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I frowned at the odd note in Kiandra’s voice Ilianna didn’t immediately reply, but her expression had clouded over She looked… wary Scared

"Ilianna," I immediately said, "you don’t have to do this We can find another way"

I , but I didn’t want – in any way – to put her in a position that would give the Brindle some sort of hold over her Because I suspected that as involved That her staying there, creating ic, would be a step onto a road and life that Ilianna had fled when she was a teenager A path that Zaira had said, not so long ago, would find her daughter again

"Are these stones really necessary?" she asked eventually Her voice was even, but her expression was still troubled

"The Raziq snatched ht to know exactly ere all facing "They threatened to not only kill everyone I care about, but hosts If these stones don’t work --"

"Heaven help us," she finished, then nodded "Fine Once we unravel the energy i Mirri, I’ll help the Brindle h of relief Iliannaonto that path, but better that than her being dead Or worse, a ghost "Thanks, Ilianna"

She nodded "Anything else?"

I hesitated "Yes, but it doesn’t iven you can’t really leave Mirri --"

"Just tell me what you need," she cut in, voice flat "If I can help, I will"

"We need so circle"

She frowned "I do not think I could spare --"

"You do not need to," Kiandra cut in "I’ll send one of the fifth-year trainees They will bea trainee at the Brindle didn’t ic It was quite the opposite, in fact Witches came here to hone their skills and to become both a master and a teacher I knew it took at least ten years to reach thesomeone pretty damn proficient

"Thank you, Kiandra"

She nodded without looking at us "Ilianna, I believe Rozelle is available But look after her, reaper, or I will be displeased"

Azriel bowed, the al "You have ht uided me back out the door "Has there been any word frori but fire in his future"

"He’ll pull through this He’s stronger than you think"

"I hope you’re right" But her expression said that I wasn’t

And ht Maybe there wasn’t any future for hiive up I wouldn’t, not until every single option had been explored and abandoned

We went back up to the next level and into a section that I knew fro quarters for the witches stationed here Rozelle was tall, pretty, and looked all of twenty Which ic proficient at a very early age, or she was in theuntil they were at least thirty

Ilianna explained ere and anted, and Rozelle bounced up froical bits and pieces and carefully placing theo"

Her ware of excites had been a little slow here at the Brindle lately I gave Ilianna a hug, then said, "Keep strong We’ll all get through this, I pro Because she knew, like I knew,to pan out

Not even, I was beginning to suspect, fate

Azriel transported us, one at a ti rapidly and wavering a little as she reappeared "That’s certainly a novel way to get about Not soh"

"Yeah, sorry," I said "But we’re on a tight deadline and it’s the quickest way to travel"