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The school day passed with agonizing slowness, the classes sheer torture Despite the fact that he was free Free of the witches’ curse and its consequences Victoria was absent, but then, so were Mary Ann and Riley Aden wasn’t worried They needed a break Hell, he needed a break, but he kinda owed Dan

After school, he rushed through his chores Or tried to Finally, though, he finished shucking and bailing and showered He changed into his best clothes, jeans and a black T-shirt, just as the moon made its appearance in the sky He wanted to buy Victoria flowers, but didn’t have any ’s roses

He would just have to give her his heart Again

Because he didn’t have a car, and wasn’t allowed to date while living at the ranch--girls equaled trouble, Dan said, because they kept boys fro--Victoria had to pick hiht there with them

And God, did she look beautiful So, and there were scabs on her arht blue sweater and a barely there hter shade The colors transformed her fro down her back in silky black waves, and all he wanted to do was find a dark corner and run his fingers through theh hisand strolled away from the ranch hand in hand

"Do you like?" she asked She even pulled from his hold to twirl in front of hi of irls have decided you’re, and I quote, not so bad You tamed their beasts, outwitted the witches and sent the fairies to their knees"

"I love," he corrected In the distance, an owl hooted "And tell your sisters I think they’re not so bad the that a lot lately, he thought, proud Bit by bit, she was losing her serious, soe

"So…what should we do?" she asked "I can’t believe we don’t have a death curse hanging over us or goblins to fight"

"I knohat youout and having fun "Want to go into town? I mean, a town other than this one, where no one knoe are We can see a irls like to do? He’d never been on a date before

"I would love to!" She reclaimed his hand, and a moment later, the world tilted, wind kicked up and his surroundings faded He blinked, that was it, and his feet settled, buildings suddenly stretching at his sides

He laughed "You’re getting good at that"

"I know, right"

How human she sounded Hoeet He looked around They were in a darkened alley, a busy street sidewalk a few feet away and an even busier road a few feet from there "Where are we?"

"Tulsa Not too far from home, but not too close either"

"Perfect"

Aden, Elijah said Go hoo hooing to theto a dance club?" Victoria asked, unaware he’d been talking to the souls He didn’t correct her

"I think that’s…doable" He didn’t kno good a dancer he was, never having danced before, but for her, he would try And he would get to hold her close, so that was even better

Aden, please

One night, Aden thought That’s all he wanted "To it this time

"Yes"

"They’ll be our next project" Victoria’s skin was hot against his as they strolled down the street, joining the crowd "I can’t believe we’re doing this I mean, I love you, you know that, but this feels so…frivolous"

"Frivolous is e desperately need right now" Do you hear that, Elijah? I need this

"So true So guess what?" Too excited to wait, she answered before he could reply, releasing his hand to jump in front of him "I know a human joke"

"Oh, yeah?" He hooked several strands of hair behind her ear "What is it?" Froe movement and frowned Had that trash can just moved several inches on its own? Surely not Surely he was sier in every shadow

"There was once a boy who--" Victoria frowned, too, and followed the line of his vision "What is it?"

Aden Aden, leave now

A second later, Tucker seeht in front of Aden, tears strea down his face "What the--"

The crowd and cars disappeared--Victoria, too--leaving Aden on a deserted street A deserted street he’d seen in countless visions One he’d dreaded finding One he’d hoped to avoid

Aden backed up, gearing to fight Tucker followed

"I’m sorry, so very, very sorry," Tucker said "He told me you would be here Why did you have to be here?"

Before the last word left his o on the offensive, a sharp pain he recognized, hated, dreaded, expected, lanced through hian Every beat of his heart sliced the wound deeper, wider