Ungifted by Kelly Oram Page B

at Ethan again for good measure. He looked surprised to see me respond so normally. He really had thought I’d lost it.
    “So you’re really going to be okay?” Cynthia asked. “You’re not too freaked out by this?”
    “Oh, I’m definitely freaked out. But I’m not going to crack up over it.”
    Cynthia’s eyes glossed over with pride. “I knew you’d be the one.”
    “‘The one’?”
    “Supernaturals aren’t supposed to tell humans that we exist. Most humans can’t handle it. They go crazy if they find out the truth. They say only one in a thousand humans can really deal with it.”
    “I don’t see why. It kind of makes sense to me.”
    “It does?” Ethan and Caleb asked at the same time. Caleb had been crossing the room to sit next to me, but stopped short at my confession. Both he and Ethan stared at me, wide-eyed with their jaws hanging open.
    I shrugged. “Legends have to come from somewhere, right?”
    A proud grin spread across Cynthia’s face and she pulled her shoulders back, standing tall. “I told you she’d handle it.”
    “Sure,” I said to Cynthia. “I mean, you’ve been trying to tell me for months haven’t you? With all the books and movies, and all our stupid talks? You’ve been preparing me for this, right?”
    Cynthia looked surprised and shook her head. “I didn’t do it on purpose. I think I just wished you knew. I hated keeping it from you.”
    “It’s surreal,” I admitted, “and a little scary that guys like Andrew can just take people if they want, but I’ve always said you’d make a good werewolf.”
    Cynthia laughed. “I’m just relieved you aren’t a vampire.”
    “I’m relieved I’m neither. No offense.”
    “None taken.” Cynthia grinned. “I wouldn’t want to be betrothed to my brother, either.”
    I blushed horribly and couldn’t meet Caleb’s gaze. “You’re really going to have to explain that one to me.”
    Cynthia laughed. “We’ll explain everything once we get some food into you. I’m thinking Chinese.”
    “Sounds great. I’m starving.”
    “If you were hungry, why didn’t you eat the lunch I made for you?” Ethan grumbled.
    When all he got from me was another glare, he accepted his defeat and shuffled toward the door. Cynthia laughed at him. “You’ve got a lot to learn about Grace, Ethan. She’s a sensitive soul, but you can almost always cheer her up with mu shu pork.”

Cynthia was right. I was in a much better mood once I’d scarfed down some egg rolls—especially when Ethan excused himself to go say hi to some girls he knew at the restaurant. One was a very striking strawberry blonde. I couldn’t help thinking she and Ethan would make a disgustingly attractive couple. Which reminded me…
    “I told you he’s not in love with me.”
    “Dunn?” Caleb asked with a giant frown. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
    “Oh, I’m sure,” I grumbled.
    “You never did tell me what was up between you two.”
    “Nothing. I’ve been telling Cyn as much for a year, but you know how she is.” I looked at Cynthia. “You believe me now, don’t you?”
    Cynthia gave me a sour look. “I was wondering when you’d throw that in my face.”
    Caleb frowned in Ethan’s direction. “Are you two trying to say that you believe Dunn isn’t completely hot for Grace? Because that is the stupidest load of crap I’ve ever heard. The whole freaking school knows he’s got it bad. Why do you think there’s not a girl at Atherton besides Cyn that wants to be your friend?”
    “Well.” I hadn’t thought of it that way, but it made sense. “At least they have a reason to hate me.”
    Cynthia glanced across the room too, and then sighed. “Try to ignore Ethan, okay, Grace? He was a jerk this morning.”
    “What’d he do?” Caleb asked.
    Cynthia ignored her brother. “That’s just how nephilim are,” she told me. “They think their angel blood makes them superior to everyone.”
    “The Creator’s chosen race,” I