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It hit rasped Nyx’s forearms "I’m sorry I lied to you before about Seth," I said "It … was the only way At least, I thought" I looked hard at her "I didn’t think you’d understand, and I didn’t want to drag you into all of this"

Luc was suddenly at Nyx’s side "She handled it all pretty good," he said, and I noticed a protective hand ed"

"I fainted, but Luc stayed right beside me," Nyx confessed, then narrowed her eyes at me "No more secrets, huh Riley?" Seth walked over and put his arm around Nyx

I held lanced up at Seth "I always felt it was so s "Never thought it was soainst hih the skully "Love ya, other sis"

Nyx’s closed-eyed smile spoke way more than her words "Love you, too, little bro"

"Dere’sfroathered It was late, and the lalow over the roo a unique, surreal ainst the newsprint on the walls (to keep the wudus busy) I knew he and Estelle had to be exhausted "You, Nyxinnia, will stay wit Riley and Seth--for a few nights, right? Until we knohat’s out dere, ant you safe You don’t have tendencies like she and her brodder do Deys have powers now, and deht You don’t know dat stuff, and I don’t want you gittin’ hurt, girl Luc will go wit you to your house and git your stuff, dat’s right Den you come back here"

Nyx nodded without question "Yes, sir"

"After a few days, e knohat’s out dere, we’ll git your house right and den you can go back," Preacher said

Nyx again nodded

"Séraphin," Preacher said

"Yes, sir," Phin responded

"You and dose boys dere help ht" He crossed the rooed, handcarved wooden box fro herbs, crushed bones, body parts of various creatures--sort of a tackle box full of hoodoo stuff He reached in and lifted three balls of burlap, larger than what he’d given me earlier It was more like the size of a baseball "I want you boys to shake dis around da building’s foundation, inside each door, and da balcony" He handed the sachets to Phin

"Come on," Phin said to the others "Josie, you stay with Riley until we finish"

Josie, seated on the floor in front of Estelle’s feet, looked up atthen, and when he answered it, he looked directly at ’s cool," he said, then quietly slipped out into the foyer

It was Eli And somehow, as childish and immature as it sounded, it pissed me off that he’d call Luc and notfrickin’ frackin’ fu ability and eavesdropped

"You should tell her, dude," Luc said

"I don’t need you telling me what to do, Jean-Luc," Eli replied, his French thick "And I da If I wanted to talk to her about it, I would I don’t End of story It would just freak her outin Papa wouldn’t answer his cell I’ll be home later"