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Working as quickly as I dared, I set up the power sinks, tied the arcane strands into theate and into the earth where it would dissipate har tempest had wound down to a

I spun to retrieve the cuff, but a blast of cold air stopped ers wereRun I need to run! I thought in flailing panic But even as I thought it, I knew there was nowhere I could run to There were no wards nearby that would shieldAnd if I put the cuff on now--after the su of the portal and tearsuicide Mouth dry, I straightened, leaving the cuff on the floor I guess this is it

"What are you doing?" Ryan shouted "Put the cuff back on before it’s too late!"

"It’s already too late," Zack said, agonized His eyes h it wasn’t all right Not at all I was scared shitless, but I couldn’t let the shot But at least I saved the world, right? At least a little piece of it" I gave a weak laugh, then took a shaking breath "Take care of my aunt and Jill And Fuzzykins"

"We will," Zack said "You have my oath"

The wind swirled around us, and I felt the first cold touch as the tendrils of the portal began to wrap around ies, then stepped to me and seized my face in his hands

"God da coh with hi luh to speak He didn’t seem to care, because in the next instant his lips were on -friends kiss either--this was a full-blown, passion-filled, hungry as hell kiss as if there would never be any more kisses after this one This was a kiss to tell each other everything we’d danced around for so long, full of fervor and heartache and grief and joy and longing I clutched hi it until the arcane tendrils began to tighten and pull I quickly released him and pushed hiasped

He stepped back reluctantly "I love you," he said

The pull on ed a weak sh?"

He chuckled "Nerd"

The poirled higher as the portal widened "I love you too," I said

And then the world disappeared

Chapter 24