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I sighed. “What can I do?”
“Where did you hear that line? About the eyes?”
I put down the laptop and turned sideways so I could see him. “I don't know, really. It was just in my head. I think I was dreaming about it the day you came. 'Eyes like streams of melting snow. . . '” I paused, trying to remember. “'Cold with the things she does not know'?”
His breath caught and he nodded. “Do you know the rest of it?” I shook my head. “Maybe you can help me figure it out. I'll--” We both looked up as extra light filled the room from a doorway appearing on the wall. “Are you expecting anyone?”
“No. ” I scooted closer to him. We both watched as a figure came out of the door. Reth. “Oh, bleep,” I whispered. I didn't have my knife. I didn't have anything.
“Here you are,” he said, smiling pleasantly.
Raquel hadn't done anything to stop him. “Lo--” I didn't even get to the second syllable of his name before he waved his hand and whispered a word, disappearing my voice again.
“There's no need for that. ” His smile didn't change.
Lend looked at me; I pointed frantically at my throat, mouthing get help.
“Stay away from her,” Lend said, standing and moving in front of me.
“Evelyn is mine. You are irrelevant. ” Waving his hand dismissively, he sent Lend flying across the room and into the wall. Lend slid down into a heap at the bottom. I screamed, but nothing came out.
Reth glided across the room and settled down on the bed next to me. I tried to hit him, but he grabbed my arm, laughing. I struggled as he took his free hand and traced a finger down my spine, paralyzing me. It was like one of those nightmares where you have to watch everything happen and you can't do anything.
Lend was completely still. Tears filled my eyes.
Reth kept his hand on my forearm, encircling my wrist with his long fingers. “I'm sorry for the haste, but circumstances have changed and we can't afford the same leisurely pace. ” His heat crept up my arm. Closing my eyes, I willed it to stop. It slowed, and then stilled. It felt like I was damming the flow by sheer force of will. I couldn't last long.
“Don't be difficult. Once I finish, everything will be better--you'll see. ” He smiled at me tenderly, stroking a finger down my cheek and leaving a trail of heat. “We've got things to do--what fun we'll have. ” I didn't stop concentrating. “Evelyn. ” He sounded annoyed. “I'm giving you a gift; moving you forward. It was only a matter of time. You belong with me, and this is the best way. ” He squeezed my wrist. The warmth burned hotter and hotter. Now instead of pleasant, it was painful. It was like his hand was searing itself to my arm; in my mind the flesh was sealing, his hand permanently attached to me. I couldn't hold this back anymore. It was too hot, there was too much. The fire devoured my arm, moving faster and higher, ever closer to my heart. I screamed again, but no sound escaped my lips.
And then sound was everywhere. I opened my eyes. Lend was on the floor in the hall, his body convulsing from the electric shocks shooting through it. “Lend,” I mouthed. He had triggered the alarm--thrown himself out there, knowing what would happen.
Reth sighed impatiently, squeezing my arm harder. “I hate it when people meddle. ” The fire was in my shoulder; the first tendrils of it touched my heart, nestling in like a small animal.
“Lorethan!” a voice called out, sharp and brilliant in my pain.
Reth turned his head, murder on his face.
Raquel spoke slowly and clearly over the sound of the alarm. “You will not touch Evelyn. ”
A fraction of a second, then his hand shot off my arm as though he were the one being burned. The rest of the fire split--half drained back down my arm to where his hand had been; the other half found its way into my heart. I still couldn't move or talk. He stood, regarding Raquel with the same cold fury I had seen when he'd killed the werewolf.
“Leave us now,” Raquel said.
Reth was absolutely still, looking like an avenging god in the middle of the white room. I wondered if he would kill us all. After the longest silence of my life, he waved his hand toward me. I collapsed onto the bed, finally able to move again. Without another word Reth walked to the wall and through a faerie door.
Raquel pushed a button on her communicator, turning off the alarms, and rushed to my side. “Evie, hon, are you all right?”
The memory of the pain hurt as much as if it were still happening. I sobbed and clutched my burned arm to my chest.
“Let me see it,” she said
, pulling it out. “Oh, Evie, I'm so sorry. ” I looked up; her eyes brimmed with tears. “I should have listened to you. ”
On my wrist in brilliant scarlet was the imprint of Reth's hand. But Raquel could see only the burn. She couldn't see what my eyes could see.
Beneath the handprint, I was still on fire.
Chapter Twelve
