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“There’s nothing to say”

“But there is You can tell me when you’ll return the cards to ed your mind You can tell me I’ll soon be able to continue my work—”

“But that’s not true, so how can I say it?”

“You can’t really mean to keep me here!” The threat of tears was real and imminent Tally closed her eyes, pressed the palood will toward him disappeared “I don’t want this,” she protested huskily “I don’t want to be here I don’t want any of this”

“But sometimes e don’t want, is exactly e need”

“I will keep running away!”

“And I will keep bringing you back”

“Why?”

“Maybe because I want you for me”

Tair’s words hit her like ice water thrown in her face She jerked upright, gasped, blinked,in shock and confusionHe wantedher?

Tair rose slowly, unfolding hirace and Tally watched hi to reach for her Her pulse raced, her hands grew dae desire filled her

She couldn’t do this It rong Everything about it rong “Please go,” she choked, voice strangled as she ju a panicked step backward “Please leave now”

But he didn’t go And Tally scooted past him so they circled each other She was on his side of the table now and she stuainst

As she kicked aside the cushion, Tally saw a flash of silver and it took her a er His He must have accidentally dropped it

The knife wasn’t particularly big, the handle jeweled, allinted silver, sharp She looked at Tair and then down at the knife It could help her Save her

She put her foot on top of the knife, hiding it It gave her courage “I don’t knohat you want from me,” she said huskily “In fact, I don’t think you even knohat you want from me Admit you made a mistake and send me back now before it’s too late”

“It wasn’t aover his chest, eyes narrowing In the flickering candlelight he looked huge, calm, unflappable