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Despite the gargoyle’s unease, he gave a ready nod, his courage astonishing for such a small creature "Oui You can depend upon ht hand over the tip of his wing It was only when she was clih thethat she realized how natural it felt toshe hadn’t allowed herself for centuries

Obviously being in this world was altering more than just her powers

Affection, desire, concern

What was next?

Love?

With a shake of her head, Nefri made her way back to the lower floor How often did she have to warn herself that noas not the time to be distracted by such foolishness?

In fact, never see her expression into a calo remained seated on the floor with the hu is clear," she assured him

"This is Melinda" He lifted his head to send her a speaking glance as the girl tre her presence was adding to the girl’s distress "Sssh,hand over her tangled hair "No one is going to hurt you"

Nefri slowly bent down to sit on the floor Towering over the child wasn’t going to help "Does she knohat happened to her?"

"We were just getting to that, weren’t we, Melinda?" His attention returned to the feave a violent shake of her head

"I don’t want to talk about it"

"I knoas horrible for you," he sy tones

"It orse than horrible"

"Let’s return to the beginning," Santiago urged "Can you do that for me?"

Melinda shuddered, but clearly as susceptible as every other feo’s potent charirl How long have you been here?"

Her brorinkled in genuine confusion "I’m not sure A day, ’s fine" He tilted back her chin, studying her pale, tearstained face "Why were you at this place?"

Nefri watched the girl struggle to s, the sound of her pounding heart thundering through the room

"It was a party A birthday party for Brian," she at last ed to rasp "We always come here because the police never drive out this far"

"How many?"

"We started with a couple dozen or so, but once the keg ran dry a lot of people began returning to town" Her botto she truly was Barely h school"

"But you stayed?" Santiago asked

"Yes" She gave a slow nod "I’ve waited forever for Robert to notice irl burrowed her face in Santiago’s shoulder "It’s e his words with a trace of compulsion

Nefri lifted her brows at his delicate touch It was rare for a va co their free will At the same time he was able to soothe her hysterics despite the fear that continued to pulse in the air

A

With a tentative aze "There were six of us left and we started kissing and stuff," she ado," Nefri softly protested

He lifted a silencing hand, his gaze never straying froirl "Melinda, tell me"

She hunched a defensive shoulder "I think someoneout with Robert and the next ere all on the ground" Her head dropped, a blush staining her pale cheeks "You knowtogether"

"And that’s soo asked

"Of course not" She tilted back her head "I’ht say"

"So you just couldn’t stop yourself?"

"No We were all out of control"

Santiago shot Nefri a glance and she gave a slow nod The girl was incapable of lying under Santiago’s compulsion, which roup sex

Lust

As powerful an eaze back to Melinda "Then what happened?"