Page 61 (1/2)

“Didn’t I tell you not to take that off?” He stared at her, his eyes glowing, his hands clenched at his sides “I’m not sure even that could save you”

“I’m not afraid Drink, Rane, if that’s what you want, what you need”

“Dammit, wo his face in her hands, she drew his head down “Do what you have to”

His hands folded over her shoulders, is as he inhaled the scent of the crih her veins She was his for the taking The thought enfla his head to her neck when she azehers And as had happened once before, the trust shining in her beautiful sky-blue eyes, the unconditional love in her voice, calhed as her ar her na as she was his, maybe there was hope for hi a deep breath, Savanah unlocked the front door of her father’s house and stepped into the entryway She stood there a moment while h her arten on the first day of school, the scent of freshly baked cookies that had always lingered in the air on Monday afternoons, the birthday parties and holidays in the backyard, the flowers her father had sent her the day she received her first big assignhts she and her father had spent talking, laughing, working together

“Oh, Dad,” she o into the living roo, she looked up at hi?”

“I don’t think so Just wait”

Ranein the middle of the floor, he opened his preternatural senses The air s a the front door, he carried her belongings and one of his suitcases into the living roo him into the room, Savanah turned on the table lamps “It’s just a house without him,” she said quietly “He’s the one who

Savanah blew out a sigh She had known it would be hard co back here, but she hadn’t expected it to hurt somy mother’s books?” she asked

“No”

“Where are they? Did you leave theht…”

“I buried them up in the mountains before we left”

Savanah blinked at him “How can I refer to the not to lose her temper “They’re my books, Rane I want them”

“I know you do” He rubbed a hand over his jaw “But…”

“But you don’t think I can keep the as they exist”

He was probably right, but right or wrong, she was too tired to argue about it noing her anger, she said, “It’s late I’ upstairs to take a bath” She picked up her suitcase “Are you staying?”

“If you still want entle sway of her hips as she headed for the staircase, or the way the lailded her hair He could smell her frustration, knew she was annoyed with him because of the books, but he didn’t care He had to do what he thought was best, and right now, keeping Savanah and those accursed books as far apart as possible seelanced up as he heard the water coine her disrobing, her raceful and unhurried, her skin sood health War in a tub filled with foa full-blown into his , he was cli the stairs two at a time He hesitated only a moment before he opened the door and stepped into the bathroom

Savanah’s eyelids flew open as he entered the room “Oh! It’s you You scared the heck out of me”