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"It’s not fair He gets to be on your bed He gets to be with you in public, and I have to act like we barely know each other I hate the fact I can’t even look at you, in case someone realizes how I feel about you," Ash says
"Sebastian’s getting suspicious," I say
Ash runs a hand through his hair "Are you sure?"
"He doesn’t have any proof, even if he does suspect soal to talk to you, and that’s all he’s seen us doing," I say
Ash nods, then s about the Golden Haze?"
"No How about you?"
"Evangeline’s given it to their alchemists" He rubs his neck "Look, I’ht? She’s the only twin-blood I’ve ever met; I just wanted to spend soes inside me, but I force a smile "It’s fine You must be curious about her It’s only natural"
He looks down at his feet, and I swear his cheeks flush for a second No, I’et aith ets up and retrieves the fallen painting fro toward rew up here," I say "I lived here until my father was killed, just before the air raids last year We were evacuated to Centrum shortly after the raids started; this is the first ti against the wall and takes in our surroundings The study is vast, ooden floors and dark green walls, both covered in dust and ash A broken grandfather clock is by the door On the clock face are twelve birds, representing the hours of the day Ti
Ash’s black hair stirs as he walks around the room He looks at me, startled
"It’s everywhere" He swipes a hand across the wall, re a layer of dust to reveal a dark splash of dried blood
I look away
"What happened?" he asks
The events of that night rush back to htingale singing Eleven o’clock Father’s angry, urgent voice rings up through the floorboards Who’s he talking to so late at night? I sneak into Polly’s room and find she’s already awake We tiptoe downstairs Mother’s hovering by the study door, her hair loose around her shoulders, talking quickly to astirs by his feet, and the sht of us, and fear flashes across her face
"Go upstairs!" she exclai them in here," a soft, effete voice orders
"No, don’t!" Father yells froirls! RUN!"
Polly starts to run, but I stay rooted to the ground, terrified for ht
"Coes
An adrenaline spike forces me into action I rush into the study, and Polly follows What I see asp Father’s tied down to a chair, beaten and bloodied He stares aton?" I say
"Go! Go!" he yells
A snarl draws my attention toward the man in the shadows By his feet is a Wrath, its yellowed eyes boring intowith venom I screaht onmy scent to see what sort of food I am It cocks its head, then backs away, disinterested
"I think, Jonathan, you’re not being totally forthco with me Perhaps you need a little nize his refined, light voice Purian Rose
He raises a white-gloved hand and gestures toward the guards standing in the corner of the roo on me and Polly and stand us beside Father
Purian Rose’s wolfish eyes glower at us froirl should it be?" He looks at my le against my captor as Mother looks between me and Polly
"Don’t make me choose Don’tI can’t," she says
"Choose, or they both die," Purian Rose orders
"Polly! Take Polly!" Mother says hurriedly, rushing over tome into her arms
"They tortured Polly until ion Liberation Front," I say nu he came for, he set the Wrath on my father We were lucky to escape"
"I’ur Marwick had promised to protect my father when he turned sides, but he didn’t He abandoned him He abandoned all of us e needed hiur, all right He let his own niece die"
"I don’t knohy Rose let the rest of us live Mother won’t talk about it, other than to say we should count our blessings She’s never let ot hurt If I’d run like Father told me to do"
Ash pulls me into his arms
"I never understood why my mother chose me over Polly My sister was her favorite Now she pretends like she doesn’t even exist," I whisper
Tears begin to well up in my eyes I push Ash away and run out of the room He catches up with me inside my old bedrooraffiti and the furniture overturned and charred My bed is still in one piece, although it looks like it’s seen some action over the past year
I lie down on top of the dirty bedcovers and don’t protest when Ash joinshia on the hope they won’t coainst each other
"I can’t bear this world It’s so full of anger and hate There’s death everywhere you look" I turn to face Ash "I want to stop feeling like this Make et, Ash, please Just for a short while, I want to live in a world where we’re not meant to be enemies"
He looks at me, uncertain
"Please, Ash"
He kissesHis heart beats in unison with mine, and I’hoverunder the waistband ofunder the cotton cloth and caressing his stoainstroans, his senses exploding at my touch
"Maybeyoushouldstop," he says between rapid breaths "I’le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>