“I have to go, baby,” I said as she brushed her hair, still chattering to her friend. “I won’t be coming around like I used to, and I just wanted to tell you that. You know it doesn’t mean anything’s changed. You’re still the best damned thing I ever did. But you’ve got your life, and now, finally, maybe I have mine.”

A double-knock at the door.

“What?” Savannah yelled.

“Everyone decent?” Adam called. “I’m coming in.”

As Savannah swiped on lip gloss, Adam jangled the door handle. She flew across the room and threw it open.

“What the hell are you doing?” she said. “This is my room. You can’t just barge in here.”

He rolled his eyes. “Oh, I was just getting you going.” He strolled in and looked around. “See you haven’t cleaned it since the last time I was here.”

“Hey, this is my room! Get out!”

He turned to do just that, and she grabbed him by the arm.

“Don’t I even get a hello?” she said. “God, you’re so rude.”

I shook my head and smiled as they bantered.

“Poor baby,” I said. “It’s just not going away, is it?” I skirted past them to the door. “I have to leave, but I’ll be back to check on you now and then.” I hesitated, then stepped closer to Savannah, and leaned over to kiss her cheek. “I know you’ll be okay, baby. You don’t need me to make sure of that.”

I turned to the hall. Savannah sputtered something at Adam, and he laughed. I walked to the top of the stairs, and hesitated. One more look. Just one more—

I squared my shoulders, and walked down the stairs, through the kitchen, and out into the yard, where Kristof was waiting.

About the Author

About the Author

Preview of Broken

Be sure not to miss

BROKEN

the next exhilarating novel from

Kelley Armstrong

This time, everyone’s favorite werewolf,

Elena Michaels, returns—

in an edge-of-your-seat thriller

that is sure to delight!

Coming from Seal Books in May 2006

Here’s a special preview:

BROKEN

On Sale May 2006

I LOPED ALONG THE PATH, MUZZLE SKIMMING OVER THE ground. The earth was thick with the scent of my prey—a deliberate move, weaving and circling, permeating this patch of forest with his smell, hoping to throw me off the trail. Did he really think it would be that easy? If so, he’d underestimated me—a mistake he’d soon regret.

I untangled the web of trails, and latched on to the most recent. As his scent separated from the others, I picked up speed, the ground whooshing past beneath me. Ahead, the trail opened into a clearing. I pitched forward, straining for the open run. Before I hit the edge of the clearing, I dug in my claws and skidded to a graceless stop.