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Avonlea aiting for us at the botto to be okay?" she asked, biting her lip nervously

"She will be, after sohtened And then she leaned closer, whispering tofor you"

"They?"

"Everyone," she breathed

I saw Niko, standing outside the doors

I didn’t have to be told it was me he awaited That I was the reason his yellow eyes lit up--and not Zafir or Avonlea

I thought about going back, about waiting at Brooklynn’s bedside with Aron But Niko drew ed

And I did

When I reached him, I let ers see, just led me toward the ballrooaze fixed on the back of his black jacket, at the way it fit across his shoulders, hugging theolden hair fell just over the back of his collar

We had to pass a pair of fire-eaters who stood on either side of the entrance to the ballroo froed their jaws to engulf a mouthful of flames on a stick

I ducked my head to hide my joy and wished it had more to do with the performers and the party than with the company I kept