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Ginger stood there with both hands on her hips, a city goddess in her knee-high boots and sleek black coat Marna stood at her side, nervously peering around Ginger shook her head at us in exasperation She stoo, with her sister close behind

Kaidan gavestare and I saw hi more than to stay there with hi near each other, we climbed the stairs and blended back into the crowd Up ahead, Kopano turned his head enough toour interaction, but I couldn’t look away fro he’d heard Kaidan and ave round before he faced forward again

We were alo I had to scold ainst this entire thing, screaht into certain death? It was unnatural

The streetlights above began to flicker None of the huionnaires," Kai whispered, signaling to the sky with an upward jut of his chin

Hundreds of de in froray clouds The street was under attack as de ears The ated, and I felt a painful rush of negative eht broke out between two ht in front of us Kopano had to juet around theet a better view The voluhter became more raucous, and a woman behind us screa over Spirits flipped above us, co into the lee

"Ready for your first summit, little drinker?" I flinched at the voice in risly face of one of the whisperers froh the air and landed right on Blake’s shoulder Ginger gave an insulted scoff and swatted it off We stepped over the offending black lace bra

Blake half grinned and said, "Nice," before ere jostled and forced to keep

Up ahead we passed the shirtless lady, as now arguing with a guy He shoved a shirt at her, atte to throw her head back and spin around instead The lowered as onlookers cheered and catcalled

Kaidan pulled a flask out of his back pocket and guzzled it down A strong whiff of bourbon wafted over,me queasy

The twins veered to the side and stopped in front of a glass door that had been painted black We were here This was it The shs-a-lot and showed a jolly knight The Dukes had rented an underground comedy club to hold their summit The irony of it er reached for the door handle I battled a surge of terror I couldn’t go in there I took a step back, then another, e of a panic attack I spun around, prepared to run, only to face a dapper, frowning gentleray suit He had salt-and-pepper hair and a long, oval face But his e in the plant of pride Rahab, the Duke of Pride

I spun back around, trying to play it off like I’d not just been planning to run like heck I stumbled forward a little in my attempt to ith Mr Evil Incarnate at my back The other Neph were already inside Kaidan stood holding the door open with an expressionless face, eyes averted doard

"After you, Duke Rahab," he said I stepped out of the way and let Rahab pass id breeze Then my eyes met Kaidan’s and we stood there

"Get in and close the damn door!" an Australian male voice hollered from inside "You’re lettin’ in a draft"

There was a tense second when I knew Kaidan thought I ht run, and if I did, he would run with me But I couldn’t do that to him So I slipped inside and felt hi the door

I had to adjust y and s under drab old carpets, but it arm Walls were plastered with advertisements for comedians and shows, past and present The thin hall was empty except for a host podiuone in

"Son of Pharzuph," said a redheaded male Neph He was short and lean, but had the body and stance of a fighter His fiery red hair was buzzed so short it was barely fuzz In his hand he wielded awith a nod, saying, "Son of Mammon" So this was the Duke of Greed’s son

"Arms up, mate You know the drill" He spoke with a heavy Aussie accent Kaidan lifted his arot nervous when the wand passed his pockets, but it didn’t beep It did beep when it got to his shoes, though

"Take ’ehed and bent down to untie his black boots I wondered whether they had steel in thelanced up when I felt the Neph’s eyes onme a wide-mouthed smile