Electus (Regnum Series Book 1) Read Free Page B

Mina,” Quade retorts. He glances at Tia and smiles.
    **********
    Quade and Tia became friends two years prior, when she caught him staring at her in the hallway at school. Tia walked past Quade, heading for her locker, at the end of the day. It was the beginning of spring so she grabbed her jacket. He just stood across the hallway, watching her every move. Tia began to feel uncomfortable. She closed her locker and glanced at him. He turned away, quickly, running into a girl, causing her to drop her books.
    He apologized, repeatedly, then him and Tia assisted the girl in collecting her fallen belongings. His hand touched Tia’s finger, as they both reached for the same book.
    “I’m sorry,” he responded to Tia, who pulled away.
    “Thank you, guys,” the girl replied, as Quade handed her the last book. Tia nodded and walked on. Quade caught up with her outside of the school.
    “Hey, how about company on the way home?” Quade asked, following her.
    “I don’t need promenading, thank you,” she responded, turning her back to him. However, that was not enough to stop Quade.
    “Can I help you?” Tia inquired, keeping her steady pace. She knew it was at least three miles to her house, and she figured he gave up already.
    “How did you know I was still here?”
    “I could hear your breathing a mile away. What is that? Asthma?” she asked, not moving her attention away from the road ahead.
    “No, I’m just out of shape and you are really fast,” he exhaled.
    “My speed tends to increase when someone I don’t know is trailing me,” she mumbled, feeling nervous.
    “Well, you would know me if you had better manners and actually talked to me.” Tia turned around to respond and noticed how fast his chest rose and fell. Her attention quickly turned to how much he might need to train.
    “I’m Tia, and you weren’t kidding. You are out of shape.”
    As he caught his breath, all he could respond was, “Quade.”
    “You want help with that, Quade?” Tia pointed to his hand, latched onto his side.
    Not long after that, he joined Tia in her daily routine of climbing, running, and swimming. Though she thought he was annoying at first, she soon found comfort in having company during her training.
    “Just remember to breathe as you run,” she explained to him on their first day of exercising together.
    “I’m trying to,” he retorted after catching his breath. It was a hot afternoon and Tia worked Quade pretty hard. What seemed like a simple jog to her, felt like a marathon to him.
    “Well,” she began, “it’s easier to breathe in through your nose and out your mouth. We will take a break and then try rock climbing.”
    “Rock climbing?” he questioned, his face, beading with sweat.
    “Oh yeah! You need to strengthen your arms, too,” she replied, grabbing his bicep. From the look on his face, Tia can tell, he enjoyed that a little too much.
    “If you say so,” he answered with a curled lip. Tia liberated his arm and sprinted.
    “Come on, the rock wall is only about two miles,” she called, already ten feet ahead of him.
    “Two miles?” he repeated, running after her.
    Finally, Tia found a true friend to joke with and share her concerns about the future. He rapidly became another reason for her to stay in Urbi. He was the first person, outside of her family, that she told about the strange dreams she had. Quade was always a patient and loyal listener. She found real comfort in his personality.
    Several times, Tia caught him watching her, out of the corner of her eye. She pretended not to notice, unsure of if it was all in her head. It wasn’t until three weeks prior to the Electus, when the air was warm enough to swim again, that her feelings were confirmed.
    That afternoon, as Tia stripped down to her undershirt and panties, like she usually did when she swam, Quade noticed a difference in her body. She had curves that were not present before, and her breasts were firmer. Tia grew into a woman,