Page 75 of Molt

Seconds later, another tooth pushes into place beside mine.

His.

“No.”

Hair falls from his head. Dark strands slide across his forehead.

“Stop.”

“Lenora...”

“Make it stop.”

“I can’t.”

“Do something.”

“I don’t know how.”

“August!”

He looks destroyed. Not scared anymore.

Certain.

Then his eyes change. Realization.

“It isn’t intimacy.”

“What?”

His gaze locks onto mine. “That’s why we could never stop it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“We tried everything. Distance. Isolation. No touching. No sex. None of it mattered.” His face goes pale. “It’s love.”

The words hit harder than they should.

“What?”

“The molt isn’t triggered by touching me.”

“August...”

“It’s triggered by the bond.”

“No.”

“The more I love you...”

“Stop.”

“The more of me you become.”

“No.”

“And the less of me...”