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"Clara You know you’re not allowed to use the word stupid" I tapped her on the tip of her nose "Use silly or don’t use it at all"

She sighed, eyes flashing "Don’t embarrass me, mummy I’m not five any her as a tyrannical five-year-old with awatt battery and flossy brown hair

Clue caht, not letting go of Clara

Fox hadn’t moved a muscle His eyes were full of memories I could never understand, his jaw slack, body slouched as if Clara had stolen the life out of him

Despite what had happened between us, I hated the desolation in his gaze--the lostness, the sadness

Tucking Clara behind ain, I moved forward and waved a hand in front of his eyes "Fox"

It took a second, but he blinked and refocused, dragging hihtened "Sorry Thinking of so his hands, he kept his eyes on o Work I forgot--urgent business"

My stomach fluttered at his obvious distress He didn’t need to work The accounts were in order, all supplies filed and delivered Opening ti

Two conflicting emotions filled me I wanted him to run I wanted him as far away froht of hiirl who already adored hier and now just felt endlessly sad

Sad for him

Sad for us

Just sad

I wanted to bla he wasn’t normal and couldn’t be tamed But if I had to cast blame, I was tainted myself He would never have hurt me if I hadn’t pushed He’d warned me, and I didn’t listen

Despite what happened, he had ress froe whereas before I didn’t think he thought he had that option

It just wasn’t enough

He was beyond dangerous--entirely unpredictable--and I couldn’t afford to let him into this part of ht hurt hter, and they just didn’t work together Delicate and dangerous Fragile and frightening No, I wouldn’t let it happen

"Yes, good idea You better go" I didn’t wanthi

Fox took a step back with a heavy nod

Corkscrew moved forward "Hey, you want some help? I ca over, but I’" His black eyes flickered back to Clue

She nodded with a slight sether in operation get ‘Fox away froood idea, Ben I’ll come back and pick you up when I’ve dropped Zelly and Clara off at ho o yet I like it here" Her lips pouted and she pointed at Fox "I want to know more about the bad man He scarred rab her, she darted across the serously close

My heart fucking clawed intoher finger through a belt loop

Fox’s eyes snapped closed, and he sucked in a huge lungful of air

Everyone froze

Clue and Ben had no idea the risk Fox presented, but they sensed it They tasted my panic, and we all rabbed Clara’s hand, jerking her away

"No!" She clutched Fox’s belt loop, fighting me "I want to stay"

She’d never pulled a tantrum in her entire life Never She knew better, so what the hell was she doing? Twice in one day!

"Clara Hunter you obeyat my disobedient child The same child who held onto a monster as if she found a new pet

Fox tu in a second flat The sahter The saht