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"Roland--"

"Better yet, showfor a response, his head dipped down and deftly captured Ree’s e of the moment to plunder her mouth When one of his hands slid under her hair to cup her neck, she closed her eyes and h her head, transporting her to another tiirl with a dark-haired boy in a field of tall wheat, laughing and giggling It was replaced with a girl of twelve or thirteen standing in the corner at a party, watching a devilishly good-looking boy dancing with her friend There was the i her a flower, his face wreathed in a happy smile, while Tria’s heart beat rapidly in her chest

Then, as if herparallel to the present, she saw their first kiss His hands shook when they cupped her face and Tria laughed at his nerves Soher with a sadness thatin her soul felt as if it was shriveling One of the threads that held her tied to this body see fro her first kiss with Roland as Ree, but Tria was kissing hioodbye Part of her would always love Roland, there was no denying it But he needed to start over, to find the one that really held the other half of his soul

As if sensing where her thoughts were going, his kiss intensified, de her hands over his chest, she laid one against his neck before slowly pulling away He pressed his forehead against hers, his breathing heavy, his eyes closed as if he was in pain

A growl ripped through the room and Roland spun so Ree was behind hiht train, knocking Roland back into Ree She stuain his footing Grabbing Paden by the shoulders, he flung hi away from Ree, Roland intercepted Paden’s next strike and blocked the punch aimed for his face

"Paden!" Ree’s heart slammed into her chest and she h, and Paden ed to connect his fist with Roland’s jaw The Dark One was knocked backward to slide along the floor Paden stayed on hi onto Roland’s chest, Paden raised his fist to hit hi back, Roland deflected the blow Paden’s knuckles crashed through the hardwood floor with a loud crack and sent splinters flying His first punch was followed by the second and third, leaving the floor around Roland’s head obliterated

Bryce and Weylin flew into the rooed therabbed his shoulders Paden tensed, but didn’t stop his assault on Roland

"Paden, stop!" Ree pulled at his shoulder, but he didn’t budge

"No" Paden’s voice growled the word and his attack grew in ferocity His pain filled every crevice in Ree’sto make it better, but she couldn’t let him beat Roland She had let Roland kiss her and she deserved Paden’s wraththe power, Ree threw it around Paden and Roland, using it to pull theround

"Put me down, Ree I’m not done" Paden snarled in her direction and Roland brushed some of the blood away from his eyes

"We had a deal, Paden" Roland’s voice was tired, his movements weary Ree couldn’t help but notice he didn’t refer to Paden as godling, and thatto rip you apart"

"Don’t be a sore loser, godling" Roland sneered at Paden with more of his norrowled again, but didn’t say anything else Ree was surprised there was a trace of guilt sliding through his anger and hurt What did he have to feel guilty about?

"I don’t knohat you two are talking about, but if I put you down can you behave?" Ree looked at Paden, letting him know she was mainly concerned about his behavior

"I don’t know Can you keep your hands off of hiry voice sliced at Ree’s heart, but it was no less than she deserved

"Yes, I can" Ree looked at Paden, knowing he could feel her guilt and shame Yes, she let Roland kiss her, but she would never love someone the way she loved Paden After a ree them Ree looked around the room and realized the others had left the to be there for whatever was about to happen

"We had a deal, Paden" Roland wiped at his nose and grirowled and looked anywhere but at Ree

"What are you talking about?" Ree looked between Roland and Paden

"We made a bet at your parent’s house I killed thefar more uncomfortable than Ree had ever seen Roland, he looked down at the floor

Suspicion gnawed at Ree as she remembered their last bet; Paden had won and had taken her ho untoould have happened, but he’d wanted to be the one to protect her

"What were your terms, Roland?" Ree looked at him and put her hands on her hips

"To kiss you" Roland frowned and looked at Paden "And I thought it ithout recourse on his part, but apparently I should have been clearer"

Ree sucked in a breath and tried to not lose her tenuous hold on calrimace Paden had bet a kiss with Ree, like she was some type of object to trade, as if her kisses were a couilty

"You bet a kiss with me?" Ree felt her face fill with her hurt

"I didn’t think you would really kiss him" Paden looked away from her face "I didn’t think he would win"

"He did win! Ifto you then you wouldn’t have taken the chance" Shaking her head, Ree took a deep breath

"No, Ree That’s not it It was stupid" Paden took a step in her direction but stopped when she glared at him

"Who else did you make that bet with? Weylin and Bryce? Melanie and Juliette?" Ree crossed her arms and cocked her hip "Is there anyone else I owe a kiss?"

"It rong, Ree But you did kiss him How could you do that?" Paden looked at her with sad eyes "I thought…" His voice trailed off, leaving her to decipher what he was thinking

"Paden, I’ up in her eyes Nounforgivable