Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

?I healed you. That?s my gift,? she answered as she smiled back at

him, suddenly looking exhausted.

?Thanks,? Matt said. He allowed himself to be moved toward

Hector?s truck. ?Wait. Where?s Claire?? Helen was out of the truck

and barreling down on Matt before her mother could even hold out

an arm to stop her.

?What do you mean ?where?s Claire??? Helen demanded, balling

her fists so hard her arms started shaking. ?Where did you last see

her??

?The front seat,? Matt replied weakly as he gestured toward his

car.

Jason?s whole body went rigid. Moving so fast he was little more

than a blur, Jason tore the door of the car off with one hand and

tenderly scooped Claire out from underneath the dashboard with

the other. She was unconscious, bleeding, and as limp as a wet cotton

doll.

?No,? Jason whispered to her. ?You were supposed to stay away

from me.? He placed his lips a hair?s width away from hers and

held statue still.

?How is she?? Ariadne asked urgently.

?She?s breathing,? he said after a moment, his voice breaking. He

lifted his head up and met his twin?s eyes.

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?Well, can you heal her or not?? she asked him calmly, as though

she and her twin had prepared themselves for this.

He clenched his jaw and nodded, but didn?t speak, carrying

Claire into the back of the truck and holding her carefully on his

lap while everyone else organized.

?I?ll take care of Matt?s car and meet you back at home,? Lucas

said to Hector, already obscuring the particulars of the wreck by