LITMIR.BIZ

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      Krystal’s mouth twitched, but she said nothing.

      “Ugh, who knows? Anyway,” she said, her eyes glued to the screen, “all the social sites have been checked and are now clear. Go us!” She twirled around in the chair, a huge grin across her face.

      Her giddiness was infectious and I smiled back at her.

      “What are they saying about my accident?” I asked. Maybe someone saw who pushed her.

      Heather answered. “Just stupid stuff, like you just doing it for attention or—” She broke off.

      “Or someone pushed you,” Krystal added snidely.

      I narrowed my eyes, and she quickly turned her gaze back to her phone.

      “Well, let them think what they want,” Heather said. “It’s better than them thinking you’re clumsy. Right?”

      “Ally-bear?” Seth said softly. He sauntered toward me, his green eyes barely hiding his concern. He knelt at the bedside and took Ally’s hand in his.

      Memories flashed over my vision of Ally’s relationship. Ice-cold fingers raked her spine as I experienced their most intimate moments. I tried to push them away but they thrust forward, showing every moment between them. The ice melted into a radiant heat and spread through me until it settled in Ally’s chest.

      I licked my suddenly dry lips.

      Seth watched my involuntary action and slanted his soft lips on Ally’s. Ally’s desire filled me, bringing with it a pulsing electric current. I pulled back, but he moved closer, pulling me back into the kiss. Ally’s body took over as if by memory and grabbed his shirt collar tight in her fists. He opened his mouth and I tasted mint. Her heart roared in her ears as his gentle hands stroked her cheeks.

      Cooper coughed and I jolted, moving back from Seth.

      Cooper’s mouth pressed into a hard line and he turned away from us.

      I looked back at Seth; his eyes drooped and a lazy smile spread across his face. “Are you in pain?”

      I shook my head. Ally’s lips throbbed, though.

      Seth hopped over Ally’s body without touching her and snuggled into the pillow next to me. I turned around, keeping our faces at a safe distance. The barrier between Ally’s memories and my thoughts had blurred for a moment, and I didn’t want to test her resolve again.

      “How are you feeling?” he asked.

      “Better,” I breathed.

      The door squeaked open. We both turned to see Marie and her one-eyed stare.

      “Door open when boyfriend is here,” she said, more of a demand than a request.

      Seth sat up, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “It was good seeing you again, Marie,” he said through a wide grin.

      Her gaze flicked from Seth to Krystal then to Heather, and finally back to me. “Door open.” She turned away from us slowly and walked down the hallway.

      Heather giggled. “You two are in trouble,” she sang.

      “Are we going to be here all night?” Krystal groaned. “I was under the impression we were just stopping by.”

      Heather gaped at her. “Our friend was in the hospital for the last few days and you can’t stay for more than ten minutes?”

      Krystal avoided my gaze. “It’s not like she’s going anywhere. And we have a French test to study for.”

      “She’s in the room,” I said. “Don’t talk to her like she’s not.”

      Heather gave Krystal a smug smile.

      “Whatever,” Krystal said, getting up. “I hope you feel better.” Her dark eyes held mine before flicking over to Seth’s. “I’ll be in the car.”

      The second she crossed the threshold, Heather spoke. “What a bitch.”

      “Hey,” Seth said.

      We both looked at him. “You’re defending her?” I asked.

      “You girls are always griping at each other about something. No need for name-calling.”

      I yawned, the medication making the edges of my vision fuzzy.

      “We should go anyway,” Seth said. “You should get some rest; I’ll text you later.” He pecked me on the mouth and waited for Heather.

      She bounced on the bed and wrapped me into a tight embrace. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

      “Okay,” I said, a little breathless from her grip.

      They both left the room and when I heard the front door close I rolled over onto Ally’s back breathing a deep sigh.

      “Well, it looks like you enjoyed yourself,” Cooper said, standing with his back to me.

      “What do you mean?” I asked. “That Krystal girl is a nightmare. How can Ally be friends with her?”

      “That’s not what I meant,” Cooper said.

      “What? The kiss?” I snorted. “You’ve never seen Ally and Seth kiss?”

      He grimaced.

      I sat up. “He took me by surprise; what was I supposed to do?”

      Cooper shook his head. “I felt how much you enjoyed it. Keep your head on the mission. Remember this is Ally’s life. You are only here temporarily.”

      Why was he lashing out at me? We’d been on good terms so far; what had changed? Did he have more than a professional relationship with Ally?

      Another yawn stretched Ally’s mouth to the limit. I snuggled into the pillows and wrapped the covers tighter around me.

      “Get some rest,” Cooper said.

      I didn’t have the strength to argue.

       Chapter Nine

      Sunlight beat down on the townsfolk as they meandered through the streets of town, stopping at each vendor set up under tent awnings. His eyes scanned the faces, waiting for the one he’d been following for a long time.

      Distance proved to be best for his resolve, but as the girl grew into a woman, he found her harder and harder to resist, even though it was his job to protect her. He sucked in a breath through his teeth, a trait left over from his human life. It connected him to her in a way, possibly convincing him they weren’t that different.

      But as she came into view, stopping at the wood carver’s table, he knew he couldn’t light a candle to her. Her head was bowed as she inspected the wooden figurines, her bonnet masking her face. He came out of the alley and wandered to her side, a hair’s breadth away from touching her.

      But he didn’t dare.

      He looked further down the crowd and saw her father, his gaze narrowed on him. He took a step back, raising his arms in defense. Her father continued on his way, tucking his wife’s arm in the crook of his.

      He waited until her father disappeared around the corner and stepped closer to the girl. He looked down at the figure she held and smiled. The replica of an owl that the vendor had made sat in the palm of her hand, her long fingers stretched out like a platform for the artistic piece.

      “This is beautiful,” she breathed, her voice low.

      Elation flowed from her and it moved inside of him.

       “Dear sister.”

      They both looked up at a girl. She wore a similar bonnet; her long flowing

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