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TERREILLE

Cassidy hurried into theroom Gray was finally hory A hastyhe’d been delayed but would be houe about these required h Lord—and not when Jaenelle’s response to her inquiries was a gently worded e that still translated to “It’s none of your business, Cassie”

“Gray, are you all right—”

He grabbed her, twirled her, hugged her breathless—then kissed her in a way that made her dizzy and more than a little self-conscious since her whole First Circle atching them

“Sorry I’ve been gone so long” Gray’s green eyes blazed with happy excitement, and he didn’t look sorry at all “I asked Dae a special delivery for you I couldn’t say no”

“Gray, stop bouncing,” Ranon said

“Sorry” Gray grinned “I’lad to be ho to be around for any length of time”

“Try spending four months with them,” Cassidy muttered

Gray hooted

“When et like this, I take them to the park and make them run around until they’re almost too tired to walk home,” Shaddo said “Think that would ith him?”

“No” Gray looked around the room—and then looked under the table “Where are Vae and Khollie?”

“Outside,” Shira said

He shrugged out of his coat “Good Ranon, would you put an Opal shield around the room and a lock on the door?”

Cassidy felt tension ripple through the room “Is there a reason for this, Gray?”

“I don’t want Vae and Khollie joining us right now,” he replied

At least he was starting to settle down, Cassidy thought as everyone gathered around the table

“I did so while I was in Kaeleer,” Gray said

Cassidy frowned “I thought we agreed that ould buy our gifts froht that came from Kaeleer ould purchase at Merchants”

“We did agree, but there were sos ouldn’t be able to make in time Not this year, anyway” Gray ran a hand down her ar her to understand “I asked Daehre I met Lady Fiona and Shadow, the Sceltie Warlord who is her inspiration for the Tracker and Shadow books I know he’s the inspiration because he told me Several times We also spent soht sos”

An odd assorts appeared on the table

“I got these brushes for Lizzie, Wynne, and Keely See? Their naer over the top of several small containers, “have nail paint that can be used safely on Sceltie nails as well as girl nails”