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"Could be a metaphor," I say.

She stares.

"Seriously?"

"No."

"That was your best effort?"

"Apparently."

She drags both hands down her face and winces when the cut catches.

I reach for her hand before I decide to. The minute we touch, it’s electric. It shouldn’t feel the way it does. Getting stronger each time we touch. I look in her eyes.

She drops her hand and takes a step back.

"What does it mean?"

"I don't know."

Mostly true.

"Do you know what's happening to me?"

I don't answer. Wrong thing to do.

Her eyes go bright, and behind her every candle in Bell & Bone catches at once. Thirty-seven small fires standing straight up in the dark.

She doesn't feel it yet. But, I do. My wolf does and so does the cat.

Obsidian sits on the counter with his tail curled around his feet, watching the flames like he's seen the trick before.

"Maren."

"What?"

I tip my chin at the candles.

She turns. Her breath stops.

"Oh, no."

The flames drop low all at once, like she pinched every wick between two fingers.

Emotion tied to power. Evelyn guessed at it. I'm watching it breathe.

Maren wraps her arms around herself. "Tell me I'm not doing that."

I can't.

Her eyes shine. Not tears. Fear. I hate it more than anything the mirror can show me. I hate every person who decided that keeping her in the dark would keep her safe.

And, I'm one of them.

I move closer. Slowly. The way you move toward something that might bolt.

"You're safe."