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"Why what?"

She narrowed her eyes at the guarded expression that returned so quickly "Why any of this? Why shoith my fa Dad is paying you, but it wouldn’t be anything that would rock your world You’ve got to have better things to do than get involved in olf politics, and it’s not like you and I hit it off right off the bat or anything I just… don’t get it"

Jaden’s forehead creased with a sers orange while she poked at it Her appetite had evaporated, an unusual occurrence But it suddenly see here Even if she had a suspicion that there were a lot of things about him she would never understand

Finally, he said, "I’m well over two hundred years old, Lyra For s that interested s are different now, and this interests me I don’t knohy Does it ardless"

"And what if I don’t?"

"Then I’ll go find so else to do," Jaden replied The words were casual, but he looked deadly serious Lyra watched hi the tension in the line of his shoulders, the set of his jaw For whatever reason, it seemed he really wanted to be here To be with her, in some capacity Despite her own reaction to hi to be?" Jaden asked softly "I don’t think Dorien was really listening when I told hiht, your decision I can be out of here, and out of town, before he gets back if you’d rather And if you want et started as soon as we have a safe place to work"

Lyra shifted unco the top of the Cheetos bag so she didn’t have to look at hi put on the spot, and this was an awfully big deal Too big to make a snap decision about Apart froood read on Jaden’s h to s She knew a little about his bloodline--or at least, the bloodline he’d been sired into before he’d hooked up with the Lilim But all that dynastic crap, with the aristocracy and the weird overned their oas not her world and not her concern

Jaden was a big unknown And she wasn’t sure she was in a position to be taking a risk with hiain… she wasn’t sure she could afford to refuse

Frustrated, and not really thinking about what she was doing, Lyra stuck a finger in her mouth to suck off a last bit of cheese After a moment she realized that Jaden’s attention had become completely fixed on her mouth His expression, in the instant before his eyes et He looked hungry in a way she’d never experienced, plagued by a longing so deep that it was unlikely anything could ever assuage it

In that instant, he looked every bit the vampire: ancient, and lost, and nearly consuaze to meet hers, and Lyra felt the hot punch of all that fathoht be a vahteningly well to the animal in him It was all she could do not to leap across the table, wrap her legs around hiers together on the table, and crossed her legs Jaden, too, seemed to withdraw a little He leaned back in his chair, crossed his arh nothing had just passed between them

Lyra realized he didn’t want this either It was a relief, in a way But it was also no guarantee he would continue to behave hiave the only answer possible

"It’s late," she said "I’m wiped, and this is a lot to take in So why don’t we do this: stick around for now We’ll give it a shot If the whole idea crashes and burns, you go, and I cos"

Slowly, Jaden nodded "Okay Sounds reasonable"

"Good," Lyra said, trying to sound relaxed when she was anything but She needed to get soet out for a four-legged run beneath the waning moon But even that serous Even here

All she could do was head for another part of the house It would have to be enough And hopefully, a good night’s sleep would provide her with perspective she currently lacked

"Look, I need to, us before I hit the sack, and I have no idea when my father will show back up" She tried for a s from me Anyway, I’h week, so…" She trailed off, hoping he’d get the hint

"Not a problem I don’t need a babysitter," Jaden said easily "I’ll find soo ahead"<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>