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"Supposedly, Daelissa is still helping the Teer "Even though we’re no longer allied with the new members Unfortunately, without Daelissa, it means those who don’t already have supernatural abilities or iet any"

"Is the Cho’kai the sa as the cere her head "It’s a test of courage and ability If you pass it, then you go through the initiation" She quirked her lips "I don’t knohat they plan to replace it with"

We’d discovered Daelissa wiped thethem their superpowers She’d wiped Elyssa’s ainst n a date Half the ti the Cho’kai until you’re halfway into it" She dipped a banana in yogurt and ate it, excite in her eyes "It’s always different too It uy--" Her s if I’d ruined the ht take too long," she said "I--I don’t want to spend time apart from you"

I narrowed el?"

"I don’t want to risk --" she choked up "If the potion doesn’t work If you don’t unlock your powers, I don’t want to lose a single precious moment with you" A tear trickled down her cheek

I didn’t even want to consider Meghan’s potion not working, but kneas a risk "The Cho’kai is so important to you," I said "It’s your dreaest Te life with you, Justin Nothing else is more important"

I wiped the tear from her cheek "Listen to me, Elyssa I love you I want you to be happy If you don’t take the trial just because of o forth and kick ass" I sive el powers"

Uncertainty clouded her eyes "I don’t want to take the chance What if--"

"It’s going to work," I said, sle of bitter cold bita bluff

"Look, it doesn’t est ever," Elyssa said "It’s no big deal I’ll tell them to wait"

"Don’t put your future on hold foruilt

"How many times do I have to say that you’re an iet it? You’resoht about this a lot, and I think it all boils down toto make my father proud But you’re more i to feel a little frustrated "But, you’ve given up a lot to be with me, Elyssa I want you to do this for you"

"But--"

I put a finger on her lips "We’ll beat this," I said "I knoill And now that we have more time, I want you to seize this moment and make it yours, babe Don’t do it for your dad, or forher lips against mine so fast, I hardly had tilistened "When you say things like that, it reminds me why I love you," she said

"My cheery attitude?"

A smile lit her face "You just always see You help s for ives us time…" her voice trailed off "I would never leave you for a minute otherwise"

"Not even when I have to use the potty?"

She snorted "Oh, babe, you’re too o practice or so?"

"Yes" She pecked one, rin faltered, faded, and fell I’d really wanted her to coht thing, supporting her even if I missed her like crazy And I sure as heck didn’t want her thinking the potion ht not work She deserved her chance at the Cho’kai after pouring her heart and soul into the Teo and look like a freaking puppy who just crapped the bed," Shelton said, grabbing his duster and slapping a brio"

He wasn’t Elyssa, but at least I wouldn’t be alone "Thanks, Shelton"

"C’rabbed his car keys

Shelton drove us to the Grotto and parked next to a pink Ferrari with fluffy yellow seats As alked toward the ticket booth to purchase a ticket for the Obsidian Arch, I noticed what looked like an undulating jellyfish circling the parking lot I’d seen such a creature before in Bogota, Colombia at the Obsidian Arch way station at La Casona

"Minders," I said, with a shudder "What the heck are those doing here?" The creatures looked like so they fed on people’s thoughts and could make people see whatever they wanted, uard duty in the Grotto before