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He caught her chin with his nger and tilted her head up He was eyeing her curiously She waited for him to interrupt, but he didn't

"I didn't leave Shoreline to spite you," she continued "I left because I didn't understand why it er because of it"

Daniel held her face in front of his The violet in his eyes practically glowed "I have failed you too many times before," he whispered "And in this life maybe I've erred on the side of caution I should have known you'd test whatever boundary you were given You wouldn't bethe girl I loved if you didn't" Luce waited for him to smile down at her He didn't "There's just so much at stake this time around I've been so focused on--"

"The Outcasts?"

"They're the ones who took your friend," Daniel said "They can barely identify right fro for"

Luce thought back to the girl Ca empty-eyed boy in the diner "Because they're blind"

Daniel looked down at his hands, rubbing his ngers together He looked as if he ht be sick "Blind but very brutal" He reached up and traced one of her blond curls with his nger "You were set there fast enough"

"Sot my hands on a cheap bottle of bleach How is that smart? Ifif I dyed my hair black tomorrow, you mean the Outcasts would suddenly be able to nd hly "They shouldn't have found their way onto this caet their hands on any of you I aht and day to keep the them, and I don't knoho--"

"Ca here?

But Daniel shook his head "Whoever it is will regret it"

Luce crossed her aruess this ?" She closed her eyes, trying not to picture her parents' crestfallen faces "Don't answer that"

"Please" Daniel's voice was so earnest "It's only for a little while longer"

She nodded "The truce tiripped her shoulders tightly "How did you--"

"I know" Luce hoped he couldn't feel that her body had begun to treot worse when she tried to act more assured than she felt "And I know that at some point soon, you will tip the balance between Heaven and Hell"

"Who told you that?" Daniel was arching his shoulders back, which she knew

"I gured it out A lot goes on here when you're not around"

A hint of envy ashed through Daniel's eyes At rst, it felt alood to be able to provoke that in him, but Luce didn't want to s at hand

"I'ht now isit sounds like a pretty big deal"

She left it at that, hoping Daniel would feel coh to tell her more This was the most open, honest, and mature conversation they'd had, maybe ever

But then, too soon, the cloud she hadn't even known she'd been dreading passed over Daniel's face "Put all of that out of your head You don't knohat you think you know"

Disappoint her like a child One step forward, ten steps back

She gathered her feet under her and stood up on the ledge

"I know one thing, Daniel," she said, staring down at him "If it were me, there wouldn't be a question If it wereon to tip the scales, I would just pick the side of good"

Daniel's violet eyes stared straight ahead, into the shadowy forest

"You would just pick good," he repeated His voice sounded both numb and desperately sad Sadder than she'd ever heard hie to crouch down and apologize Instead, she turned, leaving Daniel behind her Wasn't it obvious that he was supposed to pick good? Wouldn't anyone?

Chapter Fourteen

FIVE DAYS

So, while the rest of the campus was still eerily calm, Shelby, Miles, and Luce sat in a row on one side of Francesca's o ce, waiting to be interrogated Her o ce was larger than Steven's--brighter, too, with a high, sloping ceiling and three large s facing the forest to the north, each with thick lavender velvet curtains, parted to show a shocking blue sky A large fra over the tall marble-topped desk, was the only piece of art in the room The baroque chairs they sat on were chic but unco

" `Anony the harsh e "This i reeks of Lilith"