Never (The Ever Series Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

me that my mom would be safe, and I have to believe him, or I’ll go crazy. Whatever sliver of faith I had felt as I stepped into the unknown was justified. Ever may not be the hero from the fairy tales—faultless and unerring—but I got my happy ending, or at least my life back.
    Maybe being alive is my happy ending.
    I zip my jacket as I lock the door behind me. Then, turning, I look toward the street and see Ever waiting in front of his car. As I approach him, I realize his history with Alex may be more complex than I first thought. And right or wrong, my few moments spent with Ever’s enemy left me with a different view of him. A more humanized one. He’s no longer a dark shadow, an unknown danger.
    “What were you thinking of just now?” Ever asks, his brow arched in uncharacteristic confusion.
    I blush as I remember what—whom—I had been thinking of. Then my embarrassment quickly turns to anger.
    “Were you searching my thoughts?”
    Ever smiles broadly at my fury, and I would want to slug him if I didn’t want to kiss him so badly.
    “Hmm. … The thought about kissing me came through loud and clear,” he says, leaning toward me and taking my face in his hands.
    He touches his lips lightly to mine, and the blood rushes through my veins. I grip his jacket as he pulls back and opens the passenger door.
    “I didn’t know making you angry would reap such rewards this early in the morning,” he says from the driver’s side as I buckle my seatbelt.
    I smirk at him.
    “Could you really not hear my thoughts before?”
    “It’s difficult not to be aware of the thoughts around me at some level, whether I’m intentionally listening for them or not. But a few moments ago yours went offline. Just nothing. I would have been worried if I hadn’t been able to see you just in front of me.”
    As the pieces begin to fall into place, I summon a vision of Alex, his copper hair blazing in the rising sun. I focus on it, and suddenly Ever’s hands lock on the steering wheel. When he turns to face me, there’s no trace of a smile left on his features.
    “Wren?”
    I swallow.
    “I … I was thinking about him,” I whisper.
    Ever curses under his breath, and I grip the armrest as the car begins weaving through traffic. Some small part of me remembers that Ever won’t crash, but I still cringe when we slice between a cement truck and a minivan. Seconds later, we pull into the student parking lot, and I see Audra and Chasen standing at the curb waiting for us. The car skids to a stop right in front of them, and I hear the doors open. Almost instantaneously Ever’s two perfect companions appear in the backseat.
    “He marked her,” Ever spits.
    I feel the blood drain from my face.
    “Are you certain?” Audra asks.
    Ever touches my hand, and I jump.
    “Lift your hair,” he says.
    The iciness has returned to his voice. Confused, I do what he says, and Audra gasps. Her shock is so out of character that I turn and stare at her.
    “And we’re not going after him?” Chasen snarls.
    Dropping my hair, I swivel to face Ever. Staring into his eyes, I open my mind with all my strength and gasp when I see a copper sun etched into the skin on the back of my neck. I reach back and touch the spot. It’s warm.
    “ No ! Ever? How?”
    Ever blinks and stares at me like I just slapped him. Then he grabs my hand.
    “Wren, you could have hurt yourself.”
    “I’m stronger than I look—and you weren’t telling me anything!” I argue.
    Audra leans forward.
    “Ever, did she just … ?”
    He pinches his brow between his thumb and index finger.
    “She can get into your head? That’s why they want her!” Audra cries. “You should have told us! If she’s this powerful now, then …”
    “All right,” I snap. “You guys can stay here and argue. I’m going to class.”
    Opening the car door, I get out and start walking toward the attendance office to drop off my mom’s note. I’ve only taken a few steps when Ever joins