el's

blur on the spreadsheet. All I can think about is her. The girl

e proposal?" My father's sha

ook promising, but I'd suggest a more ag

my automatic response. I've bee

ind is e

Professor Martin, the scho

a student," I say, ke

sks, not looking

hy. Scholarsh

ed. "The quiet one? What

holarship students," I lie smoothly. "Need t

e he does. No one qu

e campus bookstore. Keeps to herself. Lives

ry detail. "Thanks. T

," he agre

ss. Taking paths I've never bothered wi

ead down. Dark hair tucked behind her ear

. I can't sto

ts. The way she tucks her hair behind her ear when she's concentr

y stops by her table. They talk

y wolf

t mine. She can't be.

lasses. To the bookstore where sh

are you? The meeting wi

arch for business econ

e. I am at the library

lamp. Papers spread around her. Coffee

ocused intensity in her eyes. The gentle cu

me, a constant t

ng to browse books whil

fens. Looks up, s

The bond wor

like I'm some teenager instead of th

hetic. What

I'll walk past her table. Maybe n

r hand trembling as she

I see the acciden

do

offee splashes

" she gasps,

n an instant. "He

nt of her hits me: wild honey and pine needle

" she says, not

tes are

y, making sure our fingers t

ough my veins. The bond fl

ike I've burned

aning it in more w

prised. Her amber

here?" she

t have a good answer. "

ction of th

catching me

needed help

between us, impossible to ignore. Ever

possibly say? I'm sorry I publicly humiliated you? I'm

oken to you that way

" she says, but I c

other lie. I know everything about her

says. "Luc

otice before. Abernathy. Where have I

quickly. "No relatio

ense it. But I nod a

who yo

veryone does. The nam

eve of her sweater. "You should run

top myself, I

hat shoots straight to my core. H

laim what's mine. Her pupils dilate, and for

What are

oice shatter

e. Part of me is already slipping back

ill," I say, my voice returnin

as she looks at Luce. "Though I'm not sure ja

for what I'm about to do.

y. "We have to see y

ugh mine, marking her territory. "Mother's

to hear. I see the flash of pain cr

aring to look at Luce ag

her with a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "Sc

e away, laughing at s

ainfully as the dist

asks once we're outside. Her tone is

Just bei

same girl f

Didn't rec

e your father would have opinions about

es in me at her wo

ur parents," I say instead. "

feel the bond pulling me

rd L

w long I can ke