[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
okay.
Wendy! Finn apparently had just woken up and was on his way to
check on me when he spotted me sitting on the steps. Instinctively, I pulled my
hand back, and Rhys stood up. What are you doing?
I just woke up. We were just talking. I looked up at Rhys, who
nodded in agreement, but Finn glared at us both. I felt like we d been caught
robbing a bank or having sex by the way Finn looked at us.
I suggest you get ready for school, Finn commanded icily.
Yeah, that what I was doing anyway, Rhys said somewhat
defensively, then smiled down at me. I ll see you later, Wendy.
Yeah, okay, I smiled back at him.
What are you doing? Finn hissed, glowering down at me.
I already told you! I insisted and stood up. He was still intimidating,
but we were closer to the same height now, so I felt a bit better. We were just
talking!
About what? Finn pressed.
My family, I shrugged. What does it matter?
You cannot talk to him about your family, Finn said firmly.
Mänsklig cannot know where they come from. If they did, they would be
tempted to track down their families, and that would completely ruin our entire
society. Do you understand that?
I didn t really tell him anything! I said defensively, but I felt stupid
that that hadn t occurred to me. I missed them, and I just said stuff about how
neat Matt was. I didn t tell him their last name or where they lived or anything
like that.
You have to be more careful, Wendy, Finn persisted.
205
Sorry! I didn t know! I didn t like the way he was glaring at me, so I
turned and started walking down the hall toward my room.
Wait. Finn grabbed my arm gently so I would stop and look at him.
He took a step closer to me so he was right in front of me, but I was trying to
be mad at him, so I refused to look at him. I could still feel his eyes on me and
the heat from his body, and it did little to help me maintain my anger.
What? I asked curtly.
I saw you holding his hand, Finn lowered his voice.
So? I said. Is that a crime?
No, but& you can t do that, Finn explained emphatically. You
cannot get involved with a mänsklig.
Whatever. I pulled my arm from his grip, irritated that the only thing
he ever thought about was the job. You re just jealous.
I am not jealous, Finn said defensively and took a step back from
me. I am watching out for your well-being. You don t understand how
dangerous it would be to get involved with him.
Yeah, yeah, I muttered and started walking back to my room. I
don t understand anything.
That s not what I said, Finn followed after me.
But it s true, isn t it? I countered. I don t know anything.
Wendy! Finn snapped, and grudgingly, I turned back to look at him.
If you don t understand things, it s because I didn t explain them well
enough. He swallowed hard and looked down at the ground, his dark eyelashes
falling on his cheeks. There was something more that he wanted to say to me,
so I crossed my arms, waiting. But you were right. He struggled with what he
was saying, and I watched him carefully. I was jealous.
What? My jaw literally fell open and my eyes widened with surprise.
That does not affect the job I have to do, nor does it change the fact
that you absolutely cannot become involved with a mänsklig, Finn said firmly,
still looking at the ground instead of at me. Now go get ready. We have
another long day ahead of us. He turned around and started to walk away.
206
Wait, Finn! I called after him, and he paused, half looking back at
me.
The matter is not open for discussion, Finn replied coolly. I
promised I would never lie to you, so I didn t.
I stood in front of my bedroom door, reeling from his confession. For
the first time, he had really admitted that at least some of his feelings for me
had nothing to do with the job at hand. Yet somehow, I was supposed to forget
all that and go about like everything was normal.
207
18
With the party only twenty-four hours away, Elora felt the need to check on my
progress, not that I blamed her. Her plan was a dress rehearsal through dinner,
testing my ability to converse and eat, apparently. She didn t want a massive
audience to witness my possible failure, so she just invited Garrett, Willa, and
Rhiannon over to join her, Finn, Rhys, and me. It was the biggest group she
could assemble without risk of embarrassment. Since I had already met with
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]