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"It’s the way it’s supposed to be At least between people who trust each other"

"I didn’t mean to lead you on," she told hih with unsated lust "Not as sorry as I am"

She needed to put so at his body, was doing nothing to clear her head His presence left no roo He took up too much of her attention when she was near hi to take a walk," said Lexi She sat up on the edge of the bed, letting her dizzy head settle

He ht, his tone was gentle "I wish you’d stay"

"So I can frustrate usto kill hi too fast, that’s all You just need some time to learn you can trust htness in her throat "Zach, I need to be completely honest here There is no way I’ll ever trust anyone enough to let thee around inside my head"

"You’re just not used to the idea Give it tirow on you"

"No I ether for a dozen centuries and I’ive you that kind of power overabout? What power?"

"Are you serious? You don’t think that being able to see inside my brain is like the ultimate power trip? Who knohat you could do once you’re up there?"

"That’s the point If you trust soh to let them in, you trust them not to fuck you over"

"That kind of trust isn’t in htened his shoulders "So, I’ll go first Go ahead Take a peek inside and see whatever you like I don’t have anything to hide"

Lexi was teotten when she donned his luceria had intrigued her She itched to see more, but it wasn’t fair She couldn’t violate him like that

"Sorry"

His hand covered hers and a flood of co warmth streamed up her arive it to you"

She didn’t think time was the solution to all this, but she kept her mouth shut Maybe after she had soure out how to handle Zach’s bizarre expectations "I don’t think I’ll ever get used to all of thisstuff"

"Maybe you should talk to Helen about it She’s been through all this"

"Helen is a lot hed "Maybe But don’t worry We’ll figure this out, honey We’ll ainst the tears that stung her eyes "And if we can’t?"

"We will" Total confidence radiated out from him "I won’t let it happen any other way"

She wished she could believe him, but she knew better Even if her fantasy was true, and Zach was everything he claimed to be, she’d already betrayed hi how he’d slaughtered the creatures who had tried to do that very thing, she wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to forgive her Sure, , but that wasn’t the kind of life Lexi wanted She wanted a hoed Not a place that tolerated her existence because Zach needed her to live

Of course, what she wanted had never really reater scheme of her life

Lexi went to the door and lifted the heavy bar "I’ll be back later," she told hi the look of disappointht now Not on top of everything else

Lexi shut the door behind her and felt a wave of desperate longing rush through her She was ten yards away before she realized that what she felt hadn’t come fro

She pulled to a stop and slid her thuht of the luceria It arm from her body--y pulsed around it, as if begging to be used

Lexi was convinced she’don, but it was too late now She held Zach’s life squarely in her hands, and she wasn’t going to let him down

At least not yet

Maybe she wasn’t the trusting sort, and hts and invade her privacy, but she wasn’t completely useless

There was power inside the band around her neck, and she was da to learn how to use it

Chapter 15

Zach kept an eye on Lexi, holding back far enough that he didn’t think she’d see hiive her soer

The sun hadn’t yet set, so she was safe, but Zach wasn’t taking any chances He wasn’t going to risk her leaving hiain

Now that she wore his luceria, his soul had stopped dying He could sense that the decay of his lifeh the pressure of the power housed inside hier painful Lexi had saved hih--that he didn’t have to ask her for more But he did He needed all of her, not just the part she wanted to give Not just her body, but her trust

Maybe it would take years, but Zach vowed he would find a way to show her he orthy of such a precious gift

"What are you doing skulking around in the trees?" asked Drake from behind him

Zach pretended he hadn’t been startled, and turned around to look at his friend "I’ an eye on Lexi"

Drake’s eyes slid down to Zach’s throat, then greide A grin split his face and his eyes closed for a moment in relief "She did it"

"Yeah," said Zach siratulations,to be beside herself"

"Youit’s going to last"