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Suddenly, other things about the dreauage Hair that was silky enough to dragme "You’re makin’ me jealous, darlin’"

Maybe it wasn’t Noah after all

Somehow that disappoints et this lethal weapon a bag of ice before it swells," he says He hooksme to look at him "Next ti at the most sincere pair of mercury eyes I’ve ever seen I think I must be an idiot "I’m sorry"

Noah’s face softens "Not asin the dream

So, if not Noah, and not Eli, then who?

When we turn around, the entire WUP tea stare feels like a ton of bricks

"Lover’s spat?" Jake asks, grinning "Do tell"

"Kiss off," I say, passing by "I wrongly accused Miles of being in hs "Can’t trust a vampire, Ms Poe Don’t you know that by now? Especially one like Miles" All the guys erupt into laughter

"Ignore thenore Jake’s jab, since I’ry at Noah Which I won’t

In the entranceway Noah turns to me once more "You can trust me, Riley," he says quietly His eyes holdyou wouldn’t wantfor a response or a reaction, he turns and heads into the kitchen

Speechless, I follow

"We’ve got to get you ready for tonight, darlin’," Noah says, puttingthe subject "Jake had your and the other girls’ gowns ordered Pretty sweet, if you askof frozen peas from the freezer, turns, sits etable bag He looks at ht, but you bet your sweet ass I’ll be there Whoever this is you’re dreaerous, Ri He can infiltrate your dreams, just like Valerian and Victorian Arcos It may be just sexual now, but you don’t knohat he is or what he’ll turn into Especially if it’s one of the Fallen Which I suspect he is"

"What’s he ithI’m not an Archivist And I dahs heavy on mine for several moments "You really don’t know, do you?"

Slowly and bewilderedly, I shake my head

Noah smiles and chucks my chin like a little kid "Then you probably don’t need to know," he says "Wouldn’t want your ego getting, well, bigger than it already is"

I punch hih with my other hand "Whatever" Still, I’m puzzled by what he means

The others soon file in, and Darius, the only one not in the group, comes in from the library "I think the second relic is below the Mari?" Jake asks

"Not one bit," Darius says He holds a toes he has opened, a h He points "More than one battle between the Celts and Lowlanders occurred in the area, and more than once directly in the place of that house Below it, so with Ms Maspeth," Gabriel says, crossing his ar Riley is indeed one of the Fallen, then the relic hts exactly" He turns to Lucian "You’ll go as Ginger’s escort, as well You’ll all take separate cars I’ll acquire an invitation for the two of you" He looks at ive only your nalance at the clock on the wall "Five forty-five I’et ready" I nod at Noah "Thanks for the ice"

Luckily there are two bathrooms on each floor I find one and soak in the tub for at least forty one down Nice thing about having tendencies, I guess Fast healer

I wash my hair, don’t have to shave because of that fine investment of laser hair removal, and, finally, before I’m pruney, climb from the water and wrap my hair in a towel andtoback--maybe because it’s how I looked when I s were I make my way down the corridor and to my room, and, of course, I have co to be careful Prorave one back "I fear for you this time," he answers solemnly

"Oh, you haven’t before?" I say