The Corollaria Read Online Free

her throat. She couldn’t help the tears that formed in the corner of her eyes when she saw him cowering and whimpering. She rushed to his side, and instinctively combed her fingers through his thick fur. She wasn’t scared, even though she knew somewhere in the back of her mind maybe she should be. But this is Luke.
    “It’s okay, Luke,” she murmured softly.  “I’m here.”  His cold wet nose nuzzled her neck. His fur was surprisingly soft against her skin.
    She swallowed hard against that thought and shook her head. How is this even possible?
    Slowly Luke could feel the calm that her presence somehow evoked in him. His muscles relaxed, his breathing returned to a normal steady rhythm. He was confused and bewildered by the intensity of emotions and reactions Emily was suddenly causing in him. When his fur finally faded back to smooth tan skin, he flinched away from her.
    He didn’t have to turn around and look up into her clear blue eyes to know she had noticed. He felt it. It was a cold sensation that suddenly expanded in his chest, like frigid water spreading. He swallowed thickl y, turning to face her a little. The look he saw flash across her features before she covered it up almost gutted him.
    He swallowed hard and spoke in a low apologetic tone. “Em, I think Justin keeps extra clothes in the back sometimes, could you...”
    His voice trailed off, but Emily nodded as she rose to her feet and stumbled on her way to the back of the van, unlocking the double door and sifting through the contents.  She sniffled, and wiped away the stinging tears of rejection from under her eyes. She found an old faded black t-shirt that smelled pretty bad when she brought it to her nose to take a whiff.  And she found some equally smelly gym shorts.
    When she came back to Luke with the clothes he was still sitting on the cold ground next to the van, leaning his head back against the painted metal. His eyes were closed, but there was a little furrow between his brows. She cleared her throat and he looked over at her lazily, and for a moment he looked almost normal again, like himself. The intensity of whatever had happened tonight seemed to be fading away.
    For a moment, when he looked at her, he felt something close to reli eved. But as quickly as it came, it was gone. He wished he could just go back to trying to ignore this—whatever this was growing inside him towards her. That suddenly seemed impossible.
    The ride to their house was silent. Luke maneuvered the bulky van through the narrow crowded streets of Brooklyn, finally arriving at the brownstone Emily had called home for the last three years.  Trees lined the block and small glowing lamps illuminated the steps of each house except the Lyall’s.
    The peace she had come to know ever since moving into this house was just a memory now.  She felt cold trepidation erupt along the tiny hairs on her skin.
    Emily and Luke exchanged a wary look before slowly making their way up the stone steps. A cold hard brick of dread settled in Emily’s stomach. Something wasn’t right. She could feel it, sense it. Her skin was prickling and tingling with a cold sensation, her ears suddenly extra aware and sensitive.
    Luke was just barely holding it together. Emily looked over at him and saw his hand shaking as he went to open the door.  It wasn’t locked.
    Luke pushed the door in and turned back to Emily. Her eyes were always this deep brilliant blue. He’d never seen anyone else with eyes like hers. And right now they were almost a glowing stormy indigo. Luke felt a jolt of heat sting his skin.  He looked away from her quickly and headed inside.
    She frowned. Luke and Emily’s relationship had always been so effortless. It’s why it had been so easy to fall in love with him. She imagined she wasn’t the only one that felt this way. Everyone loved Luke. He was funny, laid-back, and had this slow easy smile that would make any girl’s heart stutter. He was everyone’s best