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ADEN STOOD IN FRONT OF THE witch She was sitting in the same chair as before, only she’d scooted herself across the room as she’d screamed about a drainer She wore a blindfold, but this one was a different color than the one she’d worn before Had she ed to destroy the other one? Why else would someone switch them?

Her ties were different, too Had she tried to escape? Almost succeeded?

She was paler than before, her skin almost…yellow Her cheeks were more hollowed There was a brittle quality to her hair now, as though the strands had lost their shine and had dried into hay Before she’d hummed with power Now…not so much She could have been a hu her, that kind of thing But she had to be uncomfortable Miserable, actually And he felt bad about that He really did He didn’t like that she was suffering, bored, stiff, uncertain, scared, but more than that, he didn’t like that his friends could die because of her and her kind

"I’ to drain you of anything"

Her panting breaths echoed between them "You’re the Summoner" Even her voice was different Weaker Raspier

"Yes" If only he could tary beasts, none of this would have been necessary "What are you so afraid of being drained of?"

Don’t engage her, Elijah instructed Just do your job

"Your blood?" he found hi Dryly uttered

"As if you don’t know so you can and has--"

Riley entered the sainst the closed door, snarling, "Quiet, witch We gave you a chance to share You refused Now, you can deal hatever’s done to you"

Caleb, highly agitated since seeing the witch in such a weakened condition, prowled through Aden’s head, huffing, puffing, and noling at the wolf She can talk if she wants to talk! Aden, man, you can’t leave her like that You have to save her

What’s with you? Julian asked Save her?

Look at her She’s sick She needs help I know I helped come up with our current plan, but that was before I saw her like this

"We’ll save her," Aden lanced up Victoria stood across from him, behind the witch "Ready?" he ht with nerves

"Save who?" the witch de to save you Not after everything you’ve done"

Aden! You wouldn’t tolerate this kind of thing if your va to give up Let the witch go Now Please

Why do you care so much about this witch? Elijah asked And really, even the others From the time they approached us and cast their death spell, you’ve been as drawn to theonized reply I just know I don’t want her hurting

Aden suspected the witches were part of Caleb’s past Plus, this witch had stiffened when he’d uy who could possess other bodies "Maybe we can find out," he said After all, he kinda needed Caleb’s cooperation for this And he had promised to discover who the souls had been when they’d lived He’d promised to help them with their final wish, to send them on, even if he would miss them terribly, even if he noanted to keep them "When we’re inside, we’ll search for inforainst her bonds "What are you planning? What the hell are you planning? If you hurt me, my sisters will hunt you down and curse you with pain, such terrible pain They’ll curse your fa up and doith herto hurt you," he said But really, she’d already threatened to punish him no matter what happened, so her newest threat missed its e her past? What if that change destroys her?

"We’ll be careful, but we have to do this Tick-tock on the deadline, you know? There’s no other way"

A pause, then, Fine Do it But don’t injure her in any way

Aden took offense to that "As if I would" Not purposely "You know me better than that"

"Know you better than what?" the witch snapped

Ti out, he reht of the roo Aden cupped her chin and forced her attention on his face

"Relax" The azesinto the witch’s He expected pain, had braced hiainst it, but there wasn’t even a flicker of disco that had happened to hietting better at this Maybe Caleb had done everything in his power to keep Aden fro pain because, if Aden had felt it, the witch also would have felt it the moment they linked to her, whether she are of the link or not

Now seeing through her eyes, Aden took stock His wrists and ankles were bruised and cut fro at the rope His muscles were stiff "Freewith so Riley strode to hi, and slashed at the ties Aden pulled his hands into his lap and ed his wrists When his feet were freed, he stood His legs were so weak they aled to walk around the roo blood flow

She wouldn’t know he’d done this for her, but she would feel better

"Thank you" As he walked, he let hisaway Unlike with Dr Hennessy, he didn’t see static He saait There was that thought again Static He must have entered Dr Hennessy’sabout what had happened there How long had he stayed? Why couldn’t he recall?

Don’t think about that now