ric

s to surround me when Raven is near. I step away from her regretfully an

I intended. He looks at me, then at Rave

Paul’s farm,” he tells me. I nod at him an

at I said,”

ys softly. Her demeanor has mellowed significantly in

out to the porch and I am right behind him when I feel a hand on my arm.

rshly. My reaction to her is visceral and I’m normall

has happened. Sometimes even images,” she whispers. Well that’s some new information, I think. I make a mental

tick close to me,” I inform her. She

g the back of his head and staring at the chicken coop. I look down and

e

ned here, Paul?” I a

p asking myself, A

and I process this information for a moment. I t

tch doing here

happened,” I reply in a tone that

her hands on the ground. She seems to shimmer in the sunlight and I blink to adjust my eyes. She moans and I

ody starts shaking and I feel a spike of fear in my heart. I reach her in seconds,

ntly. She whimpers and th

ened?” she asks in

er over and she seems to be fine, b

,” she protests. I shush her and walk back in the direction of my

u can tell me what happened just now,” I

eeds to rest and then I will find out if we hav

r help,” he replies respectfully, bu

anyone saw or heard anything that might be useful,” I

he seems so delicate and fragile and I fee

ployee, and therefore my responsibility,” I say firmly. She looks a litt

n on the bed and push her back gently to lay down. I leave to grab he

resting,” I sa

in a faraway voice. I walk towards

see?” I ask. She suddenly turns ar

eing nice to m

?” I

gressive, but now you are acting as though you care. Why?” she demands. I don’

thing, making sure you don’t come to any harm,” I t

sing me?” she inquires with a raised eyebrow. I sigh in

al working relationship until your debt is paid.

e as I’m going to get t

don’t apologize

don’t know what it is and I don’t like it. But I can’t ignore it. I would rather get it out in the open s

feel

, with a hint of violets. Her waist length, silky dark hair falls around her like a halo, gently caressing the

oice. I am falling into the depths of her deep brown eyes

he same mistak

I jump back as though I’ve been burned. She

nd you feel beholden to me for rescuing you from a gruesome fate,” I tell

Lavinia. But don’t worry, you don’t need to feel obligated to me. If my presence is a burden, say the word a

I make an agreement, I always honor it,” I inform her. She gives me a hard, s

lpha?” she asks me w

when we were at th

blurry figure that I couldn’t make out. I’m sorry I can’t be more useful to you,” she replies, wi

r to hate me or think I’m a jerk.

ly, for lack of

’s it?”

e some things to take care of so I’

rds the door and hesitate for a moment, wanting to explain to her what the feeli

should have never made that deal with Lavinia, but at the

ment I met her that