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She stared at me in disbelief. Then her mouth snapped shut and she turned away from me, her gown made a swishing rustle around her knees as she did. But she didn't turn quick enough for me to miss the look of hurt in her eyes.

"Kayla," I called her, taking a step toward her but something told me not to reach out to touch her. She would wave my touch away. So I let my hands fall beside me and clenched them into fists.

"You were not going to tell me about James. I understand why, I look very much like him. You want to pretend I am the man you used to love. You brought me back because you could not bring him back to life."

Her shoulders became ramrod straight.

"I understand Kayla. You loved him. Even after all these centuries, you continued to love him, keeping your vow to never love again until I came in, looking exactly like the man you loved. I don't blame for trying to live a lie. I don't blame you for trying to recreate what you lost. I don't blame you for loving him..."

"You are w