Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

?It?s not that. He doesn?t let me go out on school nights,? she

said, looking back at him, but he was frowning deeply and staring

at the road. As the minutes ticked by silently, Helen could feel Lucas?s

mood getting worse and worse.

?Nope. This isn?t going to work,? he said suddenly, pulling the car

over to the side of the road, yanking on the parking break, and

turning in his seat to face Helen. When he saw Helen?s startled face

he took a shaky breath to control himself before he started. ?I don?t

know if my dad explained this to you, but the different Houses are

the descendants of different gods,? he began.

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?Yes, he said something like that,? Helen responded quietly. She

felt like a kid in the principal?s office and she had no idea why. He

tried to smile at her, but gave up.

?My family?s House, the House of Thebes, are the descendants of

Apollo. He?s primarily known as the god of Light, but he was also

the god of Music, Healing, and of Truth. Falsefinders?Scions who

can feel lies?are very rare, but I?m one of them. I always know a lie

when I hear it, and if it comes from someone close to me I can?t

stand it. So you can?t lie to me, Helen. Ever. If you don?t want to

tell me the truth, please, for my sake, don?t say anything all,? he

pleaded.

?Does it hurt?? Helen asked, her curiosity piqued.

?I?ve tried to explain to Jase how it feels, but I?ve never been able

to get it right. It?s almost like that feeling you get when you?ve lost

something really important and you can?t find it, but it?s much

worse. The longer the lie hangs there, the more frantic I get to find

the truth. I?ll dig and dig for it . . .?

?I just need a little bit of time to adjust,? Helen admitted in a

rush. ?I?m not ready to tell my dad about me, or about my mom,