recovery had been a long and painful process, including learning how to walk again. I now received a shot every day to stabilize the chemicals that Crane’s men had injected, reducing number of seizures that had plagued me since returning from Nevada. Initially, the doctors were unable to develop an effective antidote, and the episodes were so frequent that I spent most of my time in a drug-induced coma. Eventually, the team of researchers created an equalizer that allowed me to function, but it left me tired and weak.
    My primary Medical doctor, Dr. Thistler, had treated me after my parents’ deaths as well, but my memories of her weren’t as clear as those of Dr. Wythe. Mac told me that she’d been one of the physicians to monitor my condition during my previous stay at Toxic’s Medical facility, but I’d been too traumatized to be aware of my surroundings. She was nice enough, but her involvement in my life served as a daily reminder that I was sick and currently unable to avenge my parents. I longed for a day when she would enter the examination room and proudly declare that she’d found a cure. Unfortunately, the more time that passed, the less confident I became that the time would ever come.
    “Natalia, are you dressed?” Mac called from the sitting room, snapping me back to reality.
    Grabbing for my shirt, I hastily pulled it over my head. I reached for the insanely bright white shoes and yanked them on as fast as possible. Then I noticed the bag that Gretchen packed for me with the meager personal items that I was allowed to take to the School, and stuffed the rest of my clothes inside. I slung the small duffel over my shoulder and walked out to the sitting room to meet Mac. I didn’t look back on the room that had been like a prison for the last nine months.

 
    Chapter Three
     
    Mac and Gretchen’s home was located two west of the School’s main campus. Mac drove me the short distance in a road vehicle that he kept on hand for getting around the compound.
    “You really don’t need to hold my hand and walk me to class,” I snapped once we were seated in the car. Though Mac had been like my surrogate father, our relationship had first become strained while I was in my Pledge year. The past nine months had done a little to repair the rift; I was bitter about my current situation and though I knew it was irrational I blamed him.
    “I just want to ensure that you make it there okay,” he replied mildly, his eyes fixed on the road. I gave him an odd look; did he forget that I had attended to this school for six years? I’d already taken all these classes, and I was fairly confident that I could find them in my sleep. Opening my mind, I risked gently probing Mac’s.
    “Natalia......” he warned. Mac was one of the few people who could detect when I tried to read him, and he effectively blocked most of my attempts. Mac’s uncanny ability to block me was my own doing – I’d conditioned him against mental intrusion.
    “Sorry,” I smiled sheepishly, only sorry that I’d been caught.
    The stone façade of the administration building came into view several minutes later. Mac pulled the car to a stop in the rounded, gravel drive, and he reached for the bags at my feet.
    “I’ll have these sent up to your new room,” he offered.
    Now that I was safely on campus, I figured that Mac would bid me farewell, and retreat inside to his office. Instead, he started walking away from the administration building. I quickly followed him.
    As we neared the outdoor practice area, Mac sped up. My short legs could barely match pace with his stride. I was so focused on keeping up that I didn’t notice when he stopped; I ran smack into his broad back, my head bouncing painfully off the bottom edge of a shoulder bone. Smooth, Talia , I thought to myself. But Mac barely noticed. I stood behind him, my