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Tell h to her

The bat kept talking in a series of ies and words that only Mace would ever be able to interpret And he continued to translate the bat’s story, giving Keiko the only part of him that wasn’t tainted by evil and death—the freaky little rodent that shared his DNA “The perfu the day, the sun war theht, blossoly open their petals and release their fragrance It’s subtler than the flowers that enjoy the sun, because there’s less coht with so feers that bloom in the darkness”

Keiko’s breathing began to slow under his touch, and he continued to gently stroke her back He sed hard, his throat tightening at the signs sheback He hardly dared hope

“Sound travels farther in the dark One call can echo for h, you can tell whether the call is a warning or an invitation Because in the night, the creatures are always searching They look for food or co the day, creatures, people, often sit and watch the world You can’t do that at night, because the darkness brings out the predators, and you have to be careful”

Her breathing slowed beneath his hand, and Mace held her a little tighter A little closer

“The best tiht and colors fade to gentler shades while the songs becolide in the airstreaht It’s like floating on a wave The silver shades of twilight surround you, and the air fills with joy as the night creatures wake It’s paradise A secret world that only a few explore”

There was a stirring, a soft ers splayed across the dip in the middle of his chest

A surge of hope shot through hiently brushed her hair back from her face “Are you back with me, baby?”

There was no reply; she just pressed her pal him with her touch

The bat resumed its story, and Mace whispered it to Keiko “The blackest, darkest part of the night is the most secret of all It’s the time when creatures tiptoe and hold their breath for fear of discovery It’s the tiic happens”

Is she okay now? The bat sounded worried

I think she’s co back to us

“What kind of ic?” Keiko’s tiny voice said

Every muscle in Mace’s body went taut, and he forced thereat” He put a finger under her chin and tipped her face up Her pupils weren’t as large as they’d been, and color edged into her cheeks “You had me worried there for a minute”

Her cute little nose scrunched as she tried to remember what had happened and how she’d ended up on the floor, in his arms