"
"I do.
"
"Then treat me like an adult. Tell me why it is you refuse to answer even the most basic question about
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"
What she asked for was impossible. He could never tell her about his current life, not unless Acheron or Artemis released him from his oath.
"If I tell you who I am, your life will be in danger.
"
"I live inNew Orleans over one of the most popular clubs in town and park my car in an alley where two men were murdered last night. My life is always in danger.
"
"Those weren't men last night and they weren't murdered." Talon didn't know why he let that escape.
"Then what were they?
"
Tell her…
The command was so strong. Never once had he broken his Code of Silence. Never.
"The Daimons wanted to party with your girlfriend, Celt. Don't leave her unprotected.
"
She had a right to know what was out there gunning for her.
"Talon." She stepped into his arms and placed her hands on his face. Her touch was soothing and warm.
It almost succeeded in breaking him.
"Trust me. Whatever it is, I won't ever tell a soul."
"I can't, Sunshine. I can't."
"You won't, Talon. You won't." She expelled an irritated breath and dropped her hands. "Fine. Keep your secrets. Go ahead and blow me off. Live a happy life and do whatever it is you do."
She moved away from him.
Talon reached for her, but she bypassed his hand. "Sunshine…"
"Don't touch me. I'm mad at you."
"Please don't be mad at me."
She shook her head. "Oh, you're good with those puppy-dog eyes. That deep note in your voice. But I'm too far gone now to care. Just leave."
He winced at the pain in her voice and her command. It cut him all the way to his heart.
In that moment, he realized something. Zarek and Acheron were right. He was scared. Scared of leaving
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The last thing he wanted was to lose Nynia again and yet as he looked at Sunshine, it dawned on him that though she might have his wife's soul, she wasn't his wife.
She was someone else. Someone new and exasperating. Nynia would never have gotten mad at him.
Not even when he deserved her anger. She'd always been timid and shy. Not bold and demanding like Sunshine.
If he said to leave a matter alone, Nynia would nod and drop the subject. She would never have kneed a Daimon or fought an alligator.
But even more astounding, he had to admit that he liked the fire in Sunshine. Her ability to stand up to him and the world around her.
"What?" she asked, blinking her eyes as if she couldn't believe what she saw. "You're still here? I thought I gave you an order."
He smiled in spite of himself. "I don't want to leave you, Sunshine. Can't you just accept me as I am?"
Sunshine looked away. "I like what little I know about you, Talon, but the problem is just how little I do know about you. You live in the swamp, seem to have a lot of money and no last name, and you like big, creepy gators and have a guy named Nick who runs errands. That's it. That's the extent of my Talon knowledge and it's a really short list."
She met his gaze. "I refuse to have a relationship with a man who won't even trust me with his basic bio.
Now if all you want is to get laid, there's the door. If you really want to stay, then tell me something about yourself. Something meaningful."
"Like what?
"
"Tell me the name of your best friend.
"
"Wulf Tryggvason.
"
Shocked, she dropped her jaw. "Oh my God, you just answered a question. I think the world may end over it.
"
"You're not funny. So do I get to stay?
"
She pursed her lips as she thought about it for a minute. "Fine, but only because I know you can't get back home before the sun rises.
"
Determined to keep distance between them until he answered her questions, Sunshine turned around and
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) went to her bedroom. She grabbed a pillow and blanket from her bed, then returned to the living room and handed them to him.
He looked completely dumbfounded as he held her pink quilt and pillow. "What's this?"
"Until you come clean with me, you can take the sofa."
"You're kidding."
"Oh no. Not even a little. I'm not going to let you back into my bed until you let me inside your head."
Talon was completely stupefied as she walked over to the far wall and lowered her blinds.