h party with disdain. She looked at the flowers, the food, the

g with false concern. "I can' t belie

a halt. The room fell s

ng. "You were nearly killed! And you force him to throw you a party? Don' t you car

ipulator, twisting r

up. "Christie, you' ve got it wrong. This wasn' t Emi

t know anything about it." His tone was placating, but there was a c

e hadn' t expected to be contradicted. But she

Just the therapist you call when you need help? I put everything into your recover

e room. "I can' t do thi

as again. The

needed her. Or at least, he believed he did. He sta

stie,

over his shoulder at me. "Something

thetic, tra

indifference. I didn' t call him out

aid, getting to my feet.

o home. Instead, I walked down the hall and stopped around

ristie pinned against the wall, his expressi

want, Christie

single tear tracing a path down her cheek. I

ing. "Don' t be like this. You know I need you." He pr

Declan' s shoulder and her eyes met mine across the hall. A triumphant, vi

t hear the words, but I saw his face change. H

asked for, but a cold dre

back towards me. He appeared in

ology. "Emily," he said, his voice low. "Go

feel anything but a deep, bone-weary exhaustion

clamped over my mouth from behind. Another arm

. A sharp, sweet smell filled my nostri

rred. My limb

ind before I blacked out was that this was