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"We have separate roo tomorrow"

"When toht Like everyone else in the Old World, Eli was taking off work the following night for the Va would be staffed entirely by humans "Find me before the first trial starts," I told him

He wasn’t happy that I couldn’t proiveMolly We talked for a few more minutes about Eli’s shift at the bar and the new chunk of driftwood he’d found for his sculpture work It was late and ere both exhausted, but I think we needed to reassure ourselves that there was still norain I drifted off with the phone still pressed to ed , there was aon the cell phone My ar it around, it already felt better than the night before When I lifted the bandage on my chest, the se off, whichthe clothes that Jesse had brought to the hospital, I took Shadow for a one- was cool, gray, and hazy--either very sy, very overcast, or so from the front desk, took a quick shower, and dressed in the clothes fro and the new jacket Shadow and I made it back down to the lobby by 7:40

Jesse was already waiting, still in the ruht before He’d at least showered and shaved, which looked good on hihtly taller, slightly paler, not quite so handsome man next to hi was planted between their feet There was so out

"You’re late," Jesse said neutrally

I pointed to Shadow "If she doesn’t run for at least ain those boots?"

I raised an eyebrow, glancing down at h leather Fryes "Cupcake, I could pirouette in these boots" I turned to Noah and held out ain" Noah returned the handshake, though his expression didn’t warlanced at Jesse, half-aly brother asked uys your bulletproof vests Because I have nothing better to do with my time"

"You’re on hiatus," Jesse pointed out Noah was a stunt double, though I had no idea what shoorking on these days "You were available"

I blinked, trying not to look as surprised as I felt I’d forgotten about the bulletproof vest, which Jesse had ether, or maybe the one before it It was itchy and uncomfortable, but since I’d already been shot at once, I couldn’t exactly say ouldn’t need the to tell me why you want these?" Noah asked him

"I told you, it’s for paintball," Jesse answered "Scarlett and I are big sissies about getting hit by those pellets"

I tried to make my face look very serious as I nodded, but Noah obviously didn’t buy it

"Uh-huh Well, I guess I should just be grateful that you’re out in the world" He turned to inary hat "That looks heavy," he said, pointing at ot it"

"I’ll walk you out," Noah said eot the impression that he really wanted to talk to et it over with I held outthese in for us? And e if there’s a place around here with good donuts?"

Jesse rolled his eyes, but he took the card and handed me his car keys He trotted toward the front desk, and the rest of us headed outside

The advantage to knoere going to leave so early was that Jesse had been able to park his car in one of those ht in front of the building next door to the hotel, a real estate agency with a little decorative picket fence that had been painted with graffiti Noah didn’t speak as we made our way to the sedan, and I opened the back door so Shadow could ju his head a little "I forgot how big she is And howvisually eccentric"