Okay, this chapter is kinda short, I know. This was just streaming from my mind and I couldn't stop it. Major thanks to Tamashii for the new summary. Freaking brilliant.



*Chapter 6*



"Have you ever had a boyfriend?"

Tala cocked an eyebrow and looked at the other side of the car. Monroe had been silent for the past hour and a half of the trip, Vesta sleeping in the back, having worn herself out petting Tala's hair. "Where did that come from?"

"You just seem so uptight." He repositioned himself in the seat to talk to her better.

She laughed, keeping her eyes on the road. "I could say the same about you. I hope that's not an offer."

"Definitely not. I don't date animals." He hadn't spoke resentfully this time. "Of course, there was this jaguar once. Man, she was vicious in be-"

She cut him off with a smack to the chest. "There's a little girl sleeping in the back seat, may I remind you, and I could really care less about your promiscuous adventures." She shook her head, still chuckling. "And to answer your question, yes, I've dated. I just feel my time is better spent working and studying." The lie took a bite out of her gut. "Besides, who needs lovey mushy significant others?" There was partial truth in that one. "Even if I found my soulmate, I don't think I'd be ready to cuddle like the rest of the pansies at Daybreak."

"Amen to that. I hate it when people look at the Circle and just think we dance around to harps and flutes with flowers on our head."

Tala almost drove off the road from laughing so hard. When she straightened herself out, she looked at Monroe. "Sorry. I just got a mental picture of you in a flower crown, dancing with Thierry and Hannah and the rest of the soulmates."

His look wasn't one of amusement. "Thanks, Rover."

"Yup, that's me. Good ol' Rover. Loyal, honest, hard working, and man's best friend. The only difference is that I look drop dead gorgeous."

"You forgot to add conceited."

"Hey, it's healthy to love yourself. That way you don't have to worry about whether anyone else hurts you or not."

"Then why did it hurt you so bad when I called you those names, and last night when I wouldn't tell you anything about myself?"

Tala slammed on the brakes, pulling off to the side of the road. She jumped out of the car, walking to Monroe's side and jerking his door open. "That's it. Get out, now. We're settling this right here, right now."

He looked at her in amazement as she grabbed the sleeve of his jacket and threw him to the dusty ground. "What the Hell is wrong with you?"

She pushed him into a mangrove the second he stood, knowing that the wood was stinging his back. "I told you not to probe my mind, you idiotic leech!" She kicked his shin as hard as she could, anger filling her mind and causing her to lose control. She kept shoving his chest, pushing him further into the mangroves. "I knew I couldn't trust you. I turn my back for one second and you do a quick search of my mind. Find anything interesting?"

She was reaching back to slap him when he grabbed the wrist of her sweatshirt. "Will you calm down, Tala? I never looked into your mind."

"Liar. Then how the Hell did you know what I was thinking?" She tried to get her arm from his grip, but failed miserably.

He shook his head, looking her in the eyes. "For the smartest wolf I've ever met, you're not that bright." She pushed aside a feeling of acceptance and continued to glare. He went on. "You may be able to shield your mind when you're around Night people, but you let your thoughts broadcast loud and clear when you're not focusing on saving someone."

A feeling of humility began to grow inside the pit of her stomach, which she only answered by getting even more mad. "What are you talking about?"

"I know I hurt your feelings last night by not telling you my story, I could sense the tears coming to your eyes. And for some reason, that killed me inside. Everybody else I've insulted has been proud and kept their thoughts quiet, but you have broadcasted them loud and clear. I never realized how much I had hurt anyone else."

Having freed her hand, she stepped back, getting closer to the car. "That's impossible. I have almost a permanent block on my mind, incase anyone from the Council tries to get information. They taught us how to do that when I first started at Daybreak. And if that were true, that you can tell how I've felt all along, then why did you keep insulting me first thing yesterday? Like on our way to Islamorada and in the diner? My emotions didn't magically change, I've felt this way all along." She clapped her hands over her mouth. She hadn't meant to agree that he had bothered her.

He looked at her, shocked. "Maybe the feeling was just stronger later on. I knew you were worried about changing in front of me on the porch, and from then on you kept radiating your upset."

She shook her head. "Don't try to trick me. You've been silently probing my mind this whole time, haven't you? Ever since the house. I knew you weren't trustworthy. We're heading back to Key West." She turned on her heel, heading back toward the car.

"Tala, wait!" He grabbed the back of her sweatshirt.

This time, he couldn't catch her in time. She spun quickly and put as much force as she could into hitting his cheek with the palm of her hand. Instantly a shock went through her hand and up her forearm.

Pulling back, she grabbed her arm. "Damnit, Monroe! How the Hell do you keep shocking me?"

At the same time he yelled, "What do you have on your hand?" Quickly he reached for arm. She couldn't pull it back fast enough as he grabbed her hand.

And suddenly, her mind exploded.