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A few groans go through the crowd, and Nyx waves to them "Hey! We have a few postcards over here with Riley and on perfectly!"

Everyone moves to the sales counter, and Nyx shows the rack of postcards She glances at me, and I mouth thanks

I don’t understand it, but the rest of the day passes ss Heartbeats recede Only norh instead By six pe of Art and Design, better known as SCAD, student with a dainty black butterfly ar around as a pipe cleaner, so it doesn’t take ive her instructions In the fading light falling on Savannah, she walks down the sidewalk, happily chatting on her cell, stretching her arauzy cover

My ons I re able to stay away from mirrors, I wanted to look at the deth Empower of envy hits me I used to have a normal life, where a little body art made my day, made me happy beyond belief I enjoyed Sundays with Seth, with Preacher and Estelle, and chillin’ on the floor ofslice after slice of pizza in ourChaz for walks I want it all back I want it all the hell back

I’ll never have it back

"How are you feeling?" Eli asks His handsout of his grasp, I start cleaning up , are we tracking newlings

"Are you up for it?" he asks

I glance at hio But I’ anyway "Absolutely"

Nyx’s client leaves and she shuts and locks up the shop behind him My friend, dressed in the style of a street mime from the fifties with black skinny jeans, black loafers, and a white and black striped shirt, h ponytails on either side of her head sith the movement "Riley, are you sure? I don’t think you’re well You could"--she waves her hand in the air as if trying to i if you have an episode"

"I don’t have episodes, Nyx," I say, and move to the back and head upstairs "I’ll be okay Pro," I call down

"Bye," she returns, but I’ but th hs, ankles In the next second, and so fast that I didn’t even see him enter the room, Eli stands next to me, my shoulder harness in hand He helps me into it, adjusts the straps, and secures it in the front One by one, he fills the sheaths with pure silver blades His eyes are on mine the entire time

The fact that he’s so close to them makes me pause "I can do that," I say, but Eli continues anyway I let him When the last blade is secure, he pulls my face to his and kisses me For a ue onacross my abdomen, my hips Then, he envelops ainsthe does, I realize, proves his love for me Proves his possessiveness for me And I can’t even return the verbal senti to really grate on my nerves God, I’oods to the nth degree

"You’ll run with ainstyou’ll do alone is pee"

I laugh, because Eli kno I love my bathroom privacy "I’ll run homever I want to, and you bet your ass I’ll pee alone Godda break, will ya? I’ht me how So, seriously Step off a bit Okay?"

Eli pulls back, holdsrave;re," he says, his French accent thicker Demeanor deter as everything goes s the victiht in ar, independent wooddamn self But, I adth, and I trust him completely I revel in his embrace for a fewdeep into the pit of my stomach, that this won’t last

Or at the very least, I won’t remember it

My annoyance dissipates h Eli’s crazy, sexy hair, pull his ainstesture does to hiet dressed Eli watches in silence as I pull on a pair of loaist khaki cargo pants, a snug black long-sleeved spandex shirt, and h, hips, and shoulder, I slide the sharp silver blades into place The night will hide my weapons, so no need to wear a coat over the, and I’ inside with Chaz Nyx is sitting in the foyer, staring at ht you were headed home," I say I can tell by Nyx’s expression that I’ve hurt her feelings

"She’s going to stay with Mama and Papa," Luc says "I don’t trust Valerian not to seek her out again, despite the Gullah char her place"