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I’d asked Dae the waret so easily? A bitter sensation had taken up residence in my tummy Would that happen to me one day if we didn’t coet over it?

Daemon had squeezed my hand and said, "It’s the hu that sits well They’d rather push it away--not co their every thought and action"

"And that’s okay?"

"Not saying that it is" He’d stopped, placing his hands oncan be scary People can’t focus on that forever Just like you couldn’t focus on why it was your dad who had to get sick and pass away That’s the big unknown You had to let it go eventually"

I’d stared up at hiht "I can’t believe you can sound so wise"

Dae his hands up and downchills followed "I’m more than looks, Kitten You should know that"

And I did Daemon was ridiculously supportivepart in the onyx training, but he wasn’t pushing it and I appreciated that

I threwwith the onyx, which left little ti to school Onyx stripped away energy and after every session, all of us were quick to pass out And ere so wrapped up in building our tolerance, watching out for officers and implants that we hadn’t even celebrated Valentine’s Day besides the flowers he’d boughtto ot away froot in between us Either it was Dawson i Mount Weather, Dee wanting toevery day I’d forgotten what it felt like when it was just Daean to think his sporadic late-night visits really were a product of ht, he was just as whipped as I was Everyit seemed like a vivid dreao while looking forward to it Dreauessed

But by the beginning of May, the five of us could handle the onyx for about fifty seconds without losing control of our muscle functions Didn’t seeress to us

Halfway through today’s practice, we gained an audience that included Ash and Dee Those tere beco real bosom buddies of late, while I was basically friendless with the exception of Lesa on good days

Bad days hen she missed Carissa and no one could replace that lost friendship

Watching Ash teeter around on her ridiculous heels, I had to wonder how Ash and Dee were even getting along Besides their obsession with fashion, they had little in common

Then I realized what probably had bonded the them of that I could be such a tool

Mattheas in the process of picking hiround as Ash tottered over to the onyx, frowning "It can’t be that bad I have to try it"

I bit back ato stop her

"Uh, Ash, I really wouldn’t suggest doing that," Daeht, but Ash was a deters, and waited for the show to begin

I didn’t have to wait long

Bending over gracefully, she picked up one of the shiny blackish-red jehile I held my breath Not even a second later, she shrieked, dropped the onyx as if it were a snake, and stu flat on her butt

"Yep, not bad at all," Dawson co like a fish’s "What…as that?"

"Onyx," I responded, lying on ht blue skies and a touch of sun warmed the air I’d already had three rounds with it today I couldn’t feel ers "It sucks"

"It felt… It felt like hened her voice "Why would you guys put yourselves through this for months?"

Dawson cleared his throat "You knohy, Ash"

"But she’s…"

Oh, no

"She’s what?" Daas on his feet "She’s " Ash looked around for help, but she was alone on this one Standing carefully, she took an unsteady step toward Dawson "I’ as he brushed past Dae into the thicket Daehed and trotted off after his brother

"Ash, you need to learn a tad bitloose dirt off his jeans

Her face fell and then cru by it"