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She tre and when I openedover us"

"Describe him"

"Not super tall, thin with dark hair" She licked her lips, her heartbeat quickening "Weird eyes"

"Weird?"

"It was like he was looking at us, but he wasn’t really seeing us," the girl explained "I thought at first he must be some crazy crackhead anted to be closer to the fire"

"Was he alone?"

"Yes"

Nefri leaned forward Gaius was alone? Surely the girl had to be aze to stray froo "I didn’t see anyone else, I swear"

"I believe you," Santiago assured her "What did the stranger do?"

She paused, as if struggling to remember "At first he just stood there, but then Brian ju at hirabbed Brian by the throat and"

"Ssh You’re safe,panic, as soft and beguiling as dark velvet "Go on"

"He bit hi the wounds that still leaked a trickle of blood "Like he was an ani"

"What did you do?"

"I wanted to run, but I was so freaked out I couldn’t move None of us could"

Had Gaius been able to shift the humans’ emotions from lust to fear? Or had the er hurt your friends?" Santiago continued

"Yes" Melinda bit her lower lip, tears filling her eyes "I thinkI think they’re dead"

"And what did he do to you?"

"All I re lifted off ers away fro her skin "I woke up alone here"

Chapter 12

Santiago brushed the tears fro she knew of her encounter with Gaius

"Melinda, I need to speak with aze--"coers into his chest, her eyes ith terror "Please don’t leave enuine syht physically recover, but mentally

Just one

"He’ll coet one,his powers to try and comfort her "I promise you"

Beyond even his talents, Melinda quivered in fear "Takeher chin, he forced her to ling against the compulsion in his voice

"PleaseI"

"You’re tired"

Her face went slack "Tired"

"You need to sleep"

"I’m so scared"

"Close your eyes, Melinda" His voice hardened to a direct command "You’re safe"

"Yes" Her lashes lowered

"Now sleep,until her body was lio laid her on the floor Then, grabbing the sword he’d set aside when he’d found the girl hiding in the corner, he rose to his feet

With a nod of his head toward the door, he led Nefri out of the classroom into the narrow hall

"Talented, indeed," Nefri h," he said, annoyed by his flare of pleasure at her words of ad "I’ll call Styx to have the local clan chief take her to a safe house until one of the Ravens can collect her"