Book 3: Fighting the Instinct

Candace

My heart hammers as my lips slide over Hollis’s. He tastes even stronger than he smells, like a winter day I’m watching through a window. My heart flutters. My stomach clenches.

Hollis pulls back. His eyes are wide, pupils nearly swallowing green iris. “We can’t.”

Right. My mark sears, and I drop my gaze. We were just talking about all the reasons why we can’t do this. Who it will hurt.

“Not here.” He takes my hand.

Bright, burning hope lights in my chest. I scamper after him, out of the soft lights strung in the branches. Can he feel my heart pounding against the thin skin of my wrist? When he glances back at me, is he worried or just checking to see if I’m still following?

Hollis leads us to a small cluster of half-living trees, outside the ring of light and away from any other tents. I take a step forward, ready to kiss him again. He really believes me.

He frowns, and a muscle in his jaw tenses.

“What?” I as