CHAPTER 45

  Raleigh:

  "I'm giving you five seconds."

  "No."

  "Four."

  "No."

  "Three."

  "No."

  "Two."

  "Lucien, no!"

  "One."

  The covers flew open and Lucien pounced. We tumbled off the bed and onto the floor, and while my back ached slightly from the tumbled, I ignored that in favor of clawing at the ground. Lucien held firmly at my waist, pulling me up with him.

  "Lucien!!! No!!!" I whined. I grabbed a pillow and smacked him on the head.

  "Hey!" He cried indignantly.

  Momentarily distracted, I slipped from Lucien's grasp and while he pulled the pillow from his face, I crawled to the bedside table, standing up and running to the other side of the room.

  Why don't you want to go, Raleigh? Lune asked quietly in my head.

  I scowled. No, Lune. I'm not going down to that meeting to make a fool of myself. I said firmly.

  Lucien leaped over the bed and almost grabbed me, but I spun around and ducked away.