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"Don’t think about it now"

"I’ll think about it every day for the rest of my life" I nodded at the blowtorch "Ready?"

He fired it up It looked like the kind chefs used to burn the sugar on crème brulees

"Hold the pendant and use it to lift the chain It’s going to get hot"

I shuddered when Poe slipped a finger between the necklace andI said You know that, yeah?"

"I do"

"I’lad you two found each other, jealous even, except for the circurandchildren will never tire of the stories"

The hiss of the blowtorch kept me from any commentary The chain was unbearably hot, and the second I felt it give, I jerked it off ave me a quick kiss on top of the head and disappeared into the cabin

"What are you going to do with it?" Dune slid his phone back in his pocket and leaned against the railing

"Get rid of it" It was about an inch and a half long, with flower detailing, and an eht shone off the ht a hint of shadow "It’s two pieces Should I open it?"

"If you want to" He nodded and took a step closer "Just be careful"

I twisted the top of the cylinder It gave a little, so I appliedinside"

Shaking, I eer than a safety pin It humy eyes

"Mom implied I needed this to transfer abilities I believe you’re looking at the result of your quest," I whispered

"No" He shook his head "My quest led lass back into its secret home and replaced the lid

"You sure you don’t want it?" I dangled the pendant fro I want"

I kissed hi

I balled the chain and pendant up, made a wish, and threw them both into the Mississippi

Dune, March

I met her in front of Saint Louis Cathedral "Hurry!" Hallie draggedfor twenty ot o back to the apartment This is way different fro a trip to Hawaii" She tugged on my hand a little harder "I’m excited, and you’re as slow as molasses"

"You’re on the phone or video chat with Em or Lily every day, and you have been for the past three months We didn’t decide on Hawaii until last week What were you all talking about all the other times?"

"Hush"

She silenced ain as soon as it was over

"You didn’t give in and tell them about your Newcomb acceptance, did you?" I asked

"No Did you tell them about Tulane?"

"Nope" Just Liam, but he didn’t count, since the inforiven the school transfer and e at Chronos

"Rip alert" Hallie squeezed my hand "A pirate, I believe At four o’clock Do you see him?"