“I would prefer that you not touch me," I said when her hand moved as if she intended to comb her long nails through my hair.

"I’m afraid it can’t be helped," she replied. Her fingers passed close to my ear as they divided my straight lengths into sections and lifted the whole away from my face. There was a brazenness to her smile for a moment. She then released my hair, letting it fall onto my shoulders.

I swallowed back a rise of anxiety, wondering if Thaddeus was right to fear her.”