Page 22 (1/2)

"Dinna be afraid"

I started up, grasping at the covers, yanking thenized the voice, as well as the ht of thehere?" My fear had turned to fury "How did you get in?"

"The as open"

I frowned, trying to remember Had it been? Maybe But -

"This is the second floor"

"Did you think soet in if they were of ain the way of old houses, the ceilings high, which put the second story round than most second stories There was no convenient drainpipe near my , and only slick, painted wood surrounded it

"You couldn&039;t have climbed," I murmured "That&039;s impossible"

"Obviously not, since here I aone forlish was not his first or his only language

"Why are you here?" I asked "Did you find Josh?"

He hesitated, then sighed "No"

"Not a trace?"

"Blood from his nose led to his car" He spread his hands wide

"Never mind Grace will take care of hi out of trouble"

"Not this tilanced off the cross tangling in his hair, nearly blinding me "Why do you wear a crucifix in your ear?" I asked

His lips curved "Where should I wear one?"

"Most Catholics wear a crucifix around their neck"

"I said ere baptized Catholic"

"But you really aren&039;t?"

"What else would we be?"

"Question with a question," Ia question with a question?"

"It uilty"

"I wasn&039;t aware you suspectedconversation" What else was I supposed to do when a ht?

Actually, I knehat I was supposed to do, especially with him, but I wasn&039;t sure I was ready to do it

Malachi seemed to sense ainst the sill, a picture of tranquility, no threat to me at all

"We&039;ve alorn the symbols of the people who inhabit the land around us," he said

"Why?"

"To avoid persecution"

"People aren&039;t persecuted for their religion anyht smile at a foolish but dear child "Do you think if your townsfolk kneorshipping the moon and the fire, they&039;d be so quick to flock to our show and give us their hard-earned money?"

Probably not But -

"They wouldn&039;t persecute you"

"You sahat happened in the drugstore with Sabina"

I had

Silence fell between us I could feel hiht spilling through theand spreading across the rulanced up and found myself captured by what I saw in his eyes He wanted me, but he wouldn&039;t make the first move He wouldn&039;t make any move That would have to coth, everything that had been taken froht I would take it, by taking Malachi

In truth, this man should have terrified me He&039;d broken Josh&039;s nose, picked him up easily and shaken hith was superior not only to mine but also to that of anyone I&039;d ever known However, he&039;d used his strength to defend ainst me, and I didn&039;t believe he would