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| Link | Quote | Stars | Tags | Author |
| d6606fc | My laptop should be here." He gestured at the empty desk. "It was when I left." He turned to Daniel. "Okay, obviously between the fire and the crash, Mom hasn't come home. But she didn't take my laptop. She told me to pack it. I didn't." "Why?" Sam said. "Because my homework's on it," he said, in a tone that implied this was a stupid question. "Laptop perishes in the fire? I get a free pass on every assignment." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 1a0fba0 | Corey was already gone, heading for the stairs again. He took them two at a time. Then he pitched forward, hands clutching his head as he let out something between a moan and a strangled cry. Daniel raced upstairs to help him to his feet...and Corey promptly puked on him. "You were done with that shirt, right?" | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 952657d | How did Rafe make it back so fast? Same way we did. He stole a ride. A motorcycle. In his case, though, he skipped all the steps between. No tortuous trek through the woods--he'd landed relatively close to a town. No attempts to get help, because Rafe wasn't like us. His life experience was closer to Sam's. His mom had sheltered him as best she could from the ugliness of life on the run, but he hadn't grown up in a world where you could str.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 1e18a1b | I pulled his hand from his eyes, and mouthed, "What the hell?" "Play along," he mouthed back. "Please." There was no teasing glimmer in his eyes. They pleaded with me so desperately that I felt a chill in my gut. I went to turn off the water. He grabbed my arm and shook his head. Then he moved me closer to the shower, leaned in and whispered, "Ask me to join you." "What?" He clapped a hand over my mouth and whispered, "Trust me. Please." I .. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 58e20c3 | See if you can find a license or registration in the glove box. The cops are going to get an anonymous tip about this guy." Sam grinned as I started the truck. "You can be seriously awesome sometimes, Maya." She paused. "And I mean that in a totally non-girl-crush kind of way." "You don't have to clarify that." "Yeah, usually I do." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 5157a94 | I screwed up," I said. "I'm sorry." "You got the truck," Corey said. "Seems like it worked to me." "Yes, please make her stop," Sam called from the truck. "She's been apologizing since we got away and it's really getting on my nerves." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 11bc530 | Stopping to whine is only going to get us nabbed by the cops when that bastard calls 911." "I wasn't whining," I said. "Close enough." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 4ed60d7 | Guess Mom's taking the day off," Corey said as we drew close enough to see the sheriff's SUV in the drive. "Considering she thinks you're dead, I'd imagine she's taking a lot of days off," I said." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 5050407 | She's lovely, great. She was very friendly. She was just like a mum to us. | Paul McCartney | ||
| 83ef1b7 | Better not stick around or I might ask you to join me." Rafe chuckled. "If I thought you were serious, I'd take you up on that. I was just coming in to do a better job washing up. There wasn't any water at your place and my cuts and scrapes are filthy. Guess it'll have to wait." He waved for me to continue. When I arched my brows, he motioned to us, then to the shower. He wanted us in the shower, where no one could hear our conversation. Wh.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| d0cc548 | He turned and waved me into the shower with him. He backed up to give me room, but it was a shower stall--not much room to be had. The hot water beat down, soaking through my shirt. I leaned back into it, forgetting Rafe as I luxuriated in the feeling of hot, clean water. When I opened my eyes, he was watching me. Really watching me. I looked at the water pounding off his lean chest, trickling down to his soaked boxers, and...and I wasn't t.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| fdc9788 | I went to turn off the water. He grabbed my arm and shook his head. Then he moved me closer to the shower, leaned in and whispered, "Ask me to join you." "What?" He clapped a hand over my mouth and whispered, "Trust me. Please." I remembered Sam saying she'd stayed behind to make sure her phone call didn't bring someone running. What if it had? What if they'd come while we were gone and cut a deal with her? Or snuck in and planted bugs, and.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 9155c01 | He turned and waved me into the shower with him. He backed up to give me room, but it was a shower stall--not much room to be had. The hot water beat down, soaking through my shirt. I leaned back into it, forgetting Rafe as I luxuriated in the feeling of hot, clean water. When I opened my eyes, he was watching me. Really watching me. I looked at the water pounding off his lean chest, trickling down to his soaked boxers, and...and I wasn't t.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 5ca3dfb | I eased forward and leaned up to his ear. "Is this what you wanted?" He chuckled. "Mmm, I'd better not answer that." His gaze traveled down me, then zipped back to my face. "Sorry." "Focus, Rafe." "I am. Just on the wrong thing." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 331d609 | There's no woman in Vancouver is there?" I said as I pushed back my wet hair. The water was cooling now. "No contacts your mom gave you." "No, that's a story they fed me. But we're going to follow it, because getting you guys to Vancouver is the best chance you have." guys. Not us. Best chance have. Not we. "When we get to Vancouver, you'll pretend to suddenly realize it's a trap," he said. "You'll turn on me and you'll run, and leave me.