Page 22 of Tamhas

Except for the bag itself. He held onto that by the straps, letting it dangle. I had the vague impression that he didn’t want me to have anything I might hurt myself or somebody else with.

I looked up at him, closer to him than I’d ever been. He was so… big. So much. Overwhelming. His energy. Whatever it was that made him who he was attracted me, pulled me in like nothing else ever had. If those bars weren’t between us, I might climb him like a tree.

At least, that was how I felt before I saw his eyes up close.

“No…” I backed away. Everything fell from my hands, but I hardly noticed.

“What?”

“They’re the same. The same as the others. All of them.”

“What are? I don’t understand. Keira, tell me.”

“Your eyes.” I backed into the cot and sat down with a thud. The room seemed to spin around me, and I was sure I would throw up if there was anything in my stomach. An invisible hand was choking me. “Your eyes are the same as theirs. With the ring around the iris. Why didn’t I see it before?” Because even if I had noticed it over the computer, which I hadn’t, I would’ve thought it was weird but wouldn’t have known what it meant.

“Keira…” he whispered.

I shook my head. Just another thing that couldn’t be possible and was possible anyway. “Oh, my God. You’re one of them.”

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