Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

Helen saw the other boy lunge at her, but he was stopped by Lucas,

who threw out an arm and sent him flying back into the lockers behind

them. Then her whole body stopped and strained.

?Cassandra! Stay where you are,? Lucas called over Helen?s

shoulder, his face no more than an inch away from hers. ?She?s

very strong.?

Helen?s arms burned and the little bones in her wrists felt like

they were grinding together. Lucas was holding her by the wrists to

keep her hands away from his neck, she realized. They were locked

in a stalemate, and if she could get her fingers half an inch closer,

she could reach his throat.

And then what? a little voice in her head asked. Choke the life out

of him! answered another.

Lucas?s achingly blue eyes widened in surprise. Helen was winning.

One of her long nails grazed the pulsing skin covering the fat

artery she itched to slit. Then, before she could process what was

happening, Lucas spun her around and clamped her to his chest,

restraining her arms against her breast and standing between her

legs. The position he?d forced her into kept her off balance and unable

to bring her heel down on his instep. She was immobile.

?Who are you? What is your House?? he breathed into her ear,

giving her a rough shake to punctuate his point. She was beyond

understanding language.

Outmaneuvered and helpless, she started to scream with rage,

then stopped herself. Now that she couldn?t see his eyes she was

becoming aware of the fact that half the school?s faculty was trying

to tear her off him. Everyone was staring.

Helen doubled over in agony as her abdomen seized up with

cramps. Lucas immediately let her go as if she?d turned into a lit

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