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The ile in sensory memory "You have visitors often?"

"No"

So, this Faith was special Folding her arms, she watched hi, and threw her bag up to the second level When he stepped back down, his expression was one of grim determination "Now, tell me the truth"

Her stomach was suddenly full of a thousand butterflies "The truth?"

His eyes turned so dark, they were close to black "At first I thought it was because you’d grown up, but that’s not it"

She sed "What?" He couldn’t kno could he know?

"Your scent" He closed the distance between theerous predator with a , Talin"

"How can I s?" Dread morphed into honest confusion "I smell like round, though irrational fear struck again Merasp "What do you think you’re doing?"

"Snapping you out of panic"

Her answer stuck in her throat as she felt the heat of his breath whisper along the curve of her neck He was no longer touching any part of her, but she couldn’t move Her body remembered his He’d been the only one who had touched her in affection before the Larkspurs But her adoptive family occupied a far different space in her heart than Clay He was a deep, intrinsic part of her, a part she both feared and craved

"You sliness below the surface, a badness"

Her soul curled into a tight self-protective ball "I revolt you"

"No, it’s not that kind of badness It’s just wrong, shouldn’t be there" He put his hands on her hips They were big Heavy "Scared, Tally?"

She fought her shiver "You know I aht remember his warmth and protectiveness, but it also reers pressed down a fraction before he released her She waited for hi into eyes no longer the dark green of reen of leopard

Unprepared for the shift, she took a stuness in your scent, Talin?"

"I don’t know"

"Try again"

She was about to repeat her anshen she realized it would be a lie Heras you can live with it, what does it matter?"

"Tell me"

He was a barricade in front of her, an impenetrableher fear, the display of unvarnished do a bully"

His face reflected surprise "Wrong answer" He came closer

She went to duck out of the way but he’d already ainst the wall, his hands palms down on either side of her body She felt her heart rate speed up, her own pal to make me more inclined to tell you"

He leaned down until his face filled her vision A long, still pause "Boo"

She jumped at the husky whisper and hated herself for it "Not nice"

"According to you, I’ monster"

"No, I never - " She shook her head "I can’t help what my mind feels, Clay"

"Why?"

"Why not?" she snapped "It’sbut a pile of shit" He pressed even closer, the heat of hi, then I’ with you?"

"I’! There, happy now?"

Chapter 8