phyne found him, it

as muffled by the heavy dampness of ancient oaks. He was sitt

into his line of sight, her heels clic

me now," Elias said

raphyne countered, stopping a few fee

yes tracing the line of her throat before se

ser, invading his personal space with the practi

patting the space on the bench beside him. "The

n itch with a strange, magnetic static. "M

ayb

visible tension that made the dry leaves at their feet stir. Seraphyne felt the familiar

bench, her fingers grazing the fabric of his coat befo

sharp, cold intake of energy t

st a tiny, d

heat crashed through her. It was heavy, gold, and frighteningly sweet. It

r fingers twitc

n't pull away. Instead, he turned his hand over, c

ind," she lied, h

t grounding. The warmth from his palm was spreading up her arm, se

is thumb tracing a slow, delib

m fi

im-cedar, old paper, and something uniquely him-overwhelmed her senses

logical necessity to a desperate, confusing ache. "That's not

at i

her eyes wide. "It's supp

ntense enough to burn. He reached up with his free hand, his fing

pull. It's like gravity just stoppe

the star; he was the satellite. But in this moment, looking into the dark depths of h

kin finally made contact with her face. It wasn't ju

denly, standing up s

" she said, her

en, w

r heart thudding a frantic, uneven rhythm against her ribs. She

held. It was still glowing with a faint

wasn't hunger.

e had been told didn