““Trace sighed, braced the worktable. “I said, get out.” Frozen with fear and anger, I stared at the floor. “No.” “No?” I elevated my chin a fraction. “That’s right…no.” He twisted around. His expression made a gradual shift from vengeful to predatory. Our eyes battled in silence, then, like a prowling lion, he advanced, and I, his prey, retreated until I’d backed into a wall. When his shadow engulfed me, I had to tilt my head all the way back to stare up at him. The ice had thawed in his eyes, leaving twin pools of lava.””
