The sudden touch is enough to make Heather tense up, and she has to make a conscious effort to pull herself out of the defensive thought pattern she's found herself in. Aiden's showing her around, trying to help her. Aiden wants her on his side. She doesn't need to worry.

Aiden dangled me off a roof, the rational part of her says, and the part of her that knows she's something dark and wrong and wonders why her father failed to strangle her all those years ago answers Aiden didn't let me fall.

"I can handle myself," she says, pitching her voice low and quiet in the unfriendly hallways. "But thanks."