"Whatareyoudoing?"sheasked.

vaimpressivelyfar,aelekinesishadlimits.Shecouldonlymovethingsthatheldnaturalenergy,likethetimeshemadeacrystalspleoffitsbluedispystandinashopwindow.Butacheapgssvase?Shecouldn''''''''tevewobble.

Atfirst,shethoughtshewasjustahumanwithpeculiarabilities.

Thesilverringgleamedasthemansmirked.

Sowhewomenpulledoverandcalledouttoher,askingfordires,Reyafeltnoarm.

Theifouryearsago,whenshewaseen,hadtaughtherthatwell.

LuandMoxihadbeensofocusedonprovidingforReya''''''''smaterialhattheyhadfottentowarnheraboutthedangersoftheworld.

Hedidn''''''

Asahomicidecaptain,Luhadgiventlesssafetylectures,yetitneveroccurredtohimtogiveooReya.

"Takingyousomewherefun."

Themanwhoyankedherintothecarhadartist''''''''shands.Slenderfingersadorhastrangesilverring.Theycmpedaroundherdelicatewrists,dragginghereffortlesslyintothebackseatbeforeshecouldevenscream.

Themaninthedriver''''''''sseatstartedthedorderedSilverRing,"Don''''''''tlethertalk.Blindfoldher."

Shewasnotjustanymonster.Shewasasuccubus.

***

Fouryearsago

Theywerehandsome,dressedinexpehes,polishedinmannersandfriendlysmiles.Booksalwayssaidvilinswereugly,whileprinceswerevishandcharming.

Thencameherfirstperiod.

Shewasjusttoowell-behaved.Unshakableinthefaceoftrouble,alwaysfindingherownsolutions.Itmadehimpt.

Thediscoverywasthrilling,thoughtheprocesswasfarfrompleasant.

Thatwaswhensherealized—shewasn''''''''thuman.

Shedidn''''''''tknowthatsometimes,uglinessfesteredinside—andthatitcouldhidebehiifulmask.