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She didn’t dispute this, further solidifying my own hopes that Aubrey’s broken proure out when it ca what did and didn’t constitute reparations owed

"I also plan to bring hi for one of hisme wonder if any of the fairies at the ball had made mention of hiht have gone gay for him if I hadn’t already been his type I shook my head at the Oracle and nodded towards Kellen

"If you can assure me she isn’t under an emotionally manipulative spell and the attach to take her back to hi like a lost, needy puppy I could have sworn her eyes grew three sizes larger

"Brokk?" Calliope’s nose wrinkled, and she rolled her eyes "Oh she ood for nothing--"

"Can you just, I don’t know…check her?"

"She’s not enchanted," Calliope replied, neveran inch closer

I’d expected her to wave her hands over Kellen’s head or take her pulse Maybe look deep into her eyes while reciting a strange fairy incantation "That’s it? You can tell by looking at her?"

"She’s in love, that’s obvious enough You can’t see it on her face?"

"Of course, she looks ridiculous, but that could be manipulated Couldn’t it?"

"You live another six thousand years, Secret, and then you tell me what is and isn’t real love Deal? Your friend isn’t under any enchantment I’d be able to smell a love inducement from here"

"Oh"

"You seem disappointed"

"No" I wasn’t And Kellen was obviously overjoyed Yet part ofI’d wanted it to be showier So far this plan ofalmost too easily, and it made me nervous There was no way I’d coh to have no flaws I wasn’t that s you are surprised by is how so few things surprise you anymore," Calliope said It was one of those weird Oracle-is that didn’t necessarily have anything to do with the situation at hand, but in hindsight would prove to be the perfect thing she could have said at the time

"Why do I feel like that line should be followed by you saying surprise?"

"You’ve obviously coate, yes?"

"Yes"

"I’m afraid that isn’t possible" She smoothed down the front of her dress where some of the taffeta had bunched up, then after a beat, added, "Surprise"

And there it was The kink in the plan The other shoe dropping The…the wrench in"What? But ent through last time, and you had no issues Just unlock the door and let h as the…" She looked into the air, hands dancing at her sides while she tried to determine the best word to use "Companion The companion of a fairy You and Kellen are huuide"

Calliope rolled her eyes "I do not pass through I won’t set foot on the other side of the door Not for you, not for anyone This is my home, and I will not leave it for some fool’s errand you find yourself on"

"And before?"

"Before you weren’t huh at their own risk"

"Can’t I accept the same risk now that--?"

"Rules are rules for a reason You mustn’t ask me to break them because we are friends"

"Friends help friends," I reue at irl who thought I ht be a murderer"

Ouch

"Cal Calliope, please I need to speak to Aubrey"

With a sigh so dra couch, she flicked her dress behind her and pivoted on her heel "I will ask if he wants to speak to you, but I make no assurances And know this If he does approve of this schee to the course of your future I don’t know if I can see your way out of it anymore"

"What does that mean?"

Calliope paused in the doorway "It means once I saw a path that would lead you to remarkable happiness Now I don’t know if that path will ever exist again"