t your

adju

still f

tanding

esence i

rs. "Humans are fragile. I k

n do

doin

owed, thin a

draw att

been ignored i

s the p

y. "Then perhaps you sh

ere ch

d. "You've made th

ssure s

il is t

eel

thro

ewell?" she

s nothin

e nev

orld

hed. Weigh

e step, boots meeting

der her breath

oc

focu

bili

id, flexing her fing

r fo

epta

crib

enough. Soft lines. Harml

s irrel

lways

be

re i

ll fin

d that a

remain

the street-dim lights, murmured voice

ats," she said.

not

't plan

test bou

insu

are w

leaving behind a thin

ed. The air tas

epped

d past her. "Y

tu

said. "Jus

d politely an

mpressed. "If that was

stop

nce had enter

n't fee

lt pre

lse st

im," she

swer

rned s

d, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed

looking

nly. No

'd been

ted her chin.

he street wi

y," he sa

es

ose I should

sho

Eli

r tongue. She tasted t

," she

t Se

at a p

said. "It's.

m. "You don't

uld

he said. "When appro

k like they've stepped ou

sharpened.

h wh

flat

asn't f

was it

erva

half a step. "Yo

that don't

I d

mmedia

him. Close enough to fee

e very

are

rarely

d y

ing her voice. "You

wil

he

retending you do

eath c

t's

n't dis

reward it

said. "I pre

l disappo

ubt t

ing her fingers agains

ower

sta

ed back

t that,"

urrowed. "

a smile.

flinc

n't f

u d

you ima

"But imagination usual

ned. "You spe

ink y

ef, dangerous. "I like yo

u're in

hy

how to be an

regaining balanc

ust ar

hould let

t answer m

dn't as

y h

nced around.

" Elias said.

ugged.

closely. "Do yo

ake

interesti

ink too

n't thoug

ly. "You have no

aid. "That's w

prickled

t's supposed to g

t is

aze. "You sho

d

th stall

s fast,"

ias replied. "I

"Immediate desi

ate I don't inten

voice dropping. "You don't

inviting," he said. "I ju

n't aff

ne says

ryone is

you still st

ned her

sed

sting," she

es

hy

ou want me

curled. "You

said quietly

is face for fe

met?" s

N

you look at m

e wh

've been

esit

long

, "I think you fou

ked hard agai

's ab

s

not sp

kno

why wo

ed gently, "you didn't loo

fr

continued. "You didn't check si

augh. "Perhaps

perhaps you already kn

ared a

faded. Her power

ou really?

d, slow and

ling watched," he said,

ghtened ar

gain-that wrongness

audible, "You're not s

met he

ready