Page 54 of The 13th Daughter

"Because I wanted to," he told me simply. "I wanted you to know that you have other choices, CJ. Ethan..."

"...is my boyfriend, Jeff, and I love him."

It crushed him. His big, blue eyes filled with pain. He looked like I'd taken a knife and stabbed him.

"He'll hurt you, CJ," he said at last. "I can't explain it, but he will."

"I know he could hurt me," I said softly. "I know that and I don't care."

"You should. You're the smartest girl I know, CJ, but when it comes to Ethan, it's like you've lost all sense of reality. You don't care? Since when do you not think things through?"

"I have thought things through. I love him, Jeff. There's no reasoning to love. It's not something you can control."

"I know."

Shit. He did know. I saw it in his eyes. I recognized it because it was the same look I gave Ethan.

"I'm sorry, Jeff."

"Don't, CJ." He pushed himself to his feet. "It's not your fault."

I knew he'd had a crush, but not this. "Jeff, I..."

He laughed harshly. "Just promise me you'll be careful. He's dangerous, CJ."

"I will."

He turned to face me, his eyes hard. "You're almost eighteen, CJ. I swear I am going to do everything I can to protect you. No matter what."

"The curse?" I knew it had something to do with my eighteenth birthday. I just didn't know what. It was driving me insane not knowing.

He sighed.

He couldn't say a single word.

"So, don't you think we should get back to teaching you about the Elements?" He tried to sound as carefree as before, but didn't quite manage. "You need to know as much as you can."

"I promise to pay attention."

"Even if I sound like Mr. Herndon?" he smiled half-heartedly.

"Even if."

He went back to tapping the ruler and I tried in vain to concentrate.

It was a hell of a mess.

Chapter Eighteen

Ethan was waitingon my front porch. His eyes narrowed when they zeroed in on Jeff and me coming up the lane. He denied being jealous, but he so was. I smiled. Jeff snorted.

"See ya, Neighbor Boy." I left Jeff at the gate to his house and continued on until I stood on the bottom step of my porch. I craned my neck to look up into his smoky gray eyes. They were flashing with fire.

"Are you going to explain to me why I keep finding you with that boy every time I see you?" Ethan growled.

"Not until you start explaining things to me." I tried to go up the steps and around him, but he caught my arm. He frowned at the bag I held. "Birthday present," I shrugged in answer.

"From Neighbor Boy?"