“Yeah, you were. All that crying… and sniffling?” He made a dismissive sound. “Disgusting.”

And I wanted… I wanted fucking everything. I wanted to live my life, I wanted sex, but I wanted love more. It was why I’d waited. Why I hadn’t settled for just anyone.

“I’m tired of helping people who don’t deserve it, and I know it isn’t up to me to decide who that is. One life is just as important as another. Everyone is someone’s son or daughter.” He shook his head. “For every thousand people we save, we’re blamed for the deaths of another ten thousand.” Those purple eyes flicked toward me. “Nothing I do will

“First of all, you’re hobbling around, but I’m not stupid. I know you could kill me in the blink of an eye. You don’t fool me. I see it in you; I hear it in your voice. The Primordial seems like she’s an angel, but you don’t. You guys don’t have the same look in your eye. I thought maybe you’re just crabby because you’re in pain, but I don’t really

“I get it now. I know why they don’t let you talk on TV.”

I wiped at my eyes even harder. “Anyone ever told you… that you cry ugly?” he fucking asked. If I thought it would actually hurt him, I’d kick him in the nuts. Instead, I slouched forward even more, squeezed my hands into fists so tight my nails dug into my palms, and gritted out, “I. Know. That.”

“Get real. I’m not risking getting this coat dirty; I read the label. And maybe there’s a sugar daddy or two that might be interested in an all-right-looking, almost thirty-year-old virgin. Do you have a lonely, rich cousin?”

All I’d ever wanted was to be loved, to have someone know me for me.

“Since I’m on a roll with the dumb questions, I was wondering if maybe there was some kind of call or noise or something you could make to get The Primordial or The Centurion’s attention.” His laugh was louder than the rain. “What do you think we are? Orcas?”