The Powerful Pride of an Immortal (Immortal Supers Book 4), Kurtis Eckstein [books to read for self improvement .TXT] 📗

Wanting to comfort her, but knowing I had limits, I gently reached over to rub her shoulder briefly, which was definitely not an excuse to feel her extremely hot leather jacket. She gave me a warm look, before sighing heavily again as she continued.

“I know that most people aren’t like that. I know that most guys aren’t evil like that sick bastard. But still…”

“Well trust me. I am not suggesting you go out and start dating. I just want you to make decisions with your own wellbeing in mind, as well as have realistic expectations about the future. I want to be fair to you.”

Heidi nodded once, seeming pensive a second time. She then focused on me again, her lavender eyes full of affection. “Thanks Sam.” She smiled at my reaction. “You know, I’m really not interested in being in any kind of serious relationship with anyone.” Her face flushed with embarrassment, seemingly in concern for being misunderstood. “Not that I ever planned on being a slut,” she quickly clarified. “But I just mean, I don’t like the idea of having to deal with the messy stuff, like breakups. It’s kind of why I was interested in the idea of…” She couldn’t continue, her face bright red again, as she looked away.

“That’s…understandable,” I offered, unsure of how to respond.

She peeked at me from the corner of her eye. “But I’m just trying to say, knowing that nothing is ever going to happen between us, that if the stars aligned and I ever decided to end up in a serious relationship, I would totally choose you, Sam.”

I looked away, staring straight ahead at the road, finally deciding to take over the driving since we were almost to our destination, while also trying to ignore my sudden desire for the stars to align right now. I mean, it would be so easy to just keep it in autopilot, or find a secluded place to park, and make her climb into the backseat where my Mustang’s tinted windows would allow us to be alone for practically as long as we wanted.

Shit. Not the best train of thought right now.

No way in hell was I ever going to do something with her. At least, not without approval from the right couple of people first. But obviously that was never going to happen, and honestly I had no reason to be unsatisfied with how my life was currently going. Yet still…

If only having Heidi too wasn’t just a fantasy…

2: Nightmares

Rose Rosetti

April 10, 2735 – 1 Day Later – Early Morning

Cold.

So cold.

Rose played quietly in her empty cold room, sitting on the concrete floor framed by gray walls. There was absolutely nothing in her room, except for the book she was reading – the only book she had, about a cute little dragon. However, unexpectedly, she watched in surprise as the tiny green dragon popped out of the page and began flying in circles around her head, growing larger and larger.

Excited, she leapt up and waved to Mr. Dragon, wishing she could fly with him.

It looked like so much fun!

Mr. Dragon looked down on her warmly, smoke and fire billowing out of his mouth, the heat brushing her cheeks with its warmth. “My dear princess, grow wings and we can fly together!” he grumbled in a deep voice.

“But I can’t grow wings!” Rose complained. “I don’t know how!”

Mr. Dragon looked upon her with a somber expression. “Then, my lovely princess, I will be your wings. I will help you fly.”

“Really?!” she said in excitement. “Okay!”

Her glee only built as the massive green dragon landed in her now enormous room, full of cute toys, plush animals, and a ton of books, along with a picture of her mommy, daddy, and auntie. Without hesitation, she began climbing up Mr. Dragon’s massive body, only to realize his beautiful emerald skin was turning gray wherever she touched it, losing its beautiful color.

A pang of fear cut through her excitement like a knife as she looked down at her gray hand, seeing tiny white claws protruding out of her fingertips.

Had she made a mistake?

Would she be punished?

However, Mr. Dragon didn’t seem to mind, turning his head around to look at her with bright crimson eyes set against a black abyss. As she met his gaze, his forehead began splitting open, revealing another red eye in the middle of his skull – this one focused sharply on her, the slitted pupil narrow and fixated.

“You’re just like me!” Rose said in excitement, her fears vanishing in an instant.

The dragon grinned widely at her, showing his dagger-like teeth, before returning his attention to the front. “Hold on, my dear princess,” he grumbled, just before leaping into the sky. Rose screamed in excitement as a thrill rushed in her chest and belly.

Flying was the best ever!

They flew and flew forever, until they reached the stars!

Rose held out her tiny gray hands to hold one of them, feeling its warmth, as the tiny ball of light illuminated the darkness around her. However, unexpectedly the light vanished, her entire body now facing a massive crimson eye larger than she was.

She stared into the endless abyss of its slitted pupil, framed by red, wondering what was wrong.

Why did the dragon make the light go away?

“You must hurry,” he said directly into her head. “For the bad man seeks to get you. Hurry! Run away!”

“What?” she said in alarm, looking behind her only to discover she was alone in a bare concrete room.

Her book was gone.

The dragon was gone.

She focused again when the door opened, revealing a tall man in a long white coat, an indistinguishable nametag attached to his breast pocket.

“Three-fifty-nine,” he said firmly. “Come with me.”

Rose did as she was told, reaching out to hold his hand when he gestured for it. But she knew what his expression meant. Another test.

One she wouldn’t like very much.

He led her down a long white hallway, and into a room with a big metal