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"I’rand, Gabriela"

Mom blushed at Donovan’s accent I had to admit, it was pretty hot I lived for the times he said ‘eh I paused what I was doing Pretty et it" I cut through the house to find my cousins Claudia and Raphael on the porch

I never saw the on?"

"We just wanted to stop by and wish you a happy birthday" Raphael wore his usual khaki shorts and flip-flops His black hair was cut short, and he rubbed his hand back and forth over the top of it as he spoke

That was a surprise I didn’t think they knehenthe door wide and waved theot here just in ti Her hair was pulled back in two braids, like always She wore a flower-print sundress "Felicidades"

"Is that Claudia?" Mom asked from the kitchen

"Yes And Raphael"

Mohting candles"

I cringed "Oh, we’re not doing the whole singing thing, right? Because that’s really not necessary We can skip straight to the cake part" I hated getting sung to It was e" Mom pushed me into the kitchen "Get in there," she said as she slapped ht," I said as I rubbed ot back in the kitchen, everyone started singing I wanted to shrink into the ground I’d never had so azes and stared at the cake When the song was done, I leaned down, made a wish, and blew out the candles

Dastien pulled me into his side while Molanced up at him "I can’t tell you That’d nullify ht?" He squeezed ave him what I hoped was ht?" Raphael asked, dragging me back to reality

I wasn’t sure how I should answer the question La Alquelarre--the coven--had been pretty pissed about Dastien biting h, no ht They’d even helped ave a small nod and I took that as the okay to tell "The fullour bond"