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"Well…" She hesitated "For a little while," she whispered, her resistance evaporating She eak, that was all there was to it "We can go sit in the parlor," she added primly The parlor was a safely public place

"The parlor?" Seph raised an eyebrow "I thought maybe we…"

"Come on," she said "We’ll have to be quiet or Rachel will kick us out"

Shaking his head, Seph followed Madison through the kitchen with its hulking coe and loaded pantry, crossed the center hall, and entered the parlor The room was furnished with marble-topped Victorian tables and curved-back chairs, and lined with bookshelves A cheerful fire burned on the hearth, and bottles of wine, a tea service, and trays of cookies were set out on the sideboard for guests of the inn Rachel’s presenceitself felt

They settled into the chairs, side by side, like two nineteenth-century sweethearts in the presence of a chaperone Seph covered her hand with his on the delicate aric within her uncoiled, alerted by his presence, and rippled into her extrelance at hi his temples with his other hand "I was fine earlier, but now I’ the mother of all headaches"

"Maybe you’ll be less busy this su her hand as soon as she could and tugging at her shawl "With…with the boundary and all, I mean"

He stared moodily into the fla, unless they get worse"

"You should try and relax a little Have a little fun before you go away to school"

Seph cleared his throat "I’ve beento talk to you about that"

"About what?"

He took a deep breath, as if anticipating the battle ahead "I’ve decided to put off Northwestern for awhile"

"What?" She twisted in her seat "Why?" Like she had to ask

"What with everything going on and all I just think it would be better if I stayed here"

"Who talked you into that? Nick? Your father?"

He shifted his shoulders unhappily "I decided on my own"

"I’ll just bet you did" The words tumbled out, hard and furious

"We could see each other ht you’d be happy" He looked over at her, then away "Guess not"

Madison hadn’t ht Why couldn’t she talk to people about things without getting all raggedy ht in town"

"Do you even want to see me?" He paused, and when she didn’t reply, he continued "Ever since Second Sister, you’ve been…different" His voice broke with frustration "It’s like … you’re scared of me You flinch when I touch you It makes it really hard, okay?"

Typical Seph McCauley chose to confront the elephant in the parlor when she’d just as soon walk around it

Seph barreled on "I know you can’t forget what happened last summer At Second Sister But it’s been six months If you’d just talk about it, I think it would help"

He’d given her this tiny opening, an excuse for her crazy behavior, and she seized on it "I’et," she said "But I can’t Those people getting burned up and ripped apart And I know Leicester was…evil, but when you and Jason …"

"That’s not who I am, Maddie Leicester tortured me for months" He held up his maimed hand "He did this to ht he’d killedhim, I mean" Maddie stared down at her lap "It’s my problem, not yours" That part was the truth, anyway

"But it is my proble to be all right And then … I never know, fro away from you, it’s because it’s too hard" He reached out and touched her hand "I miss you"

"I’aze downcast, afraid to ive me some time?"

"I don’t knoto happen" When she said nothing, Seph went on "It would be easier for o away, and then I wouldn’t have to see you all the time But I have to stay If we lose this e lose everything"

"I don’t see inning the war is up to you"

"It’s not all up to me But I have to help" He leaned his head back, closed his eyes, the lashes dark against his bloodless skin "I’m sorry, Maddie," he whispered "I don’t knohat’s wrong with me lately I don’t feel so well"

She pulled her hand free It was happening again His undiluted presence was having its usual effect She could feel power rising inside her, coalescing under her breastbone She was leaking ic, despite all her efforts to contain it Like she had any idea how

She tried na colors in alpha order, a trick froplant Fuchsia But it was no good Her skin flaled and burned She knehat that , so footsteps, Rachel’s business voice, "The Legends Rachel Booker"

Moments later, Rachel appeared in the doorway to the parlor, extending the phone toward Madison "It’s for you Your mama"