Page 152 of Stone Cold Touch

“Everyone likes me,” she retorted. Then, taking a deep breath, she looked at me. “What’s happened?”

“You might want to sit down for this,” I suggested.

For a moment she looked as if she’d argue, but finally she sat. I gave her a quick rundown of what had happened, not offering too much detail on the cage or torture parts. That wasn’t anything I wanted to relive. By the time I finished, she was pale and shaken.

“God, Layla, I... I don’t know what to say. I want to give you a hug, but you’re going to freak if I get that close, aren’t you?”

I bit down on my lip. “I don’t know exactly how I’m infecting people, but it...it has to be me.”

Tears filled her dark eyes. “No. I refuse to believe that. It’s not in you, even if you don’t know how it’s happening.”

I smiled at her, really wanting to hug her. “Thank you, but...”

She shook her head. “It doesn’t make sense. Why aren’t I infected? Or Sam? You’re around us more than anyone else.”

“We don’t know,” Roth said. “But that’s something we’re going to try to figure out.”

Running the back of her hands under her eyes, she sniffed and then dropped her hands to her lap. “What are you going to do? You can’t just leave.”

My stomach ached. “I have to, Stacey. At least until I figure out how I’m doing this.”

“What about school? You won’t graduate. High school, Layla.”

“I think she knows that,” Roth replied drily. “But thank you for pointing it out.”

Her mouth trembled. “I’m sorry, but that’s just a big deal. What will you do with your life? How will you—”

“She’ll be fine,” Roth said firmly.

I sighed. “I don’t know yet. Maybe I can get my GED and take online college classes until I figure this out.”

Stacey stood from the recliner, shaking her head. “That’s not right.”

No. It wasn’t.

She started to pace. “There has to be something we can do. This cannot be your only—”

Roth went rigid as though concrete had been poured down his spine. He swore as he whipped toward me. I was already on my feet, because only one thing would cause that reaction.

“What is it?” Stacey asked, looking around.

“There’s a Warden nearby—close,” Roth answered.

My hands curled in as static danced over my skin. “What time did you say Zayne usually comes by?”

“Around this time, maybe a little later.” Her eyes widened. “He would never hurt you, Layla.”

“I know,” I said, and I hoped we were both right. I had no idea how Zayne would view me now after I’d hurt him.

“A Warden will know we’re here. He’ll be able to sense us.” Roth turned, his features sharpening. “This will—”

A door crashed open and Stacey shrieked. It came from the back of the house, the same one we’d entered through andlockedbehind us, as if we’d been tracked right up to the door. But I knew Zayne was ridiculously skilled when it came to picking locks. And I knew it was him. The faint winter-mint scent teased my senses.

Roth was suddenly in front of me, but I stepped around him. I wasn’t going to cower or hide. Just as my heart leaped in my throat, a shadow fell across the entry to the living room and then Zayne was standing there.

I had a feeling if a hundred people were in the room, he still would’ve found me immediately. His gaze locked on to mine, and the first thing I noticed was his aura. It was still white and beautiful, but it had dulled a little, like a lightbulb about to go out. And he looked terrible.

Dark smudges crept under his eyes like a faint ink stain. Stubble covered his usually smooth cheeks and there was tension in his jaw. Had I done this to him when I’d taken a piece of his soul?

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