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His sudden even glance drew her attention fro her hand, so easy and natural "You’re here as a test, Elisa To see how they do around a human who isn’t supposed to be their prey I’ve purposely chosen those three because of the way they act around you Even so, you’ll stay at o run with them, you’ll stay with Tokala I’ll keep them draay from the both of you The sa Tokala or I tell you to do, without question Understood?"

"Understood" In pure delight, she seized both his hands and spun around hi up on her sneaker toes to brush his cheek with her lips "This is wonderful Thank you They’ve never had this"

He gave her a look of wry exasperation, but shook his head and tugged her onward The grass was high and whispered against her trouser legs Mal carried her basket and kept a steady grip on her to help herher there was a practical reason he’d taken her hand Still, she couldn’t entirely get her head out of the clouds

"Were you? Did you ever wear real Indian clothing, like you see in the books?"

"Hush" But after a second, he slanted her another glance "Why?"

"When I have dreas like in the history books Leggings, loincloth, beads"

"You’re still having drea lanceit was related to the mystery of why she could see his fault lines She cleared her throat "They sees like that?"

He grunted "No, I never did By the ti in a Westernization effort, trying to fit in hite society" His lip curled, and those stor the elders in traditional clothing They looked better that way"

As they crested the top slope of the hill, she saw the vehicle he’d indicated The boxlike structure on the trailer bed held the three fledglings, because she saw their s as theytheir view

"Do they knohy they’re here?" Fear gripped her as she remembered the only tiames with hu around in there like they’re on a hot tin plate" However, even Mal sounded like he was anticipating how they would react to this Seeing so it for the first time couldn’t help but affect him, she was sure For the first ti allowed out for their own pleasure, not Ruskin’s

Wistfully, she juMal with the cats, Miah curled up with a book in the front roo to that, but took her down the slope where Tokala waited, leaning against the truck At the sight of Elisa, he gave her a nod and smile, but hisaround the bunkhouse with the others In the front seat, she saw a shotgun as well as a crossbow Despite her trepidation, she understood it was a necessary precaution even the fledglings would expect

Jere closest to her Because of the height, she could see only the top portion of his face, not the unnaturally protruded fangs, so she saw serious gray-green eyes and blond hair, a sprinkle of freckles across the nose When she looked at the eyes, she saw the unusual vibrancy there, the intent focus of a predatory ani boy She had to suppress the desire to put her fingers up there, let theain, and Miah and Matthew took his place, each craning to see her

"Hello, all of you" She sht"