ingbrilliant,butthisisreallyimpressive.theonlythingmoreimpressiveisthatyou’re—”harryseemedtostophimself.

hestudieddraomomentarily,hiseyeslokingwithhisown,makingdraofebitnaked.

“you’rereallyhim,aren’tyou?”

draodidn’trespond.hedidn’tknowwhoharrythoughthewas,buthewasn’taboutblowhisover.

harryswallowed.

“drao,”hefinallysaid,hisvoieraking.“drao,you’realive.”

drao’svisionbeganfadingattheedges,sinkingintoompletedarkness.thestthingherememberedwasthegrassrapidlyapproahinghisfae.

hewasbeautiful.god,hewasbeautiful.

harryfeltlikeareep,sittingattheedgeofhisbedandstaringathimlikethis,butheouldn’ttearhiseyesawayfromtheotherboy’sfae.hetriedtowriteitoffbymakingtheexusethatheneverthoughthewouldseethisfae,intheflesh,againandthatwaswhyheouldn’tlookaway,butthatexuseonlystedaboutthreeminutes.no,heouldn’tlookawaybeausehewaslookingatthesingurmostbeautifulpersonhehadeverseenandthatpersonhadsomehowmanagedtogoandbeomeevenmorebeautiful.

andhewasalive.harryknewheshouldbeangrythathewasliedto,thathewasmadetofeelliketheworldwasrumblingbehhimfornoreasonatall,butheouldn’tquitemanageit.hewasjustsorelieved.eahriseandfallofdrao’shestmadethepainthathadtakenresideneinhisowndissipatealittle.

hereahedoutandbrusheddrao’shairawayfromhisfae,notlettinghishandlingerontheotherboy’sfaelikeitsodesperatelywantedto.

draobegantostir.