ike　I　was　hollow。　Like　I'd　left　everything　that　was　inside　me　here　with

you。〃

〃That's　funny；〃　I　muttered。

He　arched　one　perfect　eyebrow。　〃Funny？　〃

〃I　meant　strange—I　thought　it　was　just　me。　Lots　of　pieces　of　me　went　missing；

too。　I　haven't　been　able　to

really　breathe　in　so　long。〃　I　filled　my　lungs；　luxuriating　in　the　sensation。

〃And　my　heart。　That　was　definitely

lost。〃

He　closed　his　eyes　and　laid　his　ear　over　my　heart　again。　I　let　my　cheek　press

against　his　hair；　felt　the

texture　of　it　on　my　skin；　smelled　the　delicious　scent　of　him。

〃Tracking　wasn't　a　distraction　then？〃　I　asked；　curious；　and　also　needing　to

distract　myself。　I　was　very

much　in　danger　of　hoping。　I　wouldn't　be　able　to　stop　myself　for　long。　My　heart

throbbed；　singing　in　my

chest。

〃No。〃　He　sighed。　〃That　was　never　a　distraction。　It　was　an　obligation。〃

〃What　does　that　mean？〃

〃It　means　that；　even　though　I　never　expected　any　danger　from　Victoria；　I

wasn't　going　to　let　her　get　away

with　Well；　like　I　said；　I　was　horrible　at　it。　I　traced　her　as　far　as　Texas；

but　then　I　followed　a　false　lead

down　to　Brazil—and　really　she　came　here。〃　He　groaned。　〃I　wasn't　even　on　the

right　continent！　And　all　the

while；　worse　than　my　worst　fears—〃

〃You　were　hunting　Victoria？〃　I　half…shrieked　as　soon　as　I　could　find　my　voice；

shooting　through　two

octaves。

Charlie's　distant　snores　stuttered；　and　then　picked　up　a　regular　rhythm　again。

〃Not　well；〃　Edward　answered；　studying　my　outraged　expression　with　a　confused

look。　〃But　I'll　do　better

this　time。　She　won't　be　tainting　perfectly　good　air　by　breathing　in　and　out