He’s suddenly still. His eyes roam over my face, lips slightly parted as he takes me in. Then he blinks. Once. Twice. His dark lashes flutter, gray eyes flicking between mine as he says, “Remind me to make you smile like that again, when you aren’t dying, and I have all the time in the world to memorize it.”

Perhaps you may not need powers to be powerful.

“I don’t know that I ever lived before laying eyes on the likes of you.”

I have this urge to protect her, be with her, tease her, touch her.

the first thing I noticed was the pen scribbled on my hand. My slanted, hasty handwriting is scrolled across my palm, relaying a very important message: She said I could touch her when I’m sober.

“Orders?” I scoff. “I’m not one of your soldiers, Kai.” “You’re right, you aren’t.” He strides toward me, and the sight of him so bloody is suddenly intimidating. But I force myself to stand my ground when he halts before me, close enough now for me to see his smoky eyes turn to ice. “My soldiers don’t mean anything to me. They are expendable and

But I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again, and again, and again to save that silver-haired girl.

“Like what you see, Gray?” he croons, knowing that will get a rise out of me. I huff, looking away from him to fight the flush that’s finding its way to my cheeks. Rough fingers glide from my back to catch my chin, gently guiding my face back to his as he mutters, “By all means, carry on. I’ll never deny myself the chance of watching you watch me.”

He shrugs, a smile still spread across his face. “I just love the sound of my name coming from your lips.” I clear my throat, which has suddenly become far too dry. “Well, Kai isn’t your real name, now, is it?” He’s silent, nothing but a smile and a sudden intensity in his eyes, daring me to say his full name. Wanting me to say his name. And