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"Does that have soarues froo pants and button-down shirt He tossed theed aside and then peered at the coarse mounds of ain She slipped into the shadows and pulled thee on her, but warmer and easier to move in She rolled and tied theain

She stepped back toward the firelight The Outsider was sitting where he’d been before He had on a dark leather vest, similar to the kind boys wore in Gladiator Realms Another navy blanket like hers was rolled up at his side

He took quick stock of the adjustments she’dto a row of jars he’d set by the fire "One’s filled ater"

"Aren’t we leaving?"

"I’ve seen the way you h the dark We’ll sleep now and travel by day"

He lay down and closed his eyes as if that were that

She drank soe rainy, sticking to her throat, and the constant swirl of anxiety in her stoainst the cold granite The soles of her feet throbbed She was sure she’d never be able to sleep

The Outsider didn’t seem to have any trouble with it She could look at him more closely now that he was asleep He was covered with imperfections A faded blue bruise spread over one cheek,the one she’d seen on his ribs Pale scars hashed sh the scruff on his jaw His nose was on the long side and had a bend toward the top, where it had probably been broken ladiator

The Outsider peered at her Aria froze as their eyes locked He was hu soulless about his bright stare Without a word, he turned so he faced away from her

Aria waited for her heartbeat to settle Then she tugged the blanket over her shoulders and lay down She kept an eye on the fire and the Savage, not sure which repelled her rew heavy and it occurred to her how often she rong She would sleep

Even now Even here

Chapter 14

PEREGRINE

Perry woke at first light, second-guessing his deal with the Dweller Hoould she make the harsh journey with the cuts on her feet? But she was probably right He doubted she’d survive the ti for certain: She’d need shoes

He tore off the first book cover with an i with a startled yelp

"What is that? Is that a book?"

"Not anymore"

She touched the device over her eye a few ti and skitty Perry looked away The eyepiece was disgusting A parasite And it reminded him too much of thethe other leather cover off Then he took his bag and knelt in front of her He lifted her foot, pushed the bandage aside

"You’re healing up"

She sucked in a breath "Let go Don’t touch me"

The cold scent of her fear caes of his vision "Steady, Mole," he said, letting go of her foot "We have a deal If you help ?" she asked, looking at the ripped covers Her pale skin had nearly gone white

"Making you shoes There aren’t any in the supplies You can’t travel barefoot"

Cautiously she gave him her foot Perry set it on the book cover "Be still as you can" He took Talon’s knife and traced the outline of her foot with the tip of the blade He was careful not to touch her as that triggered her panic

"You don’t have a pen or anything?" she asked

"A pen? Lost it about a hundred years ago"

"I didn’t think Outsiders lived that long"

Perry looked down, hiding his face Was that a joke? Did Dwellers live that long?

"Are you a shoe?" she asked after a moment "A cobbler?"

Did she think this hat he’d come up with if he were? "No I’m a hunter"

"Oh That explains a lot"

Perry didn’t knohat it explained other than that he hunted