Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely 1)

The expression on his face was an odd one, somewhere between amused and surprised.

“I’d hoped to, but”—he stared at her until she felt that familiar panic and compulsion rise up—“I’ve been doubting that I’d have much luck.”

Don’t run.

Her chest hurt too much for her to offer an answer, so she just nodded and said, “Oh.”

Silent then, he looked away, but he was smiling and quiet now. He waded through the crowd without another word. He still stayed too close, but the silence was a nice change. The lack of tempting warmth was incredible, like some odd calm radiated from him.

When they walked into Government, he was still smiling. “Can I join you at lunch?”

She paused. “You have every other day.”

He laughed, a sound as musical as the chiming song of the lupine fey when they ran. “Yes. But you resented it every other day.”

“What makes you think I won’t resent it today?”

“Hope. It’s what I live on….”

She bit her lip, considering: he was too easily encouraged by a few friendly remarks, but when he wasn’t trying so hard she seemed able to breathe around him, felt less overwhelmed by odd compulsions.

Tentatively she said, “I still don’t like you.”

“Maybe you’ll change your mind if you spend more time with me.” He reached out like he’d touch her cheek.

She didn’t flinch, but she tensed.

Neither of them moved.

“I’m not a bad person, Aislinn. I just…” He stopped and shook his head.

She knew she was walking on precarious ground, but it was the closest to honest he’d sounded and the closest to peace she’d felt since he’d started attending Bishop O.C.

She prompted, “What?”

“I just want to get to know you. Is that so strange?”

“Why? Why me?” Her heart sped as she waited for him to respond, as if he’d answer the real question. “Why not someone else?”

He stepped closer, watching her predatorily, his mood shifting rapidly once more. “Honestly? I don’t know. There’s something about you. From the first time I saw you, I just knew.”

He took her hand.

She actually let him. Play along. It wasn’t just playing, though: she’d been resisting the need to reach out to him since they first met. It wasn’t logical, but it was definitely there.

At his touch, her Sight sharpened. It appeared as if the faeries around them had all donned human glamours simultaneously.

No one in the classroom reacted; no one screamed. Obviously, the faeries hadn’t suddenly become visible.

What happened? She trembled.

Keenan was staring at her, too intently for comfort. “I don’t know why certain people shine for others. I don’t know why you and not someone else.” He gently pulled her forward and whispered, “But it’s you I think of when I wake each morning. It’s your face in my dreams.”

Aislinn swallowed. That would seem odd even if he were normal. And he wasn’t. What he was—unfortunately—was completely serious.

She shivered. “I don’t know.”

Keenan stroked her hand with his thumb. “Give me a chance. Let’s start over.”