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"Food first," I said "You want to corab oat fried rice," the dha carpet with her, so we took it down to the town of Queens Gate in the valley below From the mountain, the town looked like a miniature replica of Victorian London Brick roads wound through as la like stars, while shops and restaurants formed neat squares ater fountains and quaint parks around the iant clock tower rose from the center of town, faced on either side by is I assuround, the town reminded me of the Grotto, filled with vendors, restaurants, and supernaturals of just about every persuasion The Chinese restaurant Shelton liked, the Copper Swan, looked exactly like a giant version of its namesake Lina and I had dinner We talked about classes, her brother, Alejandro, and her plans for after college

She sounded a lot like e--clueless about what they wanted to do with the rest of their lives At least she had tis out Lina looked so exhausted, I didn’t dare feed froe of other female patrons in the vicinity Thanks to Vallaena’s pro tips I was able to do it without drawing any unwanted attention

I tried to keep upabout Nightliss or Mom’s imprisonment I have to win Ivy’s heart soht be able to free Mom But I hadn’t seen Ivy all day It was hard to win someone’s trust when they weren’t around

Lina’s phone chilanced at it and smiled

"Someone you wanted to hear from?" I asked

She nodded "My boyfriend He wants to meet outside in a few ed "Why wouldn’t it be?" I’d forgotten about her ured out a way to ask forimpression

Lina pressed a hand to her forehead, and closed her eyes She seemed even ray

"Are you okay?" I asked

"Just really tired," she said A smile "I’m fine, Justin"

We split the bill and went outside People wandered the streets, theirThe denizens of the Overworld sees classic as opposed to modern, and I had to adecoaches which frequented the Grotto, people here favored flying carpets or the shiny rocket boards I’d seen at the Science Academy

As Lina and I walked toward the sidewalk, I nearly collided with soize when I saw the arrogant face looking back at me with disdain Willianition, and his lip curled into a sneer

I was just about to steer around him and tell Lina all about howand pecked him on the lips She turned to me and said, "Justin, I’d like you to meet my boyfriend, Billy"

Chapter 30

Billy, flanked by two other guys, stared at me with an almost comical look of surprise plain on his face I felt certain the expression on uy is your boo?" I asked

"This guy is your friend?" Billy said at alain

"You know each other?" Lina looked back and forth between us

"He’s a bloomer and a techie," Billy said, his surprised expressionto his kind"

Lina’s eyes flashed "You don’t tell me who I can talk with, Billy" Her Spanish accent thickened as she set her ar to say those sorts of things anymore"

Billy looked at his two friends, one a short, heavyset guy with hair so thick, it looked like porcupine quills, and the other, a slender ray slacks, a pink polo, and silky blonde hair combed to the side The three of them looked like escaped hty

"Let’s get out of here, babe," Billy said, trying to put an arm around Lina’s shoulders

She threw off his hand with her own, and wobbled for alike this the other night ere alone"

I was sorely tehts on elitisive Billy a token punch in the nose, but decided placing ht be a bad thing