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Telling Chris had been unavoidable A necessity

Telling Roland and Sarah … not so much

But Marcus and Roland were like brothers Ami didn’t think it fair to ask Marcus to keep the truth froether And it would be nice if she could cultivate a close friendship with Sarah, as a friendly, feminine face in this sea of testosterone Ami really liked her

"That’s not an easy question to answer," Seth stalled Perhaps he was uncertain as well Or h she didn’t think he would intrude

Roland’s broered in his typical scowl "How difficult could it be? A si everyone’s attention, "not now"

To Ahtfully "As you will"

Seth consulted his watch "It’s half past noon already We need to head over to David’s so you can gear up in the protective suits"

"Oh, hell no," Marcus objected "Those suits chafe like hell I’ll just wear the regular sun-protective clothing"

"Me too," Roland agreed

"It won’t be enough," Seth countered

"It blocks 98 percent of UVA and UVB rays We’re old enough that that will do," Marcus insisted

Seth shook his head "It’s midday, and we don’t kno much time you’ll have to spend in the sun while Ami tracks down the lair You’ll either wear the suits, or I’ll replace you with the d’Alençons, on’t bitch and h of relief There were probably just as many open fields in North Carolina as there were pockets of forest She didn’t want to watch Marcus burn and blister if they ended up having to cross several of them to save time The odd rubber suits would protect the ith when they reached the lair

Nevertheless, thea circle so Seth could teleport all of theaze and rolled her eyes

Aood friends

"All right then," Seth said, resting a hand on Alad Seth had insisted he wear the damned rubber suit

They started out in a van Seth drove since the sun pouring in through the front windshield wouldn’t harer seat, Anature (Marcus wasn’t quite sure how that worked) and gave Seth instructions

Head west Now northwest Noest again

Throughout the long drive, Marcus sat on the bench seat behind her, one gloved hand stretched forward to clasp her shoulder, lending support and, frankly, needing the contact while Roland’s eyes bore holes in him

When the road ended, all of them clambered out and trailed after Ami’s small fors bathed in blinding sunshine

Did Seth always have to be right? It really got old after a while

So does everyone around , Seth’s save hier

Golden rays warmed the rubberMuch like a ski mask, it covered his hair, face, and neck … pretty lasses shielded those Miniscule holes allowed air passage into his nose andand drowning in sweat The day was unseasonably war to make this more uncomfortable Like a child, he had wanted to ask at least a dozen ti better Just walking beside her and holding her hand eased solove and feel her soft cool flesh against his

Shade once more wrapped its welcoain A collective sigh of relief swept through the group

Ahtened around Marcus’s "We’re getting close," she whispered

"Only silence beyond this point," Sethto flank Ami’s other side

Frohten his hold on Sarah’s hand and carry it to his lips for a kiss despite the heavy material that separated them

Ami took the lead, Marcus and Seth just behind her Roland and Sarah brought up the rear

A half hour later, A a Glock 18 with her right hand, she touched the fingers of her left to her right wrist, then sighted down the barrel to the northwest, indicating the eneh those trees, she h Marcus and pooled in his groin She had never spoken to him telepathically before, and the feel of her in his head, her war his neurons, ht then and there

Focus, Seth intoned

He ht as well have thrown a bucket of ice water on Marcus

Right Focus Noas not the time

But later he intended to ask her to talk to hiain

File formation, Seth spoke in their heads and took point position