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She wrinkled her nose. “That one doesn’t look particularly happy. It looks like it wants to eat us.”

Kahn grunted at the very fair assessment. “It can start with Isaacs.”

She snickered and elbowed his side. “Behave.”

His heart expanded in his chest, the same way it always did when he made her laugh. It felt like he’d won at life.

A disembodied human voice came over the loudspeaker. “Okay, everyone! We’re ready for pictures with little Geen and his parents…”

“His name is pronounced Guy-ahn.” Ty corrected towards the ceiling.

The voice kept talking. “…and with me! His favorite animal. Who’s come to wish him the hap-hap-happiest of happy birthdays!” A human dressed in a chicken suit came waddling out from a back room, ready for cheers.

No one cheered.

Cross looked at Job. “That’s not a vulture.” He said with a perfectly straight face.

“We didn’t have a vulture costume.” The human glowered at Cross, as if his life’s work had been impugned. Kahn recognized him as Steve, the flower delivery boy. (That little shit was everywhere in this town.) “The only kinds of birds we’ve got are this or a penguin.”

Tharsis reacted like that was the funniest thing he’d ever heard.

“Penguin, penguin, penguin!” Mannus and Daven chanted in support of Randa’s cake.

Sensing (incorrectly) that the crowd was now with him, Steve plastered on a huge grin. “Time for some hugs!” He spread his fuzzy wings and looked around. “Where is our birthday boy?”

Everybody pointed towards Gion’s imposing figure and dark scowl.

The teenagers’ eyes widened in terror.

“Hugs, hugs, hugs.” Isaacs sing-songed.

“I will kill you.” Gion vowed. It was impossible to know if he was talking to the human threatening to hug him or Isaacs. Maybe both.

Sullivan wasn’t taking any chances with the kid’s life. “Steven, go home.”

The human gulped. “But this is my side gig, Chief Pryce. I’m supposed to be running the party for my uncle.”

“Home, Steven. Before I tell your mom who really stole her barbecue grill.”

Steve fled as fast as his chicken feet could carry him.

“We didn’t get pictures, yet.” Tharsis complained. “Thanks a lot, Sully.

Ever the peacemaker, Julius waded into the fray. “Why don’t we open some gifts?”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.” Tessie pointed to a box that looked like it was wrapped in poisonous leaves. “Open Isaacs’ first, so we can move it far away. It smells rancid.”

Randa winced. “That’s not a good idea.” She whispered to Kahn. “Gion really might kill him. It’s probably either kidnapped butterflies, a severed head, or tampons.”

Personally, Kahn was willing to risk Isaac’s life, but the jackass was devoted to his Match. He supposed that meant he had to protect Isaacs from his own suicidal stupidity. “Tessie?” He caught her eye. “I’d pick another one.” He made a slashing motion across his throat.

She got the hint. Of course she did. She’d met Isaacs. “Right. Um… How about Thar’s present?”

Tharsis brightened.

“What is it? A paintball gun?” Nia, Thar’s twin, arched a brow. “We all know that you only ever buy people gifts that you want to play with.”

“Everyone likes paintball, you heathen.”