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He spun and stor it behind hi to force the doors would be useless My anger only lasted until a fresh breeze blew in through the giant glass breast and sorew deeper still I had to figure out where Casper had come from, and more important, why he couldn’t return

16

My nose was so deep in a book on Al in the lock Panicking, I threw the thick volume out theand putto study up on his ho that would help me understand him better

"May I escort you to your prison, my lady?"

When I looked up at hi the sa tailcoat and tight breeches and high, polished boots But the stubble had grown out on his cheeks, giving hi was one of the ones I recalled fro tied up in his room

I returned the smirk "I suppose I’m bound to accept"

He chuckled darkly "Touché"

Down the hall and up the stairs, my hand felt oddly formal on his arm The sequins on his jacket were cold and hard, and I ell aware that I was still in Cora’s flimsy blue dress When he deposited me in our empty room, I felt the way I had as a little princess, sent to bed as all the adults arrived in their fine carriages for a ball It was clear that he was in a hurry to leave, but I wasn’t ready to be alone

"Is it pleasant?" I asked hi for them?"

Casper cocked his head at ’s fun when you’re forced No one wants to work at a party while other people dance But at least I still have ets too bad, I can always jump ship"

He sounded all too much as if he meant it As he took a sip from his flask, I flopped backward on the bed in a huff and stared at the constellations painted on the ceiling

"How er until we’re off this monstrosity?"

"We’ll be over Warsaw tomorrow Just a fewthat will get me back to Freesia"

He leaned over er, darlin’"

I sainst the side of the bed, feeling cooped up and irritated and anxious to get off the airship and down to the business of killing Ravenna

"Blast yourself"

I yanked up my bare feet in surprise The words had coainst the wood as Keen crawled out into the laht you slept in the closet"

"I needed some elbow room"

She stood and stretched, and I noticed that she had traded the fliear

"Back to your hoodlury and half desperate, like a starving dog

"You saw ht One of those bastards ripped it when I said no This seemed safer"

"Does Casper know?"

"About yesterday, but it happened again That other girl, Milly--the one they call Colette She likes it They give her candy and coppers if she lets theropeafter I ran away"

"So what’d you do?"

"I punched her slad to know she still had her pluck Despiteunbludded, I felt a rush of protectiveness for her If there was one thing I’d learned in the last week, it was that life outside the palace wasn’t easy for anyone And I ad to be cohtful place, you won’t be at the mercy of such villains," I said