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A girl stands beside him. Very close beside him. Her fingers are curled loosely around his forearm while she says something near his ear. He doesn't move away.

Another girl passes behind him and deliberately brushes her hand across his shoulder. He glances after her. She smiles.

Oh. One of those. Wonderful. Caelen notices where I'm looking. His mouth twitches. No. Absolutely not. "Don't." I say.

"I didn't say anything." He says lifting both palms on each side of his head.

"You were about to."

"I wasn't."

"You have the face."

"What face?" He asks.

"The judgmental one."

"I have several." He smiles.

"I know."

We reach the group. Caelen gestures toward the wolf first. "Dax Thorne." The wolf lifts his glass.

"Vaelith." I say. "Eirea."

"I know."

"Apparently everyone does."

"Your father terrifies half the continent." Dax says.

"Only half?" I ask.

"I like her." He says to Caelen.

"Everyone says that at first," Caelen mutters. I elbow him. The Medusa girl extends her hand.

"Maelis Serrane." Her dark curls are threaded with tiny golden chains that shimmer whenever she moves.

"Eirea." I answer.

"I also know."

"Wonderful." The siren raises her glass.

"Lysandra Mirelle. Lyss if you don't want me to hate you." She smiles.

"Noted."

The boy with the champagne glasses manages to keep all three balanced while offering me an awkward nod. "Tavian."

One glass immediately falls. Dax catches it. "Fucking impressive."

Tavian looks offended. "I almost had it." He wines.

"You absolutely did not."

And then Caelen turns toward the balcony. "Rhyven." The dragon rider doesn't look up. Caelen waits. Nothing.