“My mother always says that love is like a snakebite, a venom slowly spreading through your veins.”

“That wasn’t Christian,” she says.“Brilliant observation, Mother.”“What happened?”“He’s in love with another girl,” I say, and pull the silver laurel out of my hair.”

“Tucker snorts. "Sage is a fighter, it spreads over the land like wildfire, sucking up all the water, the nutrients in the earth, until everything else dies. It's a hearty little plant, that I'll give it. But it's gray and ugly and ticks love to hide in it. You ever seen a tick?" He glances over at me. The look on my face must be pretty appalled because suddenly he gives and uncomfortable cough and says quietly, "Sage does have a nice smell.”

“Clara," he says, my name sounding different somehow when it passes through his lips. "I'll miss you.”

“As your abilities begin to grow, your angelic side will start to manifest itself in more noticeable ways.""My angelic side. Great. Like I don't have enough to deal with.""It's not so bad," Mom says. "You'll learn to control it.""I'll learn to control my hair?”

“There it is," says Christian, looking at me with something like admiration."There what is?""The smile. You always smile when you ski”

“How did you do that?” I shrug. “I click my heels three times and say, ‘There’s no place like home.’” “Uh-huh. So … you think this is your home? My barn? His tone is playful, but the look he’s giving me is dead serious. A question. “Haven’t you guessed by now?” I say, my heart hammering. “My home is you.”