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I slapped his butt "Not a chance You’ll go down beforeWhat is your shadoalker side like? What are the Stradolans like?" I’d never asked before, but now it just seeood time

But Shade looked at ht Tonight is for dancing For celebrating For fa my hand, he ledAt least two-thirds of the guests were shaking a leg, to a veryfroa to Aerose where they’d gotten a’s "Blood Makes Noise" Iris earing a pair of pale blue jeans, blue espadrilles, and a sparkling silver tank, and she looked very chic Her hair was braided in a pattern of intricate loops that kept it off the floor Bruce earing jeans and a muscle shirt, and I was surprised to see how buff he was

As Shade and I found a space and began to dance, Camille cast a sly s, and yet another, before Menolly jue and turned it off

"May I have your attention, please? It’s time to cut the cake and eat! And then, we’ll dance the rest of the night away" She motioned to Se They were careful, and it survived intact I stared at the tiered wonder, suddenly reer flashed through s tomorrohen Iris was safely on her honeymoon

Bruce and Iris approached the cake, and she pulled out a silver dagger As she and Bruce prepared to slice into the cake, there was a sudden noise and Maggie cae

"Maggie! Maggie!" Hanna’s voice echoed froh the crowd "Maggie got away frooyle toddling toward her with an unsteady gait "Maggie, what are you doing, you little iie held out her arht of the cake, and her eyes greide She grabbed the tablecloth on the folding table and pulled Apparently, whoever set up the table hadn’t done a very good job, because one leg began to buckle as the cloth slid off, taking the cake with it

"No!" Iris dove for it and so did Bruce, and in the excite theht across the cake

A collective hush swept over the crowd as atched Iris, Bruce, and Maggie go doith the cake and table in one big, sugary pile Luckily, it fell to the side of Maggie, and she just giggled, happily licking her fingers Iris and Bruce, covered in cake, pushed the for Iris to throw a fit, but she just picked up a handful of the cake, turned to Bruce, and plastered it on his face

Bruce stared at her for a rabbed her, pushing her down onto the cake And then, he leaned over her and they were kissing, passionately, oblivious to the fact that everybody atching theuests told hed and ate another handful of cake before Menolly julanced down at the couple and shook her head, then turned to the guests

"Dinner, along with more desserts, is set up in the tent to your left Buffet style, so please, form an orderly line Tables are in the other two tents" And then, taking Maggie with her, she headed for the house to clean up our baby

As Shade and I headed toward the food, I glanced back at Iris She and Bruce were sitting up, holding hands They looked happy Truly happy

Hours later, late in the night but still not yet dawn, Bruce and Iris were clean and in their traveling clothes His faether to Ireland for their honeymoon and would be back in teeks

I sed the lump ina smile to my face, I leaned forward and kissed the happy couple on the forehead

"Take care of yourself and come home soon We’ll miss you"

Iris nodded "I know, I’lltime for this and I want to see the land of Bruce’s birth"

Menolly pressed her hand to her lips, her eyes glistening with red tears "You have to be back by the equinox--that’s when Nerissa and I are holding our promise ceremony"

"I will be Don’t you worry--I wouldn’t miss it for the world" Iris turned to Camille "And you…will you be okay?"

Camille nodded "We will be fine…all of us Hanna knohat to do, and we are safe here But please, take care Bruce, guard her and watch over her Iris is our sister Let nothing happen to her"

He straightened his shoulders "I will, my lady Trust me--Iris is uard theo My family waits outside"

As they headed toward the door, Caone as far as we could The next teeks were Iris’s to live, without us there, in joy with her new faan to cry, softly Life was changing I only prayed that the future wouldn’t tear us apart Because while I no I could weather change…I couldn’t weather being alone

Chapter 10