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I lean back into the headboard, ignoring the horrible scraping of my spikes against the wood. My skin tingles in strange places, like it’s brand new. Even the softness of the sheets is intense. I swear I can almost feel the grain of the wood on my back. Even the details of my room are sharper to my eyes, from the tiny lace flowers on the curtain to the cobweb in the highest corner away from the lamp.

An ur-form is a deep, ancient expression of a monster’s magic. I feel… primal. Now that my mind has stopped racing, other, stranger things rise to the surface, surging in waves.

I want… I need…

But words slip away, turning to shapeless thoughts. I hiss in frustration and grip my knees tighter. The thorns dig into my tough skin.

Deep down, I know what it is. My ur-form is unfulfilled. I manifested it to protect Ezra and I failed miserably, and so it won’t go away.

A knock on the door startles me and I jump, then groan when I realize I’ve gouged the bed-frame. “Who is it?”

“It’s me,” comes the familiar deep voice, and my stomach clenches. I don’t want Ezra to see me like this again.

“Can I come in?” he asks.

Pathetically, I’m not strong enough to resist.

“It’s open,” I tell him.

He hesitates in the doorway. “I thought I should check in on you. Are you doing okay?”

“I should be the one asking you.” I finally meet his gaze. His eyes are full of concern — not fear or disgust. “You didn’t ask to be involved in this.”

Ezra shuts the door behind himself. “Uh, I distinctly remember saying I’d take you to the river. I also remembersaying I can take care of myself. After what happened, I’m glad I was there.”

He sits on the bed. I pull my feet up, self-conscious of the claws I’ve sprouted. But Ezra takes hold of my ankle and rubs his thumb over the rough skin.

“So whatdidhappen out there?” he asks gently.

I squeeze my eyes shut. “This is my ur-form. All monsters have one. It’s a primal form, connected to the old ways, and it’s meant to protect us… and those we care about. Only mine is ugly and clumsy. Even though I’m covered in poison thorns, I’m not any more of a warrior than I’ve ever been.”

My mouth twists into an unhappy shape.Be afraid of me. Be angry.If he doesn’t do something unkind now, I won’t be able to stop myself from falling for him completely.

“I don’t think you’re ugly like this at all,” he murmurs.

“It’s notnormal. And I’mstuck. I can’t figure out how to turn back.”

Ezra’s hand tightens on my ankle.

“Normal is overrated. You’re…” He runs his hand over my calf, making my skin tingle. “…Stunning. Awe-inspiring.”

My mouth tips open.

“Also kind of sexy.” The corner of his mouth turns up in a crooked smile that makes my heart beat wildly. “Is that weird?”

“I don’t know,” I admit, feeling out of breath.

Ezra looms suddenly, cupping my chest over the tattered remains of my clothes. “Your heart’s beating pretty fast.”

“Syril says my body thinks there’s still danger.” I swallow. “To you.”

“Has this happened to you before?”

“I’ve only manifested my ur-form twice, and it wasn’t like it. The opposite, in fact — I couldn’t keep it.” I look away, hiding from his gaze. “I’m supposed to be able to control it.”

He caresses my skin, leaving tingling trails across my chest. Now my heart’s beating faster for different reasons. Everything about him ismorein this form — his scent, the warmth coming off him, the soothing vibration of his voice. His fingers glide over the hard, blunt nubs that trail in a line from my collarbone to my shoulder. My blood fizzes.

“I’m worried I’ll hurt you,” I breathe.