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He cla an arain Then ca

growl

Step by cautious, breathless step, they backed out of the forest The cat followed the with every step

Ian saw a flash of gold eyes Branches snapped Leaves parted with a rustling hiss

He backed up another step, felt the soft cushion of the lawn beneath his heel Sing hard, he keptbackward, his eyes trained on the movement in

the bushes

The grass ended at last He felt the crunching of small stones beneath his feet They were on the path It was now or never

He swept Selena into his ar up the steps The tired old boards squeaked and banged under his feet

The cat screamed

Ian didn't look back He ran up the steps and into the house, sla the door shut behind him Selena slid out of his arms

He spun to face her, so angry he was shaking "What in the hell were you thinking?"

She stood still, her cheeks stained a bright pink, her untamed hair a wavy reddish brown halo around her face The last lingering trace of a s?"

The anger left him in a rush

She hadn't thought at all That was the proble that captured her attention, and she'd followed it, a curious Alice in Wonderland

She had no more idea of the risk she'd faced than a