Beautifully Unnatural: A Young Adult Paranormal Boxed Set by Susan Hatler, Amy Miles, Veronica Blade, Ciara Knight Page B

eye level. She can smell his anxiety, but there is something in his eyes that she doesn’t like—defiance.
    The glow in her eyes reflects off his dilated pupils. It doesn’t matter that he can see it. He already knows what she is, or at least he thinks he does. “If you tell anyone about me, I will enjoy ripping out your spine.”
    Nicolae’s jaw clenches, anger exploding from his eyes like fireworks, but he simply dips his head. “Understood.”
    “Good.” She smiles, patting Nicolae on the head like a child. She turns to leave but shifts back. “And leave Sadie alone. You are annoying her almost as much as you are me.”
    Nicolae manages a curt nod.
    Roseline glares for one moment more before shifting to return to her seat. Her forward momentum carries her right into the arms of Gabriel Marston.
    “Oh!” she cries, faltering backward off the bleacher. She falls, rather ungracefully, into the space between the seats. Smooth, she inwardly groans.
    Gabriel is instantly at her side, offering a hand up. “I’m sorry to scare you like that. I just wanted to say hi.”
    Roseline thrusts herself upward, rising to her full height. She sends a scathing glance back at Nicolae and heads away, practically running from Gabriel. He trails behind her. “Aren’t you going to say something?”
    “Why?” Roseline says through gritted teeth as she rubs her sore hip.
    “Huh?”
    Roseline bites her lip, annoyed that she forgot to adjust back to English. “There is nothing to say.”
    Her limp is slight but it’s enough to encourage Gabriel to offer his hand. Roseline stops and warily glances up at him. Towering well over six feet tall, she has to crane her neck back to see him.
    “I won’t bite,” he grins, holding his arm steady for her. Roseline hesitates. She glances around, noting several curious eyes have shifted their way. Why does she keep attracting so much attention?
    Gabriel stands before her, commanding her attention. She can see the stubborn set of his jaw. He isn’t going to let this drop.
    With a sigh, Roseline allows her gloved hand to wind around his arm. Even through the thick material, she can feel heat radiating from his skin. The intensity is shocking, but what is even more shocking is that instead of running away from the heat, she is drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
    She has never felt such heat in a human before. What is it about him that calls to her?
    “Thank you,” she mutters, allowing him to help her reach the bottom of the steps. She breathes a sigh of relief as her boots hit level ground, one step closer to the parking lot.
    “So…” Gabriel clears his throat, glancing at the watchful eyes following their departure. No doubt, word will spread quickly about their conversation. “You’re a very mysterious girl. Do you know that I’ve asked all around school and no one seems to know your name?”
    Roseline shrugs. “I mostly keep to myself.”
    She darts a glance up at him, amazed at how blond his hair looks under the stadium lights. His breath hangs in the air, pumped from lungs buried under a broad chest and a band of rigid abs that press enticingly against his thin sweater. He must be freezing.
    “I noticed that, but it seems like you’re pretty close with Sadie Hughes.”
    “Oh, so people do know her name,” Roseline laughs. “I was beginning to think I was the only decent person at this school.”
    Gabriel chuckles. “Sadie’s great, but I didn’t peg you for the type to hang out with a girl like that.”
    “A girl like what, exactly?” Roseline asks, crossing her arms over her chest. She juts out her hip and waits for what needs to be a really good explanation.
    “I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just…Sadie’s not really a football fan,” he covers lamely.
    “Well, neither am I,” she snaps. Like an alpha wolf, Roseline can feel her hackles rising to Sadie’s defense
    Gabriel tugs gently on her arm and they resume walking. “Then why are you