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“Good,” I said, trying o start lunch”

“No peanut butter sandwiches,” Dean said

“You're learning,” I said, with a good-natured wink

I let out a long breath of relief as I closed the door The opening riff to “Blackest Magick In Practice” starting up on the other side of the door I wondered if it was nore it if it was I had already gotten what I wanted Dean was going to start spending a significant a trapped in a ether

I was going to be stuck with theoing to be patrolling for civilians after it started Even in an area as nice as Dean lived in But I would try and make the best of it It would be worth it if it helped Jessica I was really beginning to love the kidChapter Three - DeanIt hadn't been my idea

I was inlike I always did, despite what ot a call notification Still in businessit was rude to leave a call unanswered I saw the caller ID, after accepting the call, and iretted it

“Hello, dear!”

“Hello, mother,” I said, bereft of enthusiasm

I tried to look on the bright side like Siht me to do At least it wasn't my brother Or my dad A shiver ran up my spine, and I was momentarily somewhere else

“Are you okay, dear?” mother asked

“I'm fine,” I said, with all the believability of a soap opera star

“And how is hter?”

“Alive No thanks to you”

“Now, that's not fair You know very well that we can't have her here The strata council doesn't allow children Otherould love to have her here”

“You couldhouse out there”

“You h I had asked her to ja more than three months at any of their four properties was border-line scandalous to my parents

“Don't you have a nanny?” Mom asked