Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

would have also said she has the most beautiful face you?ve ever

seen. You wouldn?t be able to ignore that fact?it?s in your blood,?

she replied petulantly.

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?And if she does have the most beautiful face I?ve ever seen?

What then?? Creon asked calmly, although a wonderful rush of adrenaline

was sending a chill across his skin. The line went silent for

a full five seconds.

?You need to come home now. We need to tell your father. This is

much bigger than you know,? Mildred finally choked out before

she abruptly ended the call.

The next morning Helen jerked herself awake, her entire body

snapping from sleep to high alert in a blink. Her hand flew to that

spot on her chest where Creon?s blade had broken, and she had to

press her fingers into her breastbone to convince herself that there

was no gaping hole there.

She heard faint whispers coming from across the room. Sitting

up, she saw Lucas standing in the window, talking to someone outside

in such a low voice that no human could hear. The clock by her

bed read 5:25, and the sky was barely gray with the dawn.

?She?s safe, that?s all that matters,? Lucas said out the window.

?Not all that matters,? came the whispered reply.

Helen got out of bed and joined Lucas at the window. She looked

down and saw Hector standing on the edge of her lawn. He looked

up at them, glancing back and forth from Helen to Lucas, an indignant

look on his face.

?You okay?? Hector asked Helen gruffly.

?Yeah. But you don?t look so hot,? she said. Even from one flight

up she could see that Hector?s eyes were bloodshot with fatigue

and worry. He grimaced sarcastically at her compassionate look,