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| befa88f | I wish--" He looked away, then leaned toward my ear again so I couldn't see his face. "There's no other way. Annie needs me. And you...you don't. Not like that. You can look after yourself and..." He straightened and gave me a crooked smile. "By then you'll be happy to be rid of me, I'm sure." I leaned forward and whispered, "No, I won't." Then I kissed him. Just a kiss, my hands still at my sides. When I pulled back, he looked stunned. The.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| f45d305 | It might not be fatal," I said. "Depends on how long it takes you to find your cell phone." I emptied the rifle's magazine. Then I laid down the gun. "I'd suggest you tell the police it was a hunting accident. Otherwise I'll have to tell them the truth." I helped Sam to the truck. As she got in, she winced, then glowered at the man lying on the ground. "If I could kick him without falling on my ass, I would," she said. "Hopefully, he's hurt.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| d1a6c53 | I fired. The bullet hit him below the shoulder. He fell, his mouth working, eyes wide with shock. "It might not be fatal," I said. "Depends on how long it takes you to find your cell phone." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 3164154 | Now, after three days in the forest, that human part of me was sick of trees and streams and forest paths. It wanted a sofa and a TV and a shower. God, it really wanted a shower. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| c14e414 | Mom?" Corey called. He cut himself short and swore. "I probably shouldn't do that. Scare the crap out of her." He took a step toward the kitchen, then paused. "Or maybe I yell. Warn her before her dead son appears from nowhere." He glanced at us. "Arghh! I'm overanalyzing. When this is over, I need a long break from you guys." "And we'll need one from you," Sam said. "Just relax," I said. "Call her. Find her. It doesn't matter. You're abo.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 1154c6c | I collapsed onto the sofa with a sigh. Daniel plunked down beside me, then twisted to stretch out, legs going over mine. "Oh my God," I said, shoving his feet off my lap. "Do you know how bad those smell?" He tried to stick them in my face. I grabbed him around the ankles and tickled the bottom of his feet. He let out a shriek. "Well, you're still ticklish," I said. "And you still giggle like a girl." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 90e5f22 | Mom isn't here," Corey said. "Neither is Travis. So much for my grand resurrection." He slumped onto the sofa. "We'll have to wait for them. Which is a little anticlimactic." We decided to clean up and eat. Start looking and feeling human again. "There's not much in the way of food," Sam said. She'd come out of the kitchen with a Coke and a spoon heaped with peanut butter. "What?" Corey said. "Mom knows better than to let our cupboards get .. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| f2bb02c | Mom isn't here," Corey said. "Neither is Travis. So much for my grand resurrection." He slumped onto the sofa. "We'll have to wait for them. Which is a little anticlimactic." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| af00fe6 | As we headed back into the living room, I noticed the phone on the counter. Daniel followed my gaze and laughed. "Um, yeah. We're holed up, waiting to notify someone that we're back...and there's a phone. We've been in the woods way too long." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| f0281be | I know this means it's over," he whispered. "I got a second chance, and I blew it, and I..." He swallowed and turned his head, his expression hidden behind the curtain of water. "I'd give anything not to do that. I would, Maya. I know you don't believe me, but it's true." When I pushed past the pain of betrayal, I did believe him. Because he'd let go of my hand as we dangled from that helicopter. Because he'd been ready to die to save me. A.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| c1faa31 | I know this means it's over," he whispered. "I got a second chance, and I blew it, and I..." He swallowed and turned his head, his expression hidden behind the curtain of water. "I'd give anything not to do that. I would, Maya. I know you don't believe me, but it's true." When I pushed past the pain of betrayal, I did believe him. Because he'd let go of my hand as we dangled from that helicopter. Because he'd been ready to die to save me. A.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 72496bb | They need to act like everything's okay, so you can't tell them. Not even Daniel." I backed up, freeing myself. "That's the deal-breaker, isn't it?" he murmured. "Daniel." "I trust--" "I know you do. But I don't, and not because I think he's untrustworthy, but because I don't know him well enough to be sure he won't screw up. The only person I trust is you." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| d4223b3 | I know that just means you understand. At least, I hope you do." "I do." " | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| abca61c | I said the same words he'd said to me before he'd let go. "It's okay." A twisted smile. "No, not really. But it'll be okay soon. Or as close as it can get." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| d73dd0e | I was heading to bed when Daniel appeared. "Is everything okay?" he whispered when we were inside my room with the door closed. "Sure." His look called me a liar. "You and Rafe. Something's up." I hesitated and the urge to tell him everything was so strong, I had to clamp my jaw shut. "No," I said quickly. "Everything's fine. I just...It's a little much right now. I thought he was dead, and he isn't, and...I'm feeling a lot of things." Whic.