Desirable Read Online Free Page B

like an arctic gust had washed over her body. She knows. She knows I’m a rich brat.
    Her tigress snarled.
    But I’m not that person anymore.
    “Wh—what—what do you mean?”
    Claudette paused, her fork midway between the plate and her mouth, and tucked back a stray lock of hair that had escaped a wayward bun. “A tigress. A shifter.”
    Natalya gasped. “Who—” She couldn’t think of what else to say.
    How could Ms. Claudette know what she was? How did she even know about shifters at all?
    The blue flame in the back of Ms. Claudette’s eyes grew more brilliant.
    “You’re…” Natalya took a chair from the table and sat next to Ms. Claudette. “What are you?”
    “I’m inside Claudette.” The voice was different than Ms. Claudette’s.
    “Who are you?” Natalya whispered. A shiver passed over her body.
    “My name is Allynne.”
    “Where’s Ms. Claudette?”
    “I’m here.” This time it was Claudette’s voice.
    “So I can talk to both of you at the same time?”
    “Of course,” Claudette said. “Allynne has been with me for most of my life.”
    “Actually, I’ve been with her for all of her life. I merely chose not to reveal myself to her until I was certain she could handle it. You have no idea how many people commit suicide because they think they’ve gone crazy when we enter their body and join with them.”
    Natalya shook her head. “This is unbelievable.”
    “Oh, really?” Claudette said. “And having a tiger inside of you is more believable?”
    “For me it is. It’s always been this way. But I’ve never heard of… or seen…” Natalya exhaled with a whoosh. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
    “You’ve never heard of an elemental?”
    “Ohhh. Yes. That I have heard of.”
    I’ve just never met one. I’m pretty sure I should be afraid of them.
    She’d heard that elementals could control the weather, fire, water… She tried to remember what else she’d heard, but it had been so long ago, and nothing really stuck in her mind.
    “I’m dying,” Claudette said, just like that, without any sugarcoating.
    “Ms. Claudette, we all die, sooner or later.” Natalya put a comforting hand on the older woman’s arm.
    “No, she means soon,” Allynne interjected.
    This was eerie. With both of them in the same body, it was difficult to discern which one would speak until they’d actually said something.
    “And Allynne needs to move.” Claudette’s eyes glazed over. “I’ll miss you.”
    “I’ll miss you, too,” Allynne said. “It’s been a wonderful life with you. I wish you’d stayed with your family, though.”
    “You know I couldn’t,” Claudette responded. “They thought I was a sorceress.”
    “They shouldn’t have cared.” Allynne’s voice was angry.
    It felt surreal for Natalya, watching the two conversing, but using the same mouth, the same lips, though very different voices.
    Allynne didn’t have Ms. Claudette’s accent. It reminded Natalya of Vax’s accent a bit, but different, and it was quite unlike Ms. Claudette’s southern drawl.
    Natalya found herself feeling sad, wondering if Allynne would die with Ms. Claudette or if something else would happen. “What happens to Allynne when you…” She couldn’t say die. “…go?”
    “She leaves me.” Claudette clasped hands covered with skin so frail and translucent that it reminded Natalya of paper.
    “Leaves you? And goes where?”
    The blue light shone brilliantly in Claudette’s eyes. “I find a new home.”
    “You mean a new person?” Natalya moved her chair back.
    “Don’t be afraid.” Allynne’s voice sounded otherworldly, as if it was coming through a hollow tube. “I don’t seek out mature individuals. I am eternal. I have no reason to rush. I prefer to join with bodies that are not formed yet.”
    “I’m not sure I like this conversation.” Natalya’s voice was shaky.
    I could shift and kill Allynne in less time than it would take for someone to come in. But