"I've had it my whole life," I said and catching his hand I yanked the tie away from him. I sucked in a shaky breath. "I told you what it means to me. You can't have it."
"Don't you want everything to go back to normal?" His smile made the world dim and him bright.
I ran my eyes over him again, because he was too bright. There was something glowing and pulsing around him. I tried to move away and as I did he took hold of my head in both of his hands. They were overly warm and almost feminine, delicate. His eyes locked mine down and I stilled. Something pressed on my mind, tethered inside me.
Clasping a hand round my neck he tugged. "Give it to me," he commanded.
I was sweating. Was I being foolish? If I gave him my necklace he said everything would go back to normal. I whimpered. I didn't want to give it to him. It was the most important thing I owned. The only thing I had that was of any value, it was important to me. The necklace was my only connection I had to a family that had given me up at birth, and was my reminder to be strong and independent. A wrinkle of cold rolled over my skin and I shifted back, brought to by this out of place feeling. I hesitated and leaned back further, a question in my eyes. He had been doing something to me, making me forget myself.
Pushing him away, I shook with fear and anger. "What did you do to me?"
"Calm down, Rae." He was distracted, looking around him cautiously. Then he spun and cursed, peering at nothing. He seemed to see something I could not, for a wicked smile stretched his lips. "Fool," he sneered. "Come. Let me mark your face again."
