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loud explosions faded into the distance as she watched the lights and colors dance across his face. He smiled and bent to kiss her. It didn’t matter that her aunt, uncle, and grandfather were all there. She had to ring in the first minute of the New Year by kissing him and she was pretty sure they’d understand that.
    All guilt and embarrassment faded away as she became lost in the feel of Aiden’s lips. He tasted sweet, like a wonderful mixture of chocolate and marshmallow. Somehow it tasted infinitely better on his tongue than it had on hers.
    An elbow poked Eren in the ribs and someone next to her cleared their throat.
    “ Uh, guys, even my parents have stopped kissing,” Fane whispered.
    Aiden drew back and Eren dropped her head, hiding behind her dark hair. She could feel several pairs of eyes heavy upon them. When she looked up she found her grandfather and Uncle Alin giving Aiden a very serious look. Aunt Sylvia laughed and the tension dissolved.
    “ Relax boys. The New Year’s kiss is an age old tradition meant to bring love and happiness the whole year,” she said.
    While the men’s looks softened, the words weren’t enough to take the blush from Eren’s cheeks. She had no idea they’d been kissing that long.
    “ Time for an age old tradition we can all enjoy,” Fane said as he pulled his sweater over his head and dropped it. An orange glow emanated from his skin, making his blue t-shirt look as though it glowed from within.
    Having no idea what he meant, Eren’s heart sped up. The anxiety didn’t try to trigger her channeling, her control had become too good for that. But, it did make her uncomfortable.
    “ What?” she asked.
    “ The first dance of the New Year, of course! Will you join us, Aiden?” Zolin asked.
    Aiden looked shell-shocked for a moment and then a smile spread across his face.
    “ I’d be honored,” he said.
    Holding hands, Alin and Sylvia turned and ran for the west side of the roof. They leaped over the snow-covered hedge and disappeared. All that lay below was the alley that ran behind the store two stories down. Grandfather and Fane followed. Mouth agape, Eren ran after them, stopping at the hedge. She rose up on her toes and peered through a gap in the bushes. They were all standing in the alley, Fane beckoning up to her.
    “ How will we get back up? I don’t think I can jump up two stories,” Eren said as she turned to Aiden.
    He pointed to the two-story building that lay across the alley. It was easily a twenty foot gap.
    “ You can jump on top of that building and make the jump across to here,” he said.
    It looked like he had thought this through, which meant he had thought about how to sneak over and see her. Mouth agape, she turned to give him a wide-eyed look. The huge smile and wiggle of his eyebrows was all the proof she needed to confirm her suspicion.
    “ I don’t know, Aiden. I’ve never channeled in front of anyone but you,” she whispered. What if she ruined her clothes?
    Sighing, Aiden took both of her hands in his. A flush spread through her as he fixed those gorgeous hazel eyes of his on her.
    “ It’s time to change that, E. I’ll be with you,” he said.
    He was right. She had to start getting more comfortable with what she was. Nodding, she let go of his hands, dropped the blanket, and turned toward the wall. After a deep breath, she crouched and leaped over the wall and hedge, clearing it effortlessly. Wind whipped her hair back as she plummeted two stories. Like she and Aiden had practiced, she projected her power toward the ground, using it like a cushion to slow her descent.
    Light as a feather and almost as quiet, she landed in the alley, her knees bending to absorb the slight impact. A heartbeat later Aiden landed beside her.
    Everyone glowed with energy as their power buzzed below their skin. Coats lay in a pile on the doorstep but, thankfully, everyone was fully clothed. Relief flooded through Eren. She had so not wanted to see any