e Storm'

he car, R

er body, her skin is cold and damp; her pulse is beating under my fingertips. She is terrified, but it is from

object, though her lips quicker as she tries to understand it. "Cole

temperature, even if the storm outside is just getting worse. We are l

m and her fingers dig my jacket as though she were try

e SUV across the icy road. Her body stiffens against mine as the speed increases; he

y from recollection. That transcends my own, our quarrel, or unfinish

he low light from the dashboard, "Why won't you tell me?" s

r my breath, I murmur, just loud enough for her to hear: I really do Still have to be

derstands down inside that I am not the same person I was in our early years. She can feel it as well. The distance between us, my adjusted strategy.

nnoyance, and dammit it. I can feel her pull even now. Even now, following all of this She is as beautiful as before, but her

ven though I cannot afford to think about it right now. Here there are more broad

ble over the storm's roar. "I understand you." You are not telling me anythi

gaze. She is not mistaken. I would like her inside allowed. Above all, I wish to let her help and tak

ed in this, Rory." "You cannot now share this world. I

wheel to the side and instantly press on the brakes, and my heart leaps into my throat. Our fishtail on the i

ce unplanned adrenaline surges

ck, souped-up terrible beast of a truck. My pulse leaps upon recognising the familiar driver. The

breath stops in her throat as the car approaches, its headl

icle surges ahead, and just now I can see the fig

always lurked in th

celerated away from him. The tires shrieked. Beside me, Rory gasps; her fingers

ds tightly on the wheel and gaze fixed on the road. "H

her eyes wide with dis

e complexity of the monster I deal with. Finds it incomprehens

spy. "Keep your head lowered

hicle keeps behind. I have to lose him; I am going to lose him, but rig

ahead. The anger of the storm outside reflects the fury within my breast. And ev

ce she realizes after she s

icable to me. Neither

truck behind us pursues. The risk is too re

e uneven ground. The air smells like shattering branches, and for a fleeting second I

letting

I know that if we do nothing-that is, if

ry but she is not staring at me. Her body shaking a

ardly audible. We are not

Deeply down, I'm