“Analyzing, always analyzing— I couldn’t feel safe until I knew every aspect of what I was facing.”

“The ways of men and women are such a puzzle. And I could barely decipher my own feelings, let along anyone else's.”

“We're going to die, aren't we?" I asked bitterly. He held me so tight I could hardly breathe. But I wanted tighter still. "Not here. I swear it.”

“I ran after him, but he was already back with the others. My footsteps echoed in the hollow space below the dock. I stopped. If he'd wanted me to catch him, he'd have let me.”

“But I couldn't get the image out of my head of the beast strapped to the table, Father humming while the candle wax slowly dripped, and Montgomery assisting. I felt betrayed, as though the boy I'd idolized was nothing more than a fantasy.”

“I folded my arm. "You know, I suspect you and Edward would be friends if it weren't for this place."His eyes were on fire. "It's not this island keeping us from being friends."My pounding heart stole the words to reply to that.”

“A scream hurled up my throat, but I never heard it. I'd slipped into a welcoming darkness.”