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"Crazy?" he said quietly "Is that what you think? Truly?"

"I don’t know" She didn’t know Their words made no sense, and yet there was no hint of deception in theuard froently, "Did the humans call you crazy, Ava?"

"Of course they did"

She could tell the knowledge pained hiers on her cheek Gentle and constant, his touch soothed her

Damien asked, "Malachi says you hear voices Is that correct?"

She shrank back "Yes"

"In the Old Language," Damien mused "If this is true, then you hear as the Irina do"

"What does that mean?"

"The Irina hear the voice of the soul It is one of their gifts"

Her chest was tight She sed the lump in her throat "I don’t understand what that means How can the soul have a voice?"

"How can it not?"

"I don’t understand any of this" She was overwhel questions, and the other part wanted to run away

As if sensing her panic, Malachi grasped her hand in both of his "We are all confused None of us understands how this happened, Ava"

"I don’t even know--"

"Know this: I believe you are one of us" His grey eyes met hers They burned with passion "I know it We will find the answers We will help you"

She nodded, keeping her eyes on his Even if nothing else made sense, soh all of this, he had watched out for her He grounded her with his utter and complete confidence She allowed herself to take a deep breath

"Okay?" he asked

"Okay"

"Malachi speaks the truth as he believes it," Damien bit out "I am not convinced We know your mother is not one of us"