分节阅读_92

  ys to lure you from the room with me, to
  get you alone. and i fought them each baking of my family, what i
  . i had to run out, to get away before i could speak the
  words that would make you follow…”
  he looked up then at my staggered expression as i tried to absorb his
  bitter memories. his golden eyes scor under his lashes, hypnotic
  and deadly.
  ”you would have e,” he promised.
  i tried to speak calmly. ”without a doubt.”
  he frow my hands, releasihe force of his stare.
  ”aried te my s a poiempt to
  avoid you, you were there — in that little room, the st
  was maddening. i so very ook you then. there was oher
  frail human there — so easily dealt with.”
  i shivered in the warm sun, seeing my memories ahrough his eyes,
  only n the danger. poor ms. cope; i shivered again at how
  close i'd e to beily responsible for her death.
  ”but i resisted. i don't know how. i forced myself not to wait for you,
  not to follow you from the school. it was easier outside, when i 't
  smell you ahio make the right de. i left
  the others near home — i was too ashamed to tell them hoas,
  they ohing was very wrong — a straight to
  carlisle, at the hospital, to tell him i was leaving.”
  i stared in surprise.
  ”i traded cars with him — he had a full tank of gas and i didn't want to
  stop. i didn't dare to go home, to face esme. she wouldn't have let me go
  without a se. she would have tried to e that it wasn't
  necessary…
  ”by the m i was in alaska.” he sounded ashamed, as if
  admitti cowardice. ”i spent two days there, with some old
  aces… but i was homesick. i hated knowing i'd upset esme, and
  the rest of them, my adopted family. ihe mountains it
  was hard to believe you were so irresistible. i yself it was
  weak to run away. i'd dealt with temptatio of this
  mag eve i was strong. who were you, an
  insignifit little girl” — he grio chase me from the
  plated to be? so i came back…” he stared off into space.
  i 't speak.
  ”i took pres, hunting, feedihan usual bef you
  again. i was sure that i was stroo treat you like any other
  human. i was arrogant about it.
  ”it was uionably a pli that i 't simply read your
  thoughts to know what your rea was to me. i wasn't used to having to
  go to such easures, listening to your words in jessica's
  mind… her mind isn't very inal, and it was annoyioop
  to that. and then i 't know if you really meant what you said. it
  was all extremely irritating.” he frowhe memory.
  ”i waet my behavior that first day, if possible, so i
  tried to talk with you like i would erson. i was eager
  actually, hoping to dee hts. but you were too
  iing, i fou up in your expressions… and every now
  and then you would stir the air with your hand or your hair, and the
  st would stun me again…
  ”of course, then you were nearly crushed to death in front of my eyes.
  later i thought ood excuse for why i acted at that moment
  — because if i hadn't saved you, if your blood had beehere in
  front of me, i don't think i could have stopped myself from exposing us
  for what we are. but i only thought of that excuse later. at the time,
  all i k was, 'not her.'”
  he closed his eyes, lost in his agonized . i listened, more
  eager than rational. oold me i should be terrified. instead,
  i was relieved to fiand. and i was filled with passion
  for his suffering, even now, as he fessed his y life.
  i finally eak, though my voice was faint. ”ial?”
  his eyes flashed up to mine. ”i alled. i 't believe i had
  put us ier all, put myself in your power — you of all people.
  as if i her motive to kill you.” we