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| db4fb71 | I just wanted to make sure there wasn't a problem." "No problem," I said." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 60dbb08 | I walked to the covered porch. Rafe was on the futon, still dressed, no blankets or pillow, sleeping with his head on his arm. It was chilly, with the cold night air seeming to blast through the window glass. I found a blanket folded by the wood-burning stove. I went back to Rafe, unfolded the blanket, and crawled in beside him. He woke as I was pulling the blanket up over us. "Maya?" I put my fingers to my lips and lay down. When I opened .. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| bf68024 | I tried to look away, but he caught my chin and kissed me and it was such a sweet kiss, and I felt so guilty, like I'd betrayed him, and my throat seized up and tears trickled down my cheeks, onto his. He pulled back and looked surprised, then wiped the tears away with his thumbs, holding my face in his hand. "It's all good, Maya," he whispered. "I mean that. I see how you and Daniel are, and I want you to trust me that much, but I know I h.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| ceb9c5e | He bent down and his kiss was so full of longing that tears pricked my eyes again. When another one rolled down my cheek, he wiped it away. "No more of that," he said. "I'm just--" "I know." His lips moved to my ear. "So am I." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 200acae | I put my arms around his neck and hugged him, face buried in his neck, and he hugged me back, making no move to kiss me again, just holding me. Then he put his lips against my ear and whispered, "I'll find a way to get back to you, Maya. I promise." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 0585c91 | Hey, you're up," Daniel said behind me. I turned to see him in the kitchen doorway, a box of cereal in his hand. "No milk, but they do have Froot Loops. I know you love Froot Loops." "Thanks." I took a step toward him. "But first I need to--" Corey came bounding down the stairs. "Did I hear the breakfast bell?" "Food's all gone," Sam called from the kitchen. Daniel backed up, disappearing from view. I hesitated. "What's up?" Corey said. "No.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 7ab3498 | You've got everyone convinced that you sacrificed yourself for Maya and Daniel, but that's crap. You didn't let go. You slipped. Maya wanted to believe there was more to it, so she convinced Daniel--" "She didn't convince me of anything," Daniel said, his voice low. "I was there, too, Sam. He let go." "So? He's not actually dead, is he?" Rafe sputtered a laugh. She glowered at him, then at Corey, who'd joined them, grinning as he heard. Eve.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 2e4921c | Look, I'm fine with Rafe--" "No, you're not. Heroic sacrifice or not, he's still a jerk. He waltzed into Salmon Creek and stole Maya." " ?" I said. "It's not your fault. You two are both skin-walkers. It's animal magnetism. You can't help yourself." She glared at Corey, who was cracking up behind Rafe. "Stop that. You know it's true. Maya's too smart to fall for an arrogant, self-centered--" "Enough," Daniel said. Sam sighed. "I know you're.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| f3281eb | He waltzed into Salmon Creek and stole Maya." " ?" I said. "It's not your fault. You two are both skin-walkers. It's animal magnetism. You can't help yourself." She glared at Corey, who was cracking up behind Rafe. "Stop that. You know it's true." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| e903fb5 | I don't know what your problem is, Sam, but you've now insulted everyone here except Corey." "Oh, she already zinged me," Corey said. "I started rubbing my temples and she suggested I don't really get headaches. It just hurts me to think." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 551b05e | Daniel and I kept running. We could see the ridge now. Safety. Just get-- Something whizzed past me. "Dan--!" I whirled, shouting a warning, only to see him stagger backward, a dart embedded in his shoulder. Another zinged past my arm. Daniel yanked me to the ground. We crawled into thick bushes. I tugged the dart from his shoulder. He blinked hard, eyes unfocused. He shook his head to clear it. "I'm fine," he said. "Just a little woozy. Mu.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 31ddcf0 | I'm fine," he said. "Just a little woozy. Must not have gone in deep enough." I scanned the ridge, and I caught a flicker of light reflecting off metal. "Sharpshooter," I whispered. "But you can't do that with tranq darts." "These people can resurrect extinct supernatural races, Maya," Daniel whispered. "I think their technology goes a little beyond the norm." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| d5ca674 | I'm fine," he said. "Just a little woozy. Must not have gone in deep enough." I scanned the ridge, and I caught a flicker of light reflecting off metal. "Sharpshooter," I whispered. "But you can't do that with tranq darts." "These people can resurrect extinct supernatural races, Maya," Daniel whispered. "I think their technology goes a little beyond the norm." "Right. Okay." I took a deep breath. "Follow me." I started crawling through the .. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| e2b5617 | We ditched the car in one of the big shopping plazas in Nanaimo's north end. From there, we'd hop a city bus to the ferry. Before that, though, I found a pay phone. I put in my money and dialed my grandmother's number in Skidegate. It rang four times. I knew the machine was going to pick up, and as I waited, I considered what I'd say. I had to make sure she knew it was me, not some ghoul pretending to be her dead granddaughter. I couldn't .. | Kelley Armstrong |