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We were bloody, dirty, and torn by the tian House And unlike the last time, a Guard vehicle was parked outside the House, and soldiers with very large guns stood beside the huate

"I could guess they’re providing security in case the dragon comes here But that seemsunrealistic," Mallory finished

"Yeah," I agreed

We walked inside, found Ethan in his office in a clean shirt, tidy jeans He, Catcher, and Malik were checking their phones, probably wondering where ere

They looked up e entered, expressions shifting froratitude to bafflement

"How do you look so clean?" I asked Ethan

"We found a gypsy cab and got a ride home" He stared at Mallory and me, took in another day of torn and dirty clothes "Why do you not look clean?" he asked, putting away his phone and walking toward us "What the hell happened to you two?"

"We were chased by a goddao," Mallory said, pushing past the e area I had a sense she was headed for booze

Ethan arched an eyebrow "Long night, Sentinel?"

I handed Ethan my sword, my scabbard, and followed Mallory to the bar "Bite me"

Mallory snorted as she poured liquor into glasses

"What’s with the guard at the door?" I asked

"Yeah," Mallory said "They keeping the dragon out, or the vampires in?"

"The latter," Catcher said "Part of the mayor’s efforts to ith the Guard and keep the ‘situation’ fro There are soldiers posted at Grey and Navarre, too"

There were tunnels beneath the House that would get us past the guards if necessary

"So a useless gesture to mollify the haters," I said "What would happen if we tried to go back out there?"

"We would be rebuffed and told to stay indoors," Luc said "Grey House tried When they were threatened back at gunpoint, he called us and let us know the state of affairs"

I lifted my eyebrows "And Grey was okay with that?"

Ethan s his nextthat he wasn’t in Ethan’s office, and neither were the manuscript and foldouts

Catcher ses, and he’s ements and make predictions about which ones are most likely"