Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

laugh, suddenly remembering the last time she had taken the ferry.

It was when Claire first told her about the new family that had

moved into the big compound out in ?Sconset. Claire had been sure

that there would be a dream boy to fall in love with each of them,

and Helen had been sure that Claire was being ridiculous. So sure

that she?d changed the subject, and wondered aloud whether she

should cut her hair.

?Well, Claire was absolutely right,? Helen said to herself, laughing

through her tears. ?I do hate having bangs.?

Her breath still catching on the half-crazy laugh, Helen yanked

open the door of the hotel room to leave, and ran right into Lucas.

In a split second he registered Helen?s tears and the shocked face

of the strange woman next to her. Lucas grabbed Helen?s arm and

pulled her away from the woman, putting himself between them.

?What did you do to her?? he said, threatening Daphne.

?And just who are you?? Daphne said with a southern drawl. Lucas

gave the woman a confused look and then looked back at

Helen.

?Helen, who is this woman?? he asked.

?Come inside,? Daphne said, dropping the fake accent. ?Come on,

Helen. We?ve been discovered. He can see your true face.?

?How?? Helen asked, looking down at the hands that weren?t

hers, at a body that wasn?t hers, as she followed Lucas back into

the room.

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?Because he loves you.? Daphne shut the door behind them. ?The

cestus can?t hide the face of a beloved, it can only reveal it. You?ll

never be anyone but yourself to him because he loves you exactly

as you are.?

Daphne rubbed her temples in frustration at this new and annoying