"Got your text," he said when I climbed out. "How much did it hurt?" "Not at all," I said. "Apparently, I can't get a tattoo because I'm a witch." "I could have told them-" He stopped. "Oh, you said witch." "Ha-ha."
"Oh my God. You're a witch-hunter. I'm a witch. Hate to break it to you Daniel, but if you're a witch-hunter? You're doing it wrong." He gave me a sidelong smile. "Maybe it's not that kind of hunting." "Then you're definitely doing it wrong."
"And unless I'm remembering it wrong, mermaids don't sing and sirens don't swim." "Ariel sang in 'The Little Mermaid'," Corey said. Sam came over to join us. "Do I even want to know why you remember her name?"
"I need to get ready. Ash? Touch the food and I won't take you for a driving lesson tomorrow. Dad? Touch it and I'll make take him for a driving lesson tomorrow." Dad backed away from the counter. Ash scowled. I laughed and continued upstairs." --
She shrugged. She glanced over her shoulder. I thought she was talking to me. Then Derek stepped into the doorway. she said to me. She aimed a pointed look his way.
I called. A sharp intake of breath. I broke into a jog. Only no matter how fast I ran, his scent and his voice didn't get any stronger. I kept going until I tripped over a root and hit the ground hard. I pushed to my feet, wincing as I flexed my stinging hands. His voice seemed to come from all around me. I spun, trying to pinpoint it, but he kept yelling, more panicking with every shout, my own panic rising until I flung myself forward-- Hands grabbed me and yanked me back. For a moment, all I saw was the darkness of night. Then it fell away, dawn light filtering through the trees, and I was standing in front of Daniel, his fingers wrapped around my wrist. Kenji was beside me, whimpering. I said, wrenching from his grasp.
Yet I have to wonder if I have lost the song because I have become the song. If I have lost my Lord because I do indeed desire to be what I will become. A lover who hates, a saint who sins, and an angel who kills.
Rafe shrugged. He twisted to look at the stab wound. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him, and when I did, I knew he was real--the heat of him, the smell of him, the feel of him, the taste of him so incredibly real that it surpassed anything my memory could conjure up. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me back, and it was like every other amazing kiss he'd given me, multiplied ten-fold. I kissed him until I couldn't breathe, and then I kissed him a little more, until I had to pull back, gasping. he said. And he grinned, that incredible blaze of a grin that made me kiss him again.
When I finished, Dr. Fellows said, She lowered her voice. I said. Her brows shot up to meet her hairline. Tori smirked and leaned back onto her pillow. Tori said. Dr. Fellows shot her a look, which Tori met with a cool gaze. Tori said,
I looked over at the others. Obviously Ash and I didn't. Daniel, Hayley, and Corey said they'd be fine. Chloe hoped she would--she had gymnastics training. Mr. Bae joked that it would be his first time in a couple of decades. Derek said nothing. Chloe said. She turned to us. Derek said. Chloe put her hands on her hips.
I whispered down. Chloe said. Derek tried to stop her. She said it made sense for her to be in the trees with me in case of a ground attack, and that convinced him. Not that it mattered, I think--she'd have done what she wanted. She obviously didn't take his crap. Still, it would drive me crazy, constantly needing to remind my boyfriend that I could handle myself just fine. My brother was bad enough.
Daniel murmured to me. Chloe gave a soft laugh. A wry smile. The wolf growled, but she only laughed and gave him a pat, then tugged him away as we went to retrieve my clothing.
Daniel said, his voice low. Rafe sputtered a laugh. She glowered at him, then at Corey, who'd joined them, grinning as he heard. Even Daniel had to wipe away a smile. she said. Daniel said. I said. She glared at Corey, who was cracking up behind Rafe. Derek said. Sam sighed. Daniel's roar made everyone stumble back. He climbed the steps and stopped in front of Sam. Corey said.
She looked at me again, and the sweet and shy Nicole disappeared. Her eyes blazed. she said. As Nicole raged, the hair on my neck prickled, because in her eyes, I saw madness. Obsession and madness. You're crazy, I thought. Did they do this to you with their experiments? Or is this just you? I started inching back. she said. She screamed, a long drawn-out shriek of feigned terror.
"Nicole crumpled--just let her legs give way and fell to the floor, hunched and sobbing. Hayley looked at me. Even Rafe did. Uncertain looks from both of them. I had to admit, Nicole was a good actor. If I hadn't seen her switch from "sweet Nicole" to "raving lunatic Nicole" in a heartbeat at the campsite, I might have believed her myself."
I backed off Nicole fast. They hit her with a needle, but she wouldn't stop trying to get me and they had to haul her out. she shrieked back at me. They dragged her away, still spewing threats.
As she did, someone else poked his head in. Rafe. He looked at the other two, then me. He lowered his voice. I said. He nodded and retreated. I said when he was gone. Chloe looked from me to the now-empty doorway. She trailed off and shook her head. Derek cut in. Chloe gave him a look as I inwardly flinched.
We ran to the others--it was clear Derek wasn't accepting a leisurely stroll. I took the lead so this huge guy wouldn't come barreling down on them. That wasn't the way anyone needed to wake up. It was still chaos. Derek barked orders. Chloe tried to calm him. When he didn't listen, I snapped that he wasn't helping matters. He snapped back. Ash jumped to my defense, snarling like an alley cat. Daniel intervened to mediate. Derek turned on him. Corey rushed to Daniel's side, fists ready. Rafe braced to join in if a fight broke out. It was fun.