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Her soulless black eyes narrow, and her lips smack irritatingly. “Your light is being eclipsed,” she murmurs, more to herself than to me. “You’re actually rather warm to the touch.”
Funny, I think to myself.I feel like a solid sheet of ice thanks to you.
She lets her hand drop loosely to her side. “He’s coming,” she whispers.
“Who?” I say, leaning in to the spirit.
“The one who’s trying to take everything from you. He won’t stop until there’s nothing left.”
“Who?” I press, wanting her to say his name. Fearing I already know.
Without another word, she evaporates before my eyes.
“Everything all right?” Luke calls from behind me.
My eyes narrow, back turned to him. I recount the ghost’s words.
What else can you take from me, Luke?
This time I know the game, and only I can allow him to take any more of me.
We’ve both been abnormally quiet, considering neither one of us has managed to go this long without throwing an insult or barb since Luke walked back into my life. The ghost’s words haunt me still. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but a naive part of me had hoped he’d changed.
He’s the devil. He’s incapable of change.
I’m wondering what he is thinking about when he turns toward me, stopping us both in the middle of a crowded sidewalk. Impatient pedestrians mumble curses at us, but it doesn’t faze Luke.
“What she said,” he starts, then stops, looking agitated. “It’s not me, Victoria. I don’t wish to bring you any harm.”
Someone shoves into me from behind, pushing me into Luke’s firm embrace. His arms come around me, sheltering me from everyone around us. “I feel like a broken record, but I need you to hear me, Victoria. It’snotme you should fear. Do you believe me?”
His eyes search mine and I sigh.
“I do.” My head tilts back, looking up to the sky as if someone up there will come save me from myself. “Please don’t make a fool of me again, Luke.”
His searing gaze doesn’t leave mine when he replies, “Never again.” He places a chaste kiss to the top of my head. I inhale sharply at the gesture, feeling like I could swoon.
