d us this would happen. That if we get too close, t

whispered. "B

led into fist

ake Bryson, and you are

kno

nd that can be dangero

kno

ly cracked. Not with anger anymore but pa

with her.

ed up

said quietly. "Like yo

t ask fo

"But I saw the wa

eavy and laced with all the t

lking past him and lighting the edge o

"The truth?

their stories. Why a human girl will hear the

t's what they made us, what they hunted u

Evelyn didn't look

't know wh

ced

e w

d. "You're goin

Not

n wh

g to see

ned. "And if s

't hes

still looks at

yn's

ith his nam

yso

into my veins like silk. I couldn't remember the full dream, only flashes: his fin

feel wanted. It was raw and consuming. Like my heart had k

it wasn't j

nd stared at the ceilin

ly been o

t o

elt different. Like he'd

hispered into the stillness, "What

ot to work, I w

into the open-concept studio with a muttered apology and

n the hardwood floor, and stared a

ook... weird

tered, dropping

ed 'I've-been-touched-by-an-angel-o

ze mi

God. You did! You ki

"Shut up-peopl

g like an angel who just got b

c sigh. "I think I'm i

inked. "Y

und insane. B

ce, at the amusement

magical. And it wasn't just him. It was the air. The way he

re in love with stranger because he bought you popcorn, wa

e didn't buy the popc

hing," she said sarcastically, but t

ween client logos and layout grids, I'd dood

. he made me feel loved and seen. L

eam girl. But what if he is just a dream? A beautifu

ant to dr

That's romantic. I

t stop thinking about the stories my

ones they call

e a metaphor. A be

t if it

. Dust clung to the faded covers. Most were fables-wolves and girls

emembered hiding it there as a kid, because the drawing freaked me out.

The Forbidden: Be

embled as I t

you?" His voice echoed again in my

d and shut

believe i

lieved i

on't know w

ed to the café. I told m

it w

d how much I scanned the sidewalk, the windows, th

wallet, but it slipped from my hand. I

me. It was so st

oked

here

ys

n front

ke I was some

mured, voice low.

n stuttered. "I

smi

e fate

he middle of the café, with tea in

ere warm agai

n and steadied something deeper. My breath caught, and