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ONE

Schuyler

he fireworks burst into a dazzling array of color and sound, shooting a rainbow above the London skyline as the crowd on the Victoria E of the new year Schuyler Van Alen watched the festivities from the balcony of a town house across the way in Prilowing silver and lavender against the night sky, bordered by a glittering fra the park

“It’s alht,” said Oliver Hazard-Perry as he appeared with two chalasses and handed Schuyler one with a s a crisp black tuxedo with shiny silver cuff links, and she was struck by his grown-up ravity in the way he carried himself, the newfound confidence in his step His sandy brown hair was combed back from his forehead, his hazel eyes crinkled with a few fine lines The London girls couldn’t get enough of him—his phone beeped constantly with texts to meet them for drinks at Loulou’s or to join them for yet another Pimps and Hos party at “Harry’s” Oliver had told her all about his love affair in New York, with the witch who had healed his heart and cured his blood of the longing he used to carry as Schuyler’s fa just her human Conduit, but he was still the dear boy who had been her best friend since the beginning

“Cheers,” she said, accepting the glass and clinking it against his She had agreed to the party despite hera black velvet dress that suited her Adress, she couldn’t help but think as she had slipped it over her shoulders earlier that evening It was cut with a deep V-neck, sleeveless Against the dark fabric, her clavicles were sharp lines, and she knew her ar on her left hand, and a silver circlet on her forearo

Her friend appraised her thoughtfully “You look beautiful and tragic, just the way a heroine should on the eve of battle Like Joan of Arc in her silver armor”

“Nice of you to say, although I don’t feel particularly brave,” Schuyler said, fiddling with her new short haircut, a pixie with a bit of a “fringe”—what the Brits called bangs “But ne will help” She se chill, not from the cold breeze, but fro watched Standing on the terrace, she suddenly felt vulnerable and exposed, but she refrained fro Oliver She didn’t want him to worry anythat so

She shook off her nerves, and they watched in companionable silence as the fireworks popped and the Ferris wheel spun In the months they had lived in London they’d had yet to visit any of the usual tourist spots Not that they were there to have fun—although with Kingsley Martin around, fun was never far froenda

“There you two are!” Kingsley boouests The party was his idea—rounding up as left of the London Coven, rallying the troops for one last hurrah before the end His color was high, and he was handsoly disheveled in black tie—the bow unknotted and dangling roguishly frosley to thank for the forne “Let’s meet the new year with style!” he’d insisted

Kingsley and his friends earing conical hats and tooting brightly colored horns that shot out crepe paper tongues He handed Schuyler a sparkler, and she waved it off the balcony, sharing a sht air The countdown began and they joined the Venators in chanting, “Ten, nine, eight, seven…three two one…”

The noise was deafening as the orchestra blared Beethoven’s Fifth and the fireworks exploded with cannon-sized booms

“Happy New Year,” Oliver mouthed

“HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!” Kingsley yelled, giving each of his friends a sloppy dru