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I stood there, lost in hts until I heard the sound of feet crunching over grass The figure ht bounced off a gold and blue watch

Simon

My stomach sunk all the way tohere? Had Dee invited him? I hadn’t told her what had happened between us, but there was no doubt she had heard the ruered to the side and leaned against the house Fully visible, he had a swollen-shut eye that was an ugly shade of violet Bruises aped "What happened to your face?"

Simon lifted a flask to his mouth "Your boyfriend happened to"Daemon Black"

"He’s not my boyfriend"

"Whatever" Siot to call him off"

My eyes widened When Daemon said he’d take care of the proble around Part of me felt bad for the dude, but it was overshadowed by the fact he and his friends had half the school callingthat night I’ the flask Jesus Daeot to tell hiht"

I stepped back as the wave of alcohol and desperation crashed into , because--"

"You’ve got to tell hiers "People are starting to talk I can’t…have that kind of shit being said about me Tell him or else"

The hairs on the back ofbullet I wouldn’t be pushed around or threatened Not by Simon or anyone "Or else what?"

"My dad’s a lawyer" His hand tightened as he swayed "He’ll--"

A couple of things happened next

He pitched towardsound deafened my ears Four of the five e stood next to treed fracture streaked down the middle of each , and then small ones spread out until the entire s shuddered under the unseen force and exploded, sending shards of glass raining down on us

Chapter 9

Silass "What the hell?"

Struck by absolute horror, I stood lass fell away froh led waves My arm felt like someone pinched me, and I knew Dee’s dress was torn The othershuddered I didn’t kno to control it The pane continued to tre up, Silassy eyes ide "You…"

I couldn’t catchintoon the second floor vibrated

Face pale, he sturound "You’re…you’re glowing You--you freak!"

I was glowing? "No! It’s not , but it’s not me!"

He scrambled to his feet, and I took a step toward him He threw up his hand and wobbled "Stay away fro, I watched hiine roared to life A distant part of my brain told me I needed to stop him, because he was obviously too drunk to drive

But then the topexploded

Cringing, I shielded round and me My breath sawed in and out of lass landed I stood there, htened by what I’d done Not only did I expose ain, I’d almost turned Simon into a pincushion Man, I was so screwed

Minutes passed before I straightened and pickedmy way into the heavy tree line A fine sheen of cold sweat dottedme low in the stoht, I felt the fa my neck Branches and leaves crunched, and I turned

Dae branch aside as he neared "What are you doing out here, Kat?"

Several moments passed before I could speak "I just blew up a bunch of s"

"What?" Dae What happened?" He paused "Where are your shoes?"

I glanced down at my feet "I took them off"

In the blink of an eye, Daelass "Kat, what happened?"

Lifting my head, I sucked in a sharp breath Full-blown panic squeezedand I ran into Simon--"

"Did he do this to you?" His voice was so low it sent shivers through me

"No No! I ran into hi his "He said you beat hiy in his voice

"Daeuys because they talk badly about me"

"Actually, I can" His hand clenched at his side "He deserved it I’ It was bullshit"

I had no idea what to say Ha Me Speechless

"He knohat he did--what he tried to do--and to spin that around on you?" Dae the trees "I’ to let some punk-ass human talk about you like that, especially hi rapidly Soht scary "I don’t think I’, but, um, thanks"

"Anyway, that’s not i several deep breaths, I let the words come out in a rush When I was done, Daeainst his chest I didn’t resist hi safer in his embrace than I did any place else And I couldn’t blame the connection for that Even before it was formed, his arms had always been a sanctuary of sorts