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Perhaps I’d sensed he et them off my chest while he was still the Ben I knew
Whatever the case, as we neared the forest on our journey back toward the residences, I’d slipped my hands into his and pulled him to a stop
But then when I’d openedfear took hold of me
My throat felt parched and I just couldn’t spit the words out
I had no choice but to cluo of hied to expressabout the way Ben had looked at me told me that he suspected what I was about to say
The way I’d touched him, and the way my cheeks had flushed--it would have been obvious to anyone
Ben wasn’t one to shy away from subjects withmade me believe he didn’t feel what I felt for his for ht
He didn’t put his arh the woods as loversback home as the close friends we’d become
By the tilad I hadn’t spoken the words out loud
Because noas sure that they would have made Ben feel uncomfortable
It was just as well I’d choked up
I’d probably h as it was… "Do you hear that?" Erik’s voice broke throughup the stairs" Footsteps ascended the staircase a dozen feet away
Erik tugged on me and we sped back to Mona’s front door, careful not to lanced back at the staircase to see afrom it--the same blond warlock who’d escorted Mona up here earlier
Erik and I flattened ourselves against the wall as he passed by us and stopped outside Mona’s door
He knocked loudly three times
The door opened and the same witch I’d seen earlier appeared--based on her dress, I could only assume she was a maid
"I’m here for Mona," the warlock said
The , "Mona, Coen’s back for you" Mona appeared at the door a fewblonde hair trailed down her back and she wore a flohite summer dress that perfectly complemented her tan skin
She looked o
The second she stepped out into the corridor, Erik pulled ed to slip into the apartment just in time before the witch closed the door behind her
We stoodto breathe as the footsteps disappeared down the corridor
I castfor thein a kitchen some doors away
For now, it seemed, she was occupied
"We should find somewhere to hide until Mona returns," I breathed