oke to

ith unseen things. The candlelight had gone low, flickering soft against

en's coat, the scent of him soaked into the fab

kin faintly glowing beneath the low light. He watched Eli

t ached, dull and warm, wh

el?" Lucien as

" Elias said. "And bur

once. "You t

nked. "To

ood." A pause. "

like the world had sharpened while he wasn't lookin

u," he whisper

kened. "It'll onl

, heart pounding.

se from t

king toward him, "e

floor. He moved with the grace of something not entirely hum

ed, his presence magnetic, pulling at some

hing changes?" Elias aske

him again, hands res

Between us. Your body will start to shift-slowly, but i

?" Elia

faint smile touching his

allowed

e serious now. "The real danger is that others

s like

s smile

all of them wi

down Elias's

acing slowly. "We don't bond with humans. Not

did ha

eyes glowing faintl

said simply. "And it

ike smoke. I fell in love.

m, pulse flutterin

m and poured a dark, viscous liquid into a crystal glass. He didn't

Fragile. Brave." A pause. "I told myself I cou

as, the weight of ce

as w

forgotten, his expression unguarded

it unnatural. A crime against our kind." His voice lowere

, chest tighten

lost control. I became some

retched be

again?" Elias

nd curling gently around Elias's wrist-t

choose," he said. "You did.

d n

e're in

nded at the

f them

harpened, voice

ve fou

as could track. The elegance he carried before was gone,

sing through him. His hearing had sharpened; he could hear the faint breath of

hu

silently-stay back-then

hold, pale eyes glittering beneath the brim of a

the man said calmly, his gaze sliding

im, blocking the view. "You'

, though his smile said otherwise. "The Council

into a low growl. "You'

eaned forwar

, Lucien. You lost everything. Do you

very instinct told him Raf

t flinch. "H

el said. "

s gone-vanished into

ut the do

ely a whisper. "What

him, his expres

uman," he said. "B

ed forward.

gently. "Into something that hasn'

skin prickled, the air ar

oming?" he ask

yes flicke

said. "Something older

him, the weight

ething stirred-dark,

becoming... it h