Clare's POV:
"You... you don't have to do that. I'm... I'm a girl. Disguised as a guy," I blurted, too fast—way too fast.
The words stumbled out, barely formed, barely brave, but urgent enough to make him stop.
He froze.
One foot forward, one breath away from whatever deranged plan was forming behind those burning yellow eyes of his.
I should've felt relief—should've unclenched, breathed easy, maybe thanked the moon or whatever supernatural hotline was open for mercy at that moment.
But no.
Because instead of turning away, instead of respecting the huge, blinking sign that read SHE'S A GIRL, BACK OFF, Reed just stood there… staring at me.
Like I'd morphed into something more dangerous.
More… appetizing.
Fuck.
And then it hit me.
He wasn't horrified.
He wasn't disgusted.
He was still looking.
His eyes didn't soften. They darkened.
You'd think the truth would kill whatever freakish interest he had in me.
