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River paused, wetting her lower lip She fixed her gaze straight ahead through the windscreen at the dark waters rushing past

Then she said, "If one of your witches et back to New York?"

"That is going to be the least difficult part," I replied "Our witches can transport you there by ic I promise it will be the fastest journey you have ever been on"

"And… If I turn back, will I ever see you again?" Her voice sounded strained

I wasn’t sure how to answer that "Once I’ve figured out what’s wrong with e to--and I return to The Shade, you could come visit me"

She shifted uncouess so But hoould I contact you?"

Again, that was a difficult question Neither ive out phones to anyone They didn’t like lots of lines of coency purposes Still, I was sure that I could convince Corrine to give one to River

"I would try to sort so out for you We’ll have your address also, so we knohere to find you"

"Okay," she said, her voice now sounding dry and hoarse "Because… Ben, I really like you"

Averting ain, I was surprised to see that she had tearsthe corners of her eyes

I put the vessel on autopilot te my hands down her shoulders I bent down to her level, brushing ainst her cheek "Hey, it’s okay We’ll find a way to see each other"

She stood up, allowing ather her in ainst ht

"Thank you," she said "I hope we can stay friends even if nothing et too old for you"

I leaned down and caught her soft lips ina bit of ahead of yourself, you know," I said, atte out a smile in her "We don’t even know if you can turn back into a huht be stuck as a half-blood whether you like it or not"

She gaveher hand still, pulled her down to sit on s overbefore she raised her head and said, "When ere back in the desert, after Jeraoodbye to you then… that was really hard"