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"What tribe’s he from?" Perry asked
Roar took another drink before he answered "I don’t know He has the look of a northerner" He glanced her way Did she look like she was froet it out of him Wherever he’s from, believe me, I’d love to send hiets the better of him But don’t expect much from his company"
Roar handed her the black bottle "It’s called Luster You’ll like it, trust me," he said with a wink
"You don’t look very trustworthy"
"Looks can be rinned "I’ve known hi else to the core"
Aria froze She’d seen a glimpse of Perry’s smile earlier when he’d heard Roar, but now she saw it in full, directed completely at her It was lopsided and punctuated by canines that couldn’t be ignored, but it was this fierce quality thata lion s at him She took a hasty drink from the bottle Aria sputtered into her sleeve as the Luster rolled down her throat like lava, spreading heat across her chest It tasted like spiced honey, thick and sweet and pungent
"What do you think?" Roar asked
"It’s like drinking a caood" She couldn’t look at Perry She took another drink, hoping this one would go doithout all the hacking Another wave of fire seeped through her, heating her cheeks and settling war to keep it all to yourself?" Perry asked
"Oh Sorry" She handed it to hi hotter
"How’s Talon?" Roar asked "And Mila? She and Vale have any luckTalon a brother?" His voice held a hint of wariness beneath the lighthearted words
Perry sighed and set the bottle down He ran a hand over his hair "Mila got worse after you left She died a feeeks ago" He looked at Aria "Mila iswas my brother Vale’s wife Their son is named Talon He’s seven"
Blood rushed in Aria’s ears as she put the inforether This was the boy taken by her people Perry was trying to rescue his nephew
"I didn’t know," Roar said "Vale and Talon must be in hell"
"Vale is" Perry cleared his throat "Talon’s gone I lost hi his fingers behind his neck
Even by the soft candlelight, Aria saw the color drain from Roar’s face "What happened?" he asked quietly
Perry’s wide shoulders drew together like he was containing so it trapped inside hilazed and red In a hoarse voice, he told them a story Aria had been part of but had never heard Of how he’d come into her world for medicines, to help a sick boy A boy who’d been kidnapped by her people He told Roar about their deal Once Marron fixed her Set Talon back and Lu Aria into Bliss
They sat in silence after he’d finished Aria heard only the stir of leaves when a breeze swept past Then Roar spoke
"I’m in We’ll find them, Perry Both Talon and Liv"
Aria turned her face toward the shadows She wished Paisley was there Sheher friend at her side
Roar muttered a soft curse "Prepare yourselves Cinder’s back"
A few moments later, the screen of leaves rustled then parted A boy stood in the gap, his eyes dark and feral He was shockingly thin No y clothes He had fair skin Nearly as fair as hers, Aria realized
Cinder dropped beside her with a thuhso loose that Aria could see the way his collarbones stuck out like sticks
Cinder’s gaze roaue "What are you doing out here, Dweller?" he asked suspiciously
He sat too close Aria scooted back "I’m on my way home To my mother"
"Where’s she?"
"In Bliss It’s one of our Pods"
"Why did you leave?"
"I didn’t leave I was thrown out"
"You were thrown out but you want to go back? That’s baruessed by Cinder’s expression that baruess, when you put it like that"
Roar tossed a piece of bread onto the ground "Take it and be gone, Cinder"
"It’s all right," Aria said Cinder ht and where would he go? Out there by himself? "He can stay It’s fine with me"
Cinder picked up the bread and bit off a piece "She wants me to stay, Roar"
Aria could see his jawboneup and down as he chewed "My name is Aria"
"She even told me her na," Roarat the bread with hiscrude on purpose
"You’re right," he said "I think she already changed her mind"
"Shut your mouth, Cinder"
"How ah"
Cinder’s s to do? Stop feeding me? You want this back?" He held the half-eaten bread out "Take it, Roar I don’t want it anymore"
Perry reached out and plucked the bread from his hand