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"But if it's a cover-up," Luce asked, feeling sort of bad for Beaker, "what's it a cover-up for?"

"People likewith angel in its DNA Mortals, immortals, transeternals We try not to discriular be, you know, nephil, like cherub from cherubim and seraph from seraphim?"

Shelby scowled "Seriously? Would you want to be called a nephil? It sounds like a bag you carry your shame in No, thanks Nephili about"

So Shelby was a sort of angel Strange She didn't look or act the part She wasn't gorgeous like Daniel, Canetism of someone like Roland or Arriane She just seeel prep school," Luce said "But for what? Do you go on to angel college after this?"

"It depends on what the world needs A lot of kids take a year o and do Nephiliner, et cetera But that's in tiht noell "

"Right nohat?"

"Whatever" Shelby looked like she was biting the word "It just depends on who you are Everyone here has, you know, varying degrees of power," she went on, see on your family tree But in your case--"

This Luce knew "I'm just here because of Daniel"

Shelby tossed her napkin on her empty plate and stood up "That's a real i-shot boyfriend pulled soht about her here? Was thatthe truth?

Shelby reached over and stole the last bite of quiche o Luce's plate "If you want a Lucinda Price fan club, I'm sure you can nd that here Just leaveabout?" Luce stood up Maybe she and Shelby needed to rewind again "I don't want a fan club--"

"See, I told you," she heard a high but pretty voice say "See, I told you," she heard a high but pretty voice say

Suddenly, the girl with the green scarf was standing before her, grinning and nudging another girl forward Luce glanced past them, but Shelby was already far away--and probably not worth catching up to Up close, the green-scarf girl looked kind of like a young Salirl, with her pale coloring, hazel eyes, and short black hair, looked kind of like Luce

"Wait, so you're really Lucinda Price?" the pale girl asked She had very s them to hold a couple of sequin-tipped bobby pins while she twisted a few dark tendrils into little knots "As in Luce-and-Daniel? As in the girl who just caia" Luce sort of nodded

"Saod, as Cam like? I saw him once at this death metal concertof course, I was too nervous to introduce myself Not that you'd be interested in Cah "I'm Dawn, b-t-dubs This is Jasmine"

"Hi," Luce said slowly This was new "Um "

"Don't mind her, she just drank, like, eleven co ees" Jasmine spoke about three times more slowly than Dawn did "What she means is we're excited to reatest love story Ever"

"Seriously?" Luce cracked her knuckles

"Are you kidding?" Dawn asked, though Luce kept expecting the up to soain? Okay, does it make you want him even more? I bet it does! And ohhh, when that re that burns you up"--she closed her eyes, put a hand over her sto a st over her heart "My irl"

Luce was shocked She glanced around the busy terrace, wondering whether anyone could overhear theht now

An iron bell rang fronal the end of breakfast, and Luce was glad to see that everyone else had other things to focus on Like getting to class

"Your mom used to tell you what story?" Luce asked slowly "About hts," Dawn said, opening her eyes "Does it feel like a hot ash? Like a , not that you would know--"

Jasmine smacked Dawn on the arm "Did you just compare Luce's unbridled passion to a hot ash?"

"Sorry" Dawn giggled "I'm just fascinated It sounds so totally roood way!"

"Envious that I die every tiuy of my dreams?" Luce hunched up her shoulders "It's actually kind of a buzz kill"

"Tell that to the girl whose only kiss to date ith Ira Frank of the Irritable Bowel Syndroly at Dawn