Tease II

     The last time I teased an excerpt from What We Become (the sequel to Those That Wake), due out February 2013, it was on the spare side.  I'm going with something slightly longer this time.  The "he" in the passage below refers to Mal.  The "she" refers to . . . someone else.

           “I’m going to take you somewhere safe,” he said.

            “And then what?”

            “I’m going to get what they want.”

            She looked down.  Partially visible, her fragile features held no doubt.

            “But you’re not going to give it to them, are you?” she said.

            The darkness pressed in on them, held back only by the meager glow of the tiny lamp.

            “No.”