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it? How had he so blindly accepted her as a lost soul, unconnected and alone like everyone else at Lethe House?

What if she was married? Oh, Christ, what if she had children out there?

He covered his face with one hand, trying desperately to hang on

"Ian? You are to scare me "

He'd never been so frightened in his life So to take her away from him

He thought about the trip he'd taken a feeeks ago, the lawiven, and he felt sick with fear "Oh, Lord, Selena, what have I done?"

She pressed onto her toes and touched his cheek So soft was her touch, so fir, that he wanted to cry when she drew back "Kiss ain"

He grabbed her by the shoulders and yanked her to him He wanted to draw her inside him, to a place where only he could see her, only he could touch her "You're mine," he breathed "Mine"

"Ian-"

"I won't let you go"

She frowned "I do not want you to let o"

He wanted to lose himself in her innocence, but it was too late He drew her into his ar in the sweet perfumed scent of her

"You'rehe'd said the words before, hearing the desperate whine in his voice, but unable to change it, unable to think of anything else to say

She laughed, a bright, clear sound "Oh, Ian" She hugged hiainst the sensitive flesh of his throat "Of course I am yours"