Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

?There?s plenty of time for us to see the world, but for now, I

think you?d better stay local. And since I can?t ask you to do

something that I wouldn?t be willing to do myself, I promise I

won?t go off island without you,? he said.

?Yeah, right,? Helen said, laughing and trying to pull her hand

out of his, but he held on to her.

?I?m serious,? he said, tugging on her hand and pulling her toward

him until she was practically stepping on his feet. ?There?s

another reason I want you stay over the island, especially when I?m

not with you. My family can?t protect you if they can?t find you.

Don?t forget, those women are still out there. And Creon will be

back for you. . . .?

264/395

At the mention of Creon?s name, it came flooding back to her. He

had tried to kill her, and he very nearly succeeded. The dizzying

darkness had been bad enough, but he had forced her to use her

lightning and relive another terrible memory as well.

?Helen?? Lucas said, touching the side of her face and turning

her eyes to his. ?I?m sorry to bring him up, but you know I had to.?

?I know, Lucas, it?s not that,? she began and stopped, needed a

second to regroup. ?Do you think my lightning is dangerous??

?Very,? he said seriously. ?But only if you don?t learn to use it.?

?I don?t want to use it! I want to go back to forgetting about it!?

?Helen, you don?t need to run away from yourself anymore,? he

said, scowling down at the ground. ?Look, this is partly my fault. I

should have told you about your lightning sooner, but I could tell

you were avoiding it, maybe even repressing it, for some reason.

What I really wanted was for you to discover it yourself and want

to learn about it, like you did with flying.?

?Lucas, I . . .? Helen broke off, shaking her head. ?I think I killed