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Hence why they were so eager to please Caia

Caia shrugged, s "You know I’m in awe of you people" She swept her ar not to be embarrassed that she was the center of attention She really should be used to it by now "I just wanted to stop by, thought you could introduce me to your class?"

In truth, I just wanted to stop by and see if there was a tall, cute Scandinavian kid hanging around

Desi laughed excitedly "Uh ye-uh!"

With that she found herself doing the unco to be the , it suddenly occurred to her that dropping by had its added upside

Allies

The whispering that met her sensitive ears told her she had just becouys No other VIP ik had ever taken an interest in theave thee around the Center Maybe people would open their ht

I couldn’t agree an to feel good?

Yeah, good

She aluys were exactly the kind of people she needed on her side: non-traditionalists ere prepared to welco to the inner workings of the Daylight Coven, but if they weren’t co at present, then who knew maybe they would be the first to believe the ith the Midnights was based on enuinely, as she talked with the Travellers, a s from her shoulders

She could do this

She had to believe she could do this

"And, Caia, this is Vil" Ophelia turned her around to face a tall ly whispered in her ear

Her heart began to pound iht of the Scandinavian His ice blues eyes were nothing like their color; instead they were soft and shy, as was his smile as he reached out a nervous hand to shake hers

"It’s an honor" He shrugged uncomfortably and quickly pulled back from her clasped hand

"Vil?" Caia breathed "Is that short for Vilhel as Ophelia sidled up to him to squeeze his arm affectionately "Vilhelo places we’ve never been before, but we can’t track a person or anything using the colittered with awe

Caia’s mouth fell open a little as her eyes washed over him "Like trace?"

"No, no," he was quick to refute, his eyes wandering around nervously, "I can’t feel a person’s thoughts or energy… but if you tell et the impression of them froht? Caia ht just come in handy "Impressive"

"I told you he was, like, totally cool"

A queasy, icy feeling suddenly enveloped her as Desi and her sister chattered away, and her brain and all her senses were battered by new inforulp of air She fought to catch her breath This was good news, she shook her head, good news Or was it? It kind of meant her time at the Center was up

Her eyes snapped up to Vilhel at her wide-eyed

"Caia, are you OK?" Desi whispered

Shethe you, Vilhelo lie down for a while"

"Do you need anything-?"

"Can I get you-?"

"No!" She raised her hands in supplication "Please No I’o"

Outside of the communication hall, Caia strode determinedly to the telecom system mounted on the wall next to the elevator

"Center Reception, Chloe speaking"

"Chloe, it’s Caia Ribeiro I need to speak with Marita iave her very little time to rescue Laila OK, she had to think fast, think fast, think fast, think fast, think fast

"Miss Ribeiro, Marita will see you If you please make your way to the Reception someone will be there to escort you up"

That so on?" she asked immediately, her pixie face creased in concern

"I’ll explain once we get there"