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though his eyes； too； were more alert than the rest of his exhausted posture。
“At ease；” Jared said to Ian。 “I just want to talk to it。 I promised the kid； and I’ll stand by that promise。”
“Where’s Kyle？” Ian demanded。
“Snoring。 Your cave might shake apart from the vibrations。”
Ian didn’t move。
“I’m not lying； Ian。 And I’m not going to kill it。 Jeb is right。 No matter how messed up this stupid
situation is； Jamie has as much say as I do； and he’s been totally suckered； so I doubt he’ll be giving me
the go…ahead anytime soon。”
“No one’s been suckered；” Ian growled。
Jared waved his hand； dismissing the disagreement over terminology。 “It’s not in any danger from me； is
my point。” For the first time he looked at me； evaluating the way I hugged the far wall； watching my
hands tremble。 “I won’t hurt you again；” he said to me。
I took a small step forward。
“You don’t have to talk to him if you don’t want to； Wanda；” Ian said quickly。 “This isn’t a duty or a
chore to be done。 It’s not mandatory。 You have a choice。”
Jared’s eyebrows pulled low over his eyes—Ian’s words confused him。
“No；” I whispered。 “I’ll talk to him。” I took another short step。 Jared turned his hand palm up and curled
his fingers twice； encouraging me forward。
I walked slowly； each step an individual movement followed by a pause； not part of a steady advance。 I
stopped a yard away from him。 Ian shadowed each step； keeping close to my side。
“I’d like to talk to it alone； if you don’t mind；” Jared said to him。
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”
“No； Ian； it’s okay。 Go get some sleep。 I’ll be fine。” I nudged his arm lightly。
Ian scrutinized my face； his expression dubious。 “This isn’t some death wish？ Sparing the kid？” he
demanded。
“No。 Jared wouldn’t lie to Jamie about this。”
Jared scowled when I said his name； the sound of it full of confidence。
“Please； Ian；” I pleaded。 “I want to talk to him。”
Ian looked at me for a long minute； then turned to scowl at Jared。 He barked out each sentence like an
order。
“Her name isWanda； notit。 You will not touch her。 Any mark you leave on her； I will double on your
worthless hide。”
I winced at the threat。
Ian turned abruptly and stalked into the darkness。
It was silent for a moment as we both watched the empty space where he had disappeared。 I looked at
Jared’s face first； while he still stared after Ian。 When he turned to meet my gaze； I dropped my eyes。
“Wow。 He’s not kidding； is he？” Jared said。
I treated that as a rhetorical question。
“Why don’t you have a seat？” he asked me； patting the mat be…side him。
I deliberated for a moment； then went to sit against the same wall but close to the hole； putting the length
of the mat between us。 Melanie didn’t like this； she wanted to be near him； for me to smell his scent and
feel the warmth of his body beside me。
I did not want that—and it wasn’t because I was afraid he would hurt me； he didn’t look angry at the
moment； only tired and wary。 I just didn’t want to be any closer to him。 Something in my chest was
hurting to have him so near—to have him hating me in such close proximity。
He watched me； his head tilted to the side； I could only meet his gaze fleetingly before I had to look
away。
“I’m sorry about last night—about your face。 I shouldn’t have done that。”
I stared at my hands； knotted together in a double fist on my lap。
“You don’t have to be afraid of me。”
I nodded； not looking at him。
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”
I shrugged。 I couldn’t find my voice with the weight of his antagonism in the air between us。
I heard him move。 He scooted down the mat until he sat right beside me—the way Melanie had hoped
for。 Too close—it was hard to think straight； hard to breathe right—but I couldn’t bring myself to scoot
away。 Oddly； for this was what she’d wanted in the first place； Melanie was suddenly irritated。
What？I asked； startled by the intensity of her emotion。
I don’t like him next to you。 It doesn’t feel right。 I don’t like the way you want him there。For the
first time since we’d abandoned civilization together； I felt waves of hostility emanating from her。 I was
shocked。 That was hardly fair。
“I just have one question；” Jared said； interrupting us。
I met his gaze and then shied away—recoiling both from his hard eyes and from Melanie’s resentment。
“You can probably guess what it is。 Jeb and Jamie spent all night jabbering at me。…”
I waited for the question； staring across the dark hall at the rice bag—last night’s pillow。 In my
peripheral vision； I saw his hand e up； and I cringed into the wall。
“I’m not going to hurt you；” he said again； impatient； and cupped my chin in his rough hand； pulling my
face around so I had to look at him。
My heart stuttered when he touched me； and there was suddenly too much moisture in my eyes。 I
blinked； trying to clear them。
“Wanda。” He said my name slowly—unwillingly； I could tell； though his voice was even and toneless。 “Is
Melanie still alive—still part of you？ Tell me the truth。”
Melanie attacked with the brute strength of a wrecking ball。 It was physically painful； like the sudden
stab of a migraine headache； where she tried to force her way out。
Stop it！ Can’t you see？
It was so obvious in the set of his lips； the tight lines under his eyes。 It didn’t matter what I said or what
she said。
I’m already a liar to him；I told her。He doesn’t want the truth—he’s just looking for evidence；
some way to prove me a liar； a Seeker； to Jeb and Jamie so that he’ll be allowed to kill me。
Melanie refused to answer or believe me； it was a struggle to keep her silent。
Jared watched the sweat bead on my forehead； the strange shiver that shook down my spine； and his
eyes narrowed。 He held on to my chin； refusing to let me hide my face。
Jared； I love you；she tried to scream。I’m right here。
Time passed slowly while he waited for my