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I have the craziest urge to throw my arms around him, but because I know my Raaf will only misunderstand it as pity, I take a deep breath instead and ask in a fairly casual voice, "How about we just start over?"

The words do nothing to soften the taut lines of his beautiful face, but I telland smile determinedly at him "Hi there" I put my hand out, and keep it out, toountil he finally takes my hand, and a teary smile wobbles to my lips "I'm Sara," I tell hirand kidnapped and forced against my will" I look at him expectantly "And you are?"

His lip curls "Fuck no"

"Please?"

"Goddammit, Sara"

I feel my lip start to tremble, and I quickly bite down so that he doesn't think I' to sway him with my tears

"Fuck"

I stare at him in dismay What did I do?

"You win," he says grimly

Seriously nohat did I do, really?

"Hello"

He says the word so harshly it ht as well be an F-boh

"I'm Raaf"

And now he's saying it like he feels like throwing up, and I can no longer help it

"I was once part of a cult—-"

I' so hard I can barely breathe How can I not when so in a voice that rese?

"And it fucked h makes him want to punish her"

I laugh again, thinking he's joking, but when he only s at all

"It makes me want to force her to do the unthinkable—-"