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"Eden, no one here is accusing you of anything," A Avalon and Roxie, "You just need to be aware of the heightened consequences for your actions If you and Kiran did walk down the path to ic would save his He would benefit from your indestructibility" A tension in the rooh I had never really had serious thoughts about having sex beforeuntil after the vows, but things between Kiran and I had been heated before Suddenly there was a lot of pressure to not only wait for ht person

"At any rate," Amory continued, "Kiran's birthday celebration is in a few hours, so I assurumbled "My tux is still at the cleaners, I'll have to run back to the farht "What is the dress code for this shindig?"

"Black tie, of course," A back into the recesses of the couch "What is it with you people? I' out of dresses"

"Eden, class and sophistication are to be honored," A a silk evening dress in the ive this up easily

"That is why you have ic,to coo back to the far nice here"

"You can borrow one of Aunt Syl's dresses" I offered, not liking the idea of Jericho and Roxie riding to the far I brought my own stuff"

"Ok" I didn't really kno to reply to her, granted she was the tiniest thing I had ever seen, but I still felt like she was insulting Aunt Syl who had the perfect waist, in o" I turned to my dear friend, truly upset that she had to be left behind

"Don't worry about it!" she gushed, "I hate those kinds of things"

"Really? I just don't want you to feel left out," I said sincerely

"Eden, seriously," she so back to prison, than an elegant affair with Lucan there But can I help you get ready?"

"Actually, yes!" I replied, loving her laid back attitude She had changed since joining the Resistance She was htenyour hair is not going to help you blend into the crowd" Jericho announced fro on a coat and scarf

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, not sure if I should be offended or not

"It just means that It justin" He s

"Get out of here," I grumbled, and then followed Lilly up the stairs, still set on cas about going tonight On the one hand I was excited to be part of Kiran's birthday and celebrate with hi all of my friends felt like a set up I wanted to believe Kiran was just being thoughtful and didn't want me to feel aard or alone, but there was a part ofhis own surveillance I thought of Avalon and Jericho and even Roxie, knowing that I would protect them first under any circu as I was around to save them

Chapter Thirty-Five

"Which one do you think?" I held up the two dresses I was deciding between, asking Lilly for advice One of the dresses was the soft pink gown Kiran had sent as a gift for the Fall Equinox dance in October, which I still hadn't worn And the other one was a refugee from Aunt Syl's closet, a short black pin-striped number that was strapless and on the provocative side

"Um, probably the pink one," Lilly said with finality "Is that the one Kiran gave you?" She walked over, picking up the soft hehed "And I don't want to be too obvious, especially after that whole sex education class down there" I sighed again, and plopped down on Aunt Syl's king-sized bed "Apparently, I need to do sohed wondering if this hat royal life, one tiring formal event after another, would be like, should I someday be Queen

"The pink one will be fine More than fine," Lilly sat down next entle hand on my back "He's probably the only one who knows about the dress, so if anything it will be roly and I started to feel a little bit of hope

"You think?" I asked and she nodded