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"Because, I didn’t think I would need the my sentence as if it were a question

Seth let out a chuckle next to er and I felt so I couldn’t yet define Wisps ofcap and ht, they blew acrosshi unjust accusations at h I knew Jupiter ed from syrow into so Hell itself

There wasn’t love between us Obviously we had just met But he wasto stand beside uard me from the evil of this life, or if it was his own attraction to our supernatural bond, so so beautiful, so pure, I couldn’t tell But I felt the roots of his protection firmly make a home inside my heart Roots that neither Heaven nor Hell could remove

"You didn’t think you would need the of my words "Of course you need weapons! You always need weapons! Surely your parents have gone over that with you"

"Well, not exactly…" I started, more afraid of Jupiter than ever I felt myself lean into Seth for security I kneas my destined partner, the one that would stand byme safe frootten to weapons yet…"

"You haven’t what?" Jupiter shouted in a harsh whisper "No wonder you lit up like a lantern! Oh, Callisto, this cannot be happening to aze to Seth

"It’s one of Jupiter’s moons," Seth explained in a calasped

"No, Jupiter, like the planet Jupiter," Seth laughed at hed and then turned my attention back to the person Jupiter who had started to pace frantically

"So you haven’t had any weapons training?" Jupiter repeated and I nodded wearily "Ok, have you had any kind of training?"

I shook my head furiously, excited to answer his question and opened my mouth to reply, but Jupiter cut ?"

"Well, yes Iraised on Earth was to get to know humanity and all, well, we decided that I should play sports" I finished et at least a nod of approval from Jupiter, but the look of disbelief that narrowed his eyes and turned his facial muscles to stone caused me to take a step back out of fear instead

"Sports? As in high school sports?" Jupiter repeated as if it were thehe had ever heard "Which ones?"

"Um, all of them… Volleyball, basketball, soccer In the su club," I tried to sound enthusiastic aboutwould redeehed, tilting his head back so that he stared hopelessly into the still-clouded sky

"Jupiter…" Seth warned in a voice that held the first sound of true rationality all night "We should probably take Stella home It’s late, and we can discuss the rest of this in the ht When will your parents be home? I ant to discuss h to see how htened me

I wanted hi with an overwhels had spiraled so quickly out of control that yelling seens of control And I couldn’t ask hi It wasn’t his attitude that needed to change, it was , afraid of the future and what tonight ht I should have been better prepared

"So," I explained, finally taking a big breath at the ht, that will do Seth and I will need to stay with you I’h rooht now," Jupiter explained to me as if I wouldn’t naturally come up with the idea on reed and then continued carefully, "But I’ there alone My parents hire a woman to watch overcompensation, in order to… protect you?" Jupiter’s amazerow every time I opened my mouth "Is she a police officer, or part of the military?"

"Uh, no…" I continued reluctantly, "She’s randmother"

Jupiter couldn’t have responded to that if he wanted to I watched his face color to match his dull red eyes and his cheeks puff out as he worked deliberately to keep his ood-huhter as he watched his mentor become more and more flustered

"Pick up the car, Seth, ouldn’t want Stella’s guardian to begin to worry and do sorily, which only caused Seth to laugh harder

I stood in shocked silence for a few e for one of the most beloved people in my life come under attack When I finally responded to Jupiter it was in uncharacteristic angry retaliation, "And how old are you? Seth and I should be just as worried about you breaking one of your hips!"

"I aer of one of ued and then walked around the Jeep to wait impatiently for Seth to join him