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           "AndyousaidIcouldn’tact!"

           Hefrownedindisgust."Thatwasn’tfunny."

           "Itwasveryfunny,andyouknowit."ButIexaminedhisgoldeyescarefully,tomakesurethatIwasforgiven.Apparently,Iwas.

           "ShallIrephrase?"heasked."Breakfasttimeforthehuman."

           "Oh,okay."

           Hethrewmeoverhisstoneshoulder,gently,butwithaswiftnessthatleftmebreathless.Iprotestedashecarriedmeeasilydownthestairs,butheignoredme.Hesatmerightsideuponachair.

           Thekitchenwasbright,happy,seemingtoabsorbmymood.

           "What’sforbreakfast?"Iaskedpleasantly.

           Thatthrewhimforaminute.

           "Er,I’mnotsure.Whatwouldyoulike?"Hismarblebrowpuckered.

           Igrinned,hoppingup.

           "That’sallright,Ifendformyselfprettywell.Watchmehunt."

           Ifoundabowlandaboxofcereal.IcouldfeelhiseyesonmeasIpouredthemilkandgrabbedaspoon.Isatmyfoodonthetable,andthenpaused.

           "CanIgetyouanything?"Iasked,notwantingtoberude.

           Herolledhiseyes."Justeat,Bella."

           Isatatthetable,watchinghimasItookabite.Hewasgazingatme,studyingmyeverymovement.Itmademeself-conscious.Iclearedmymouthtospeak,todistracthim.

           "What’sontheagendafortoday?"Iasked.

           "Hmmm..."Iwatchedhimframehisanswercarefully."Whatwouldyousaytomeetingmyfamily?"

           Igulped.

           "Areyouafraidnow?"Hesoundedhopeful.

           "Yes,"Iadmitted;howcouldIdenyit-hecouldseemyeyes.

           "Don’tworry."Hesmirked."I’llprotectyou."

           "I’mnotafraidofthem,"Iexplained."I’mafraidtheywon’t...likeme.