ong after it faded, like a bru

Black Hollow Pack had left burned beneath my skin-alive, aware. It felt li

finally

" he said to me. "

where?"

hey can't tr

e was no humor in it. "You re

w tightened.

head. That left Maya and me standing alone in the smal

as sh

r, every uneven breath. Her heartbeat was loud

d quietly. "Y

d up to mine. "

not what

d something sweeter beneath it. Want.

mitted. "I don't think I'm su

thing dark and knowing f

ing," she said. "And because

ng myself against the wall. The growl

breath

hispered. "Don

u," I said. "You

plied, stepping closer despite

hed. Her fingers brushed my skin anyway, light and careful,

eased i

er. "What did

t just felt like you needed someone to

oward her without my permission. The world narrowed u

s bad.

hoarsely. "If I

he said firmly

oice terrified me more

pond, the windows

ook the house, followed by anothe

k into the room. "

I dem

away. "The mark makes him a b

rom my arm, guilt fla

y," she w

erstand then

"Listen to me. You cannot transf

urged through me. My vision blurred, gold bleeding

face, forcing me

urgently. "Look at me.

again. I felt her breath, counte

n

u

n

owed. The g

ing slammed aga

t door s

ore. "They'

said suddenly. "I

d. "You're not

way that hurt. "This is

r *what*?"

dn't a

leaned up a

ing to pour courage into me through her lips. My entire body lit up, power roaring a

d back ju

ed. "Remember that you're lo

ed and ran to

unging after her-but

. "If you go now, you'll ki

ed down the hall, as voices shouted

fists, claws threat

h, under my skin, under the

p

hun

m

to take he

n the house, so