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"No," she said softly "Not terrific But the biggest fallacy people sell themselves is that they should be happy all the time"

"I’ve never believed that And you’ve just proved ain"

He leaned to the side and opened the door; then he walked aithout looking back

Which was fine

She was going to do the same

Once outside, Elise deh the front door, she proceeded directly to her father’s study Knocking on the closed panels, she waited … and then let herself in

He was, as always, at his desk Dressed i on his investhter mine How fare thee?"

Elise ditched the prea out as soon as I find a suitable place to live I have so on more hours at the university for pay I’d like to stay here while I apartment hunt, but if that makes you uncomfortable, I’ll locate other accommodations"

As her father dropped his pen, and his lower jaw, she nodded "And yes, rief or embarrassment, and I would very much like to continue to have a relationship with you That’s your choice, of course, and if you need to distance yourself from me temporarily or even permanently, it will break ot back to her feet "I need to go livethat you, or anyone else, can grant me permission to do or withhold permission from me for It’s up to ood with that"

FIFTY

The following evening at around ht, Mary stood to the side and watched Bitty walk Ruhn through the vestibule and into the great, colorful foyer of the Black Dagger Brotherhood’s mansion

Bitty’s uncle had been interviewed by Wrath, and actually all the ht before--and you want to talk about a grilling? The poor guy had been two feet shorter after the interrogations were through, and Mary and Bitty had practically had to pour him into one of the beds down below at Darius’s

And then there had been the trip down South right after sunset, Ruhn, Rhage, and V heading back to where Ruhn stayed, and talking to his employer, who hadn’t required notice There had been so little in ters that the three of them had been able to fill up some backpacks and duffels and de at jumps of fifty to a hundred o of the male’s hand and started to juet used to it I pro as his eyes bounced around the gold leafing and the crystal and the colu like this"