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"Yes!" the man shouted With reluctance, Kope pulled him frootten his footing and ran, Kope stood there, shaking in anger His light eyes had darkened, and I needed to calone now Let it go"

He shuddered and paced for a few ave hi slow to nor a ht fraan the trek to her house The streets of the neighborhoods were quiet We passed a few people who stared, but thankfully nobody tried to stop us or question the scene

At Zania’s house, I dug le key to let us in

"Which way is your room, Zania?" Kope asked Her name sounded melodic on his lips She lifted a floppy hand toward the stairs

I rushed ahead up the stairs and opened the door, switching on the la out of the way Kope laid her doith care Then in a h heels off her feet and placed the her His hands shook, and I wondered if it was leftover nerves fro Kope handle her with such care stirred an unexpected surge of affection inside , and with his hands still on the top of the blanket, he leaned down to listen

She brought her arms around his shoulders and pulled him down

"You can kiss ht up and Kope’s back stiffened With a strangled grunt, he dropped the blanket and disengaged fro arms For one tense instant he stared at her like she was a bejeweled serpent, beautiful yet poisonous

"I am sorry," he whispered low

His eyes shot to mine for one hot o down the stairs and out the front door

Whoa

Zania rolled to her side and curled up, h and a sob

"Even brother Neph are repulsed by my touch," she slurred