“Why were you living as a human? Why not useyour abilities to live in a fancy skyrise apartment or… or… I don’tknow, any number of crazy, wild things.”
“Why not live as a human? Why not experiencelife as others do? And how boring would it be to skate through lifeon my abilities and only living inside fancy, high-riseapartments?”
“And tending bar doesn’t get boring?” sheasked incredulously.
Kyle chuckled. “Sometimes, but I enjoymeeting people, talking with them, and learning things about them.It’s tough to be bored when every day brings a new story.”
Melanie had never looked at it like that, butshe supposed he was right. Reading was one of her few escapes fromthis place as a child, and it remained one of her only escapes now.She couldn’t imagine what life would be like without those stories,and Kyle got to experience other people’s stories too.
“None of what passed between us was a lie,Melanie,” he said. “It was all true. I meant what I said in thepark; I love you, and I always will.”
A lump formed in her throat, and before sherealized she was moving, she rested her hand against his on theglass. She held his gaze as love swelled inside her and tearspooled in her eyes.
“It’s all so confusing,” she whispered.
He hated the sorrow in her eyes, but beneathit, he also sensed yearning and love. They were both trapped inthis place, but her love would give him the strength to faceanother day.
The ding of the elevator drew his attention,and her father exited the doors. He said something to the guardstanding by the doors. The man slid his rifle onto his back andstalked across the room toward Melanie.
Kyle’s jaw clenched, and his nostrils flaredat the look on the guard’s face. “They’re coming for you.”
Melanie glanced over her shoulder, and herhand fell away from the glass when she saw her father standingthere. He wore a look that could, at best, be called disapprovingbut was more disgust.
“He’ll never let me come down here,” shesaid, “or go outside ever again.”
The idea of never seeing her again unleashedsomething within him. He wouldnotallow that to happen.
The guard grasped her arm. “Come withme.”
Melanie jerked her arm away from him. “Don’ttouch me.”
“Move your ass,” the man commanded.
When she didn’t move, the man captured herarm again.
“Don’t!” Melanie exclaimed and jerked awayfrom him.
“Keep your hands off her,” Kyle growled.
Despite the thick glass separating them, thetone of his voice caused the hair on Melanie’s nape to rise. Sheglanced back to discover his fiery red eyes locked on the man. Hemay have never killed a human before, but if no glass separatedthem, he would have torn out the man’s throat.
The realization didn’t disturb her as much asit should have. He may not have killed humans before, but he was akiller. However, she didn’t fear him. What did that say abouther?
That she trusted him, she realized with astart. Even with what he was, she trusted him. Was that becausehe’d messed with her mind or because he was the Kyle she vividlyremembered?
Her head hurt from trying to figure it out,but he wasn’t messing with her mind now, it wasn’t possible, and hewas seeking to protect her. A monster wouldn’t do that.
The guard looked uneasy as he glanced betweenher and Kyle. “Go,” he commanded.
Melanie didn’t move. She’d meant what shesaid; they would never let her down here again. This might be thelast time she ever saw him, and she didn’t want to leave.
From the corner of her eye, she spottedanother guard crossing the room toward them. Helplessness filledher as she met Kyle’s eyes again.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Fury thundered through Kyle’s veins. Itpulsed in his temples as it pounded through him. For the first timesince arriving here, he didn’t feel drugged. He felt alive andready to tear the head off anything that came near her.
The other guard arrived at her side andgrabbed her arm. Melanie tried to jerk it away from him, but herefused to release her. The first guard grasped her other arm anddidn’t let go. She thrashed against their hold, but she was nomatch for them as they dragged her toward the elevator.
