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It wasn't just Jericho, though Everyone had beenat me both verbally and s under her breath whenever she was in close proxilares Jericho, at least, had stuck with the noninvasive, silent treat bored… and lonely

Aunt Syl had been busy at the hospital, barely ho her best to catch up on sleep Other than a concerned look and a request to beme entirely for the preemptive destruction of the Resistance But there were too many people in her house, and too many sick people at the hospital for her to want to stick around just to mildly defend me

I needed an ally, and I knew Jericho couldn't really stay mad at me Or at least I hoped he couldn't

"I love how your feet smell," Jericho replied dryly, and reached for a s and my feet with

"I knew you couldn't stay ain, but he wouldn't look at rew frustrated quickly, I was tired of this "You can all stop being babies," I said louder as Roxie, Lilly and Avalon filed into the living roo to keep punishing y?" Jericho asked with just the slightest sarcasm and smallest turn of the mouth

"Fine Is that what you want?" I rolledthe words hard to get out

"Um, as that? I couldn't hear you," Avalon put his hand to his ear I sed my irritation

"I'roup mimicked Avalon "I said I'm sorry" And finally sincerity found one out with Kiran alone and I especially shouldn't have gone back to the hotel with him"

"Thank you," Avalon replied firmly, but finally the faces of everyone in the room softened "We're not unreasonable Eden, we just expect co sarcasm to the next level, "Oh, and we expect you to ad That's all It's just unfortunate for you, that you're wrong all of the time"

"Oh brother," I rolled y would havethe vibe in the rooruhter at his expense

Ah the front door pleased to see us getting along He removed his over coat and bowler hat and then sat in an overstuffed chair across the roohter subsided as we settled doith respect, giving Aetting along again," he s me he was always on my side "And I hope everyone has learned a valuable lesson about not putting yourself in unnecessary danger" Areement

"Some of us didn't have to learn that lesson," Avalon mu it ood," Amory responded, a little distracted "Because, you will all be attending Kiran's birthday celebration and I just wanted to be clear on where we stood" Amory's black eyes turned steely and a wave of nausea swept over me

"His birthday party?" Avalon jureed surveillance, nothing else! How is that staying out of unnecessary danger?"

"Yes, that is e agreed," Amory stayed calm, but his eyes were dark and his tone icy "It would appear we are no longera ive me, but the entire Guard will be there, not to mention Lucan, Bianca, Cartier and the rest of thee of the couch and knockingthey were on his lap

"I am aware," Amory replied quietly

"So why on earth would you ever send us in there?" Avalon asked, completely incredulous

"Why would you send Eden in there?" Lilly's voice was etched with deep concern and I was surprised to hear her speak up at all

"You're exactly right, Lilly," A her wisdom "It is not uest list Well, except for Lilly, I'h your name isn't listed exactly, but he has you down as, Eden's other friend"

"So is it Kiran or Lucan that wants us there?" Jericho asked, narrowing his eyes

"I can't be sure; but if I had to uess I would say that it was Kiran's idea to invite all of you at Lucan's suggestion to invite Eden Lucan is well aware now of Kiran's feelings for her, but Kiran would never have had the audacity to invite Eden if it had not first been suggested by his father With what I've learned of Kiran over the past few months, I don't believe he wants Eden at the party any more than we do"

I sood opinion of Kiran, it made a future with him somehow feel that oal is here Aa Kiran first?" Jericho asked shrewdly, sitting back in the couch and putting an absent hand on the top of my knee

"I don't believe for a a towards is for his interest But that doesn'tout for Kiran I had been afraid that Lucan would be blinded by rage atEden, that he would have a one track mind in terms of how to act," Amory paused for a moment

"Like, you mean, he would just want to kill me?" I asked meekly

"Well yes," Amory relented "But maybe he is not beyond reason after all"