lt it. A change in the atmosphere. The cheer

g embodiment of a scandal. I could

t' s

psyc

and started walking toward the stage at the far end

amed. "It' s her! The

b of hate. People surged toward

iar

t ou

he wrong person, that I wasn' t

r rage. They didn' t want the truth.

ere to hurt Gia aga

he front of my dress, sticking to my skin. Then som

me, pulling at my hair. I tried to fight back, t

side of the head. Pain exploded behind my

standing near the exit, watching. Carter had a protective arm ar

Carter' s eyes met mine. I saw a fl

, my voice raw with de

Gia let out a small, theatrical cry and

k to her instantly. He scooped her up into his arms a

ia' s face over Carter' s shoulder. She

was lost beneath a sea of kicking feet and angry shouts. A sharp pain shot through my

d finally done it. T

r, mocking echo in my mind. He had chosen to save her, to save his precious, perfect original

thought I was going to die right there,

he chaos, a voi

All of you

e me. He was the man from the fire,

shoulder. "Are you o

en in years. He wasn' t looking at me like I was a mons

, but all that c

own body. He led me out of the ballroom, away fro

last thing I felt before I blacked out was t

And now, he had saved me fr