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“I’m not worried about that,” I told him.“But I think I owe you an explanation.”

“For saying what you said, you mean?”Avery demanded.“Don’t worry, Saint—I’ve heard everything I need to.I’m going to be moving out to another room tomorrow.I just didn’t have time to gather all my stuff tonight.”

“You’re moving, are you?Ah…I’m not surprised.”But his words still felt like a punch in the gut.I was glad my Drake was asleep and hadn’t heard him.“I suppose you’re going because you fear me,” I added.“I don’t blame you at all, though I promise my Drake would never harm you as he…harmed the others.”

Killed, more like—but I couldn’t bring myself to say the word.

In the dimness of the room, Avery frowned at me.

“What are you talking about?I’m moving out because of what you think of me—not because of your Drake.Though I admit itiskind of scary to have him, uh, like me so much,” he added in a low voice.

“He feels very protective of you,” I murmured.“Very…drawn to you.”

Inside a little voice asked me if I was talking about my Drake being drawn to him…or myself.I pushed it away.

“Yes, I could tell,” Avery said, frowning.“Sorry about that.It must be hard for you to have your Drake beingdrawnto someone you can’t stand yourself.”

“What?”I sat up in bed, looking over at him.He was lying on his side with his head on the pillow but even in the dimness of the room, I could see the unhappy look on his face.

“You heard me.I know what you think of me now—what youreallythink of me,” he said.

I shook my head.

“What are you talking about?I thoughtyouwere the one who would think badly ofmeafter what was said in the Headmistress’s office.”

“What wassaid?”he snapped, sitting up himself and glaring at me.“What wassaidwas that you are not a ‘lover of men’.”

“Well, I’m not,” I said, somewhat surprised by his vehemence.Though when I said it, I couldn’t help feeling somewhat uneasy, as though part of me disagreed with the statement somehow.

“Yes, butIam.”Avery thumped his chest with a fist.“I’mgay,Saint—and I’ve known it since I was a little kid.I know the other Drakes hate me for what I am—well, except for Ari and Kaitlyn—but I thoughtyouwere different.”

“Iamdifferent from Gonzales and his thugs!”I protested.“Just because I am not a man-lover doesn’t mean I hateyoufor being one!”

“You sure about that?”Avery raised his eyebrows at me.“The way you said it—the look on your face—I thought…” He shook his head and looked down at his hands, which were still wounded from the rope burns.“I thought I disgusted you,” he said in a low voice.

My heart seemed to fist in my chest and I yearned to go to him—to prove, somehow that I didn’t hate him—that I couldneverhate him.But I couldn’t—I was too afraid that he might hate me as well.

“You could never disgust me, Avery,” I told him.“The way my Drake feels for you…” I trailed off, looking down at my own hands.“I thoughtyoumust hate and fearme,” I said softly.“After what happened in the gymnasium today and…after what Coach Vasquez said.”

“You mean when she said that your Drake had…” He cleared his throat.“Had killed people?”

“Yes,” I said shortly, still afraid to look at him.

“Well…did he?”Avery asked.

I nodded, my stomach clenching as I wondered how he would think of me when he knew the truth.But Ihadto tell him.

“He did,” I said.“It was because my father wanted someone to tame him—a female.He was determined to defy the curse thebrujahad put on me and my Drake, even before I was born.”

“Why were you cursed?”There was no condemnation in Avery’s voice, just curiosity.I took heart at his tone and was able to look up as I answered.

I told him about how my father had killed one of his lieutenants and how the man’sl’lornahad been abrujathat dealt in black magic.

“She swore that my father’s sins would be visited upon his only son,” I told Avery.“She said that my Drake would be a Blood-Drake that no female could tame or control.But my father refused to listen.I think he thought he could break the curse if he only tried hard enough.And…he was angry that I showed no interest in girls.”

“You didn’t?”Avery arched one dark blond eyebrow at me.“I mean, whodidyou show interest in?”

I shrugged.