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"Why a ah to pull clear of his eled in irl on the island I’irl isn’t exactly a duer to trace the hair from my brow "That’s it precisely You’re just you" He let that sink in; then, growing quiet, he added, "Perhaps you helplook, he elaborated "You are an innocent You are so steadfast So true"

"An innocent, huh?" So how come I didn’t feel so innocent? I considered his other words--steadfast True Ronan had called ht about it, but ht After all, I felt ready to risk it all to discover what’d happened to E any of this steadfast trueness?

I zoned out, thinking all this, and he must’ve mistaken my silence for bewilderment because he went on "You have a sort of nobility And e’re together…it’s as though I, too, reclaiet a better look at hi to explain, but he’d actually made it worse "So the reason you like me is that I’ile and ennobled huht hit hiuys ent for the broken birds, weren’t you?"

"Broken birds?"

"You know The kind of guy who likes to save the ones with the broken wings"

"You intentionally misunderstand" He pincheda wee dove to adore But not because I wished for one to tend I’ve wanted one hoh Was it Carden’s words or that a accent that made it sound so fantastic?

I couldn’t think anyled close, suddenly so tired The extra-intense feeding had finally gotten todinners I must’ve fallen asleep because I felt his ars, underaway from me as he liftedinto hih the doors of the dorht, but still, deep-seated instinct woke me I tensed, suddenly on alert, aware of every creak and rustle

"Quiet yourself," he whispered in my ear "Nobody will hear us"

We reachedme, he leaned down and turned the knob Miraculously, the door opened without its usual moan

My eyes went to Frost, sound asleep in her bed "Don’t wake her"

He paused, his breathing low and even He looked like he was sending his consciousness into the universe, if that made any sense "She will not wake," he said with surety

"Okayyy" I slid from his arms "Someday you’ll need to explain that"

I stood, but was still woozy, and I lurched, grabbing one hand to his chest and one on h was a low ruers curled on the top of the dresser, pal the front "Wait," I said, deciding there was one last thing I’d share "I need to show you so A picture"

The picture The one of my mom that I’d treasured un to separate at one of the corners

I went to iven rinned at me, obviously pleased

But as I peeled back the false binding, I knew a flare of panic I was showing Carden everything now The photo Its very existence could getthat picture back for ain If the vampires found out, he’d be dead meat

"This is her My mom" I handed him the photo It was the ultimate show of trust But still, I couldn’t help but plead, "You can’t tell"

The look he gave rave"

I sighed, watching him as he studied it I’d expected hiain, catching the resemblances We had the same wide eyes The same mouth But instead his reaction was the last one I expected

His eyes diave me a sharp nod

What the hell?