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"Yes, I knohat men have, and the anato" "Then why can I not drink?" He rolled his eyes "Because I said so" "Johann always givesHe said that that is how I learn" "Johann is an idiot" "Oh, no He is a genius"

Ian took Selena's hand and led her out of the forest He said nothingIt was safer that way

Chapter Fifteen

Souttural, violent cry vibrated in the air, distant and muted by the closed s

In the parlor, Ian poured himself another drink, stiffer than the last Absently he twirled the heavy crystal glass, watching the a scent of the alcohol wafted up to his nostrils

He turned from the sideboard and walked across the room, the sound of his footsteps lost in the thick Aubus-son carpet He couldn't stop thinking about today, about Selena He feltchanged by what had happened today, by how he'd felt when he looked into her eyes and heard her throaty laugh He'd always been so dahtened of imperfection, but she defied all definition of nor, common

He'd understood at last Johann's bit with the broken glass

He heard the ferocious yowl of the wildcat again and walked to the , peering out The yard was sheathed in darkness Towering black trees clustered around the blue-gray lawn High overhead lurked a silvery coht

Soht his eye A whisper of movement 185

186

where there should be no movement, a flash of white in the darkness

Frowning, he leaned closer

It was a wohtdress He saw her for a split second, then she disappeared in the darkness of the trees

The wildcat screamed

"Jesus Christ!" Ian dropped the half-e down the steps and across the thick carpet of grass