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Courtney's reasoning annihilated theht be taken aback, even unnerved by her declaration of love; but ultimately he would need that love, rely upon it as his foundation while he sought not only thestone, but an internal peace both he and his past had wrested away

Groaning, Aurora swung her legs over the side of the bed and tossed back her thick mane of hair

Hell and daht

With that woeful ad her lips Love obviously did change a person For the first ti than candor

Crossing over to the wardrobe, Aurora pulled out one of the fens she'd left behind for those tiiven that the dress she'd worn yesterday was torn beyond repair She washed and dressed hastily, her thoughts now veering in a completely new direction

Julian had never co: that he and Slayde were still in the library, poring over Ja the one froe had been torn

And she wanted to be there when they found it

Running a brush through her hair, she glanced briefly at her reflection in the looking glass, then dashed out the door, through the hallway, and down the stairs

She burst into the library

"What have you found…?" Breaking off, she stared about in amazement The library shelves were three-quarters bare, the floor piled high with volume after volume of discarded texts Amid the debris sat Slayde and Julian—Slayde slouched in an armchair, Julian sprawled on the settee Each of them had an open book spread across his lap, and each of them looked up red eyed when she entered

"Nothing" Julian snapped shut the book he held, raking a frustrated hand through his hair "Not one da, that's e've found Countless books on falcons, dozens that specifically pertained to the e"

"You both look like death" Aurora crossed over, plucking the book froet any sleep at all?"

"No" Slayde's tone was equally curt, his stare glazed and disoriented "What time is it anyway?"

"Morning Or hadn't you noticed the sunlight peeping through the s?"

"I' down the volu unsteadily to his feet "So don't try to be a"