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  “Hmm…” Charlotte frowned as she ran her hands lightly over his bare back. Her soft touch sent prickles of sensation up and down his spine and Stav felt his shaft stiffen in the black satin sleep trousers he wore. Looking at her, he was suddenly aware of how low cut her green dress was. The v-shaped neck showed the creamy tops of her breasts and the silky material clung to her curves, outlining her broad hips and luscious ass.

  Have to stop thinking of her this way. What’s wrong with you?

  Abruptly he pulled his eyes away and tried to focus on something across the room instead. If only she would stop touching him—her soft, cool fingers running up and down his back were only making things worse!

  “It looks…strange,” she said, breaking his train of thought. “Your Mark, I mean. It’s kind of…faded somehow. It’s lost all its rainbow colors and it’s not moving anymore. It looks just like any old black tattoo now. What does that mean?”

  Stav shrugged. “I have no idea. I doubt anyone would but I suppose I could ask Commander Sylvan to come back and have a look at it.”

  “Maybe later.” Charlotte drew back, letting one hand rest casually on his bare shoulder. “Before that, though, there’s something I need to do.” She had a determined look on her face.

  “What?” Stav asked. But he had barely gotten the question out before she was leaning towards him.

  Her warm, feminine scent was all around him and he could feel the silky brush of her blonde hair against the side of his face. Stav wanted more than anything to take her sweet, lush mouth with his own. But at the last minute he turned his head to one side, so that her kiss fell on his cheek rather than his lips.

  Charlotte drew back, frowning.

  “Why did you do that?”

  “Why did you?” Stav countered, frowning. “Why try to kiss me now after all that’s happened? Now that I know how you feel about my kind?”

  “Are you still worried about that?” Charlotte sighed and settled herself on the side of his bed, much closer than was strictly comfortable.

  Gods, she smells so sweet! Stavros wished he could draw her into his lap but he made himself sit still and not touch her.

  “Worried about the way your sister was driven to suicide by two of my kind?” he asked stiffly. “And the way it made you hate all Kindred afterwards? Yes, it does worry me.”

  “I don’t hate all Kindred. Not anymore.” Charlotte sighed. “Look, I know it’s hard to believe, but going through it all again when we were in the Temple of Regrets was probably the best thing that could have happened to me.”

  “How so?” Stav couldn’t help remembering the awful scene—the tears she had shed as she begged her sister not to die, not to be dead. How could going through that awful experience twice be a good thing?

  “It sort of…gave me a new perspective.” Charlotte looked thoughtful. “I realized I was angry at the wrong people. I was blaming the Kindred and blaming myself because I couldn’t let myself be angry at Missy.” She sighed and looked down at her hands. “She was always the timid one—always afraid of her shadow.”

  “Was she?” It was hard to imagine the bold, forthright Charlotte having such a timid sister.

  Charlotte nodded.

  “I loved her so much but there’s no denying it. She thought she was taking the easy way out and she was—for her. But she left me behind with a crappy home situation—an abusive mom and a distant dad. She abandoned me because she was too afraid to face the future.” Charlotte raised her chin. “I’m angry with her for that. I love her—I will always love her—but I have a right to be angry. Suicide is a very selfish act—probably the most selfish thing anyone can do.” She reached down and entwined her fingers with his. “It’s Missy I’m mad at—not you,” she said quietly.

  “Charlotte…” Stav didn’t know what to say. His head was full but no words came. She doesn’t hate my kind…she doesn’t hate me! If that was true, there might be a chance…His heart seemed to skip a beat and just like that, his hopes came crashing down. There was no chance—none. Even if she didn’t hate him—even if she loved him as he loved her—he couldn’t tie her to him. Not when he had less than a year to live.

  “Stav?” She was looking at him, her heart in her big, brown eyes. Gods, she was so lovely it hurt to look at her!

  He forced himself to look away and take back his hand.

  “I am glad you finally came to terms with your sister’s death,” he said formally, coldly. “It is good to know that you don’t hate my people anymore—there are many brave warriors who would…who would care deeply for you. Maybe in time…” But he couldn’t go on—the words stuck in his throat.

  “I already have someone who cares deeply for me,” Charlotte murmured, scooting closer. She leaned towards him and the front of her dress gaped open, showing more than the creamy tops of her breasts. Looking down, Stav saw she had on some kind of lacy undergarment that was black with little red flowers embroidered on it. It was so thin he was certain he would be able to see the tight pink points of her nipples through the material if she just leaned a little more forward…

  No! He dragged his eyes away forcibly and sat back, away from her.

  “I am afraid…” He cleared his throat. “Afraid you have the wrong idea about how I feel for you.”

  “No, I don’t—I know I don’t.” Charlotte lifted her chin, getting that stubborn look in her eyes. “You told me you loved me when we were…” her cheeks got red but she made herself go on. “When we were splitting the pillar back at J’lorgan’s Mind.”

  Stavros looked away. “Much has changed since then.”

  “What? You mean since you found out you only have…only have a year to live?” Her voice sounded choked for a moment and when Stav turned back to her, her eyes were suspiciously bright.

  “You know? How?”

  “How do you think? I was eavesdropping outside the door while Commander Sylvan was talking to you. I…” She bit her lip. “I didn’t mean to at first but when I heard what he was saying, well…I couldn’t stop listening.”

  “So now you know,” Stav said bitterly. “You know why I can’t return your affection.”

  “My love.” Charlotte corrected him with a frown. “I’ve been a fool from the minute I met you, Stav. I didn’t think I could care for you or that you really cared for me. It took almost losing you to open my eyes to the truth.” She leaned forward and took his face between her small, cool hands. “I love you, you big, stupid Kindred and nothing you can do or say will change that,” she said, looking him in the eyes.

  Stav’s heart thumped hard in his chest and he wanted badly to kiss her. To crush her to him and take her mouth with his, to say that he loved her too—that he never wanted to be without her. But that wouldn’t be right. Wouldn’t be fair.

  “I’m sorry,” he said drawing away from her touch, though it was the hardest thing he’d ever done. “But I can’t…can’t return your love. I don’t have much time left—maybe just a few solar months…”

  “So you’d rather spend them moping around here in a hospital bed than with me?” There was a dangerous glint in Charlotte’s eyes as she spoke. “And before you answer, you’d better think long and hard, buddy. You’re on thin ice here—very thin ice.”

  “Of course I want to spend my last few months or year or however long I have left with you!” Stavros said in a low, tense voice. “But the fact is, I can’t. It would not be fair to you to start a relationship that would inevitably end in tragedy. It would be subjecting you to what happened to your sister all over again.”

  “No, it would be giving me the best six months of my life,” Charlotte said quietly. “Look, I’m going into this with my eyes open, Stav. Six months isn’t much. But it’s a hell of a lot better than nothing. If that’s all I can have with the guy I love, then I’ll take it.”

  “I can’t.” He crossed his arms over his chest, shutting her out as best he could. “I can’t bond you to me—not for such a short period. It wouldn’t b