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"You just have the surfer-boy look going on The hair, the tan--it’s very cute"

"Cute?" He arched a brow

"Okay, it’s pretty hot"

He grinned "I like the sound of that"

He had one of those personalities, much like Dee, where I couldn’t help but feel coe froot around Daemon

When we left the diner close to five, I couldn’t believe how much time had passed The hipped attoo much froht a jacket yet

Blake nudged lad you came with me"

"So am I" I twirled my keys as we stopped by his truck

"I don’t norainst the hood of his truck, crossing his ankles "You know, just asking like that in front of an entire table of strangers"

Brisk wind cooled my warm cheeks "You see"

Pushing off the hood, heto kiss me? I totally loved the easy afternoon we’d just spent, but, well…I just didn’t feel right leading hi really was going on, but I kneasn’t fair to pretend I was cos for Daemon; I just wasn’t sure what they meant

Blake leaned toward roaned under the force of the wind

There was a loud crack, and my head jerked up One of the thick branches broke under the weight of the wind Panic leaped into my throat as it spiraled down to where Blake stood There was no way he could h, and the size of the branch pro between the layers ofI felt the tiny hairs on the back of ht I screamed Stop, but it was only in my head

And the branch stopped…inthere, hovering as if it were tethered by an invisible string My breath pawed atit out I stopped the branch--I did that Panic and power rushed throughat me, his eyes hat? Fear? Exciteaze The rush of power leftthe pavement like it would’ve done to Blake’s skull My shoulders slu pain erupted behind h his spiky hair "That would’ve killed h ling across the nape of my neck, but I couldn’t y, andfierce--a kind of scary pain that signaled so an aneurys forward as his eyes darted behind ged at the sound of Dae my face with my hair "Sorry," I whispered

"Is she okay?" Blake asked, sounding worried "The branch--"

"Yes She’s fine The falling branch scared her" Each word sounded like he spoke it through gritted teeth "That’s all"

"But--"

"See you later" Dae with hiht ahead Everything seeht for a cloudy day Too real The whole afternoon had been perfect Normal And I’d ruined it When I didn’t answer, Daeer door

Blake called out, but I knew it couldn’t be good

"Get in," Daeently

For once, I obeyed without question When he climbed in on the driver’s side and moved the seat back, I snapped out of it "Ho are you here?"

He didn’t look atspace "I was driving around I’ll have Dee and Ada inthere like we’d left him Knots twisted my insides I felt sick Trapped by what I’d done

"Dae happened If he brings it up, you’ll tell hiests that you…that you stopped that branch, you laugh it off"

Understanding seeped in "I need to act like you did in the beginning?"

He nodded curtly "What just happened back there never happened Do you understand me?"

Close to tears, I nodded

Silence ticked away the minutes Halfway home, the headache eased up and I felt alhter Neither of us spoke until he pulled into the driveway of nition and sat back He facedwave of hair "We need to talk And you need to be honest with ain He was furious, and I couldn’t blame him I’d possibly exposed theo to the press, who could talk at school, and who could catch the attention of the DOD They’d find out that the Luxen had special abilities They’d learn about me