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"I have to kill you now," Bridger whispered, tightening his hand in ainst er and pain exploded in my heart I jolted awake and pressed my hands over er’s cold, hard eyes stayed with ie!" Bridger’s voice hissed He padded across the ce?" His hair was da a pair of pajahtmare," I whispered "Where are we?"

"We’re beneathMaybe forty er frowned and shook his head "No But close My father is here With reinforcements Some of the Walkers felt uncertain about your death They’re lingering, waiting for any hint that you still live," he explained "They must believe you are dead or you will never be safe"

I squeezed hts

"You’re confused," Bridger stated "And mad"

I opened my eyes and scowled at him "I know"

"Do you want to talk about it? You can askout to me, a pair of boxer shorts I blushed as I shakily pulled theave all ofbehind," he said, raising one eyebrow "Scoot over"

I scooted and Bridger squeezed into the sleeping bag with ether He put a hand on the small of my back and pulledhis wasmoment He smiled, but I knew there was another side to him--a dark side I almost felt as if I didn’t know him anymore

"You shot me," I whispered

The smile fell from his face "I had no choice That was the only way I could save your life andthem think you were dead There were too ht alone, and they’d already breached the gate But if they thought you were dead … it was our only chance" I could hear pleading in his whispered voice I didn’t have to sense his feelings to kno iveness

I understood what he was saying, but it still ed the subject

"You say I’m like you What do youti I reached out and placeduntil I found the pulse beating against his skin

"What are you doing?" he asked, his eyes searchingsure you’re real"

"Very real"

"So, when you … shift … are you a cat, too?"

"I ale"

"Atash? It was you who saved ie"

"Sorry But the ht of the full un You weren’t an animal Were you?"

"Of course I wasn’t I am a lot deadlier with a semiautomatic weapon than with talons and a beak"

"What about proraduation?"

He took a deep breath "For the first time in years, I could feel Walkers in Silver City That was pro … soured it must have been one of their own, a deserter Now I knoas you" He traced er "I’m sorry I left you at the prom, but I had no choice It was a life-and-death situation I shot one that night

"When they attacked Danni at Mrs C’s house after graduation, I realized they were targeting you Danni earing your jacket I assue onone of them, so I stayed as close to you as possible to keep you safe Now I know the real reason they wanted you You’re like me"

"But … I can’t help but shift when theht I had been a slave to the s you should already know The only reason you would be forced to change at the full moon is if you haven’t shifted since the previous full y and have to use it And for some reason the ht bitterly Until I ed hen the moon pulled it out of me

"I still can’t believe the Walkers caht they did everything under cover of night"

"How do you think they found me?"