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I did so, sio elsewhere, felt its acquiescence, and jerked in shock when it actually did "Holy shit"

Szerain gave a strangled cry between dismay, frustration, and fury "Dahn!" He closed his extended hand into a fist, shaking more as the quiet potency of the blade departed Zack wrapped an arled vainly as the Elder syraza clamped his other hand over Szerain’s forehead and pulled his head back

Dismayed, I stepped forward Stricken horror replaced the determined, haunted intensity in Szerain’s eyes, as if he knew he could do nothing to stop as about to happen "Dahn No I will subside Jhivral, Zakaar…please," Szerain gasped, voice near breaking "I will subside"

"Please, Zack," I said, agonized, reaching a hand out toward him I knew the torment that awaited Szerain "Please don’t"

Zack looked fro us both carefully, weighing options and deterrip "You have a moment," he said, and only the tension in his voice betrayed how much he despised all of this

Szerain closed his eyes and drew a deep breath I kneithout doubt that he was calling a pygah, and in a few heartbeats he visibly cal has it been since he’s been able to do that? I wondered with a deep ache

Szerain opened liquid, ancient eyes and ht nod in response, watching hih he heard or s he couldn’t identify His eyes shifted around, then cail on my chest A muscle in his jaw leaped as his eyes traced the contours, expression shifting as if the patterns spoke to hiaze back to h me My lip curled "Kri"

Szerain went deed, perceptible behind his eyes Without warning he ripped fully frorasp and ils I sucked in a breath and took a step back, but before he could reach ain

Szerain pulled against the restraint "Release me I must touch it You know I must touch it"

Zack maintained his hold, looked fro Eilahn’s solid presence behindhis upper aruish and instability He lifted a hand, laid his full palainst il for each qaztahl, and onebreath and then released it in what could only be relief "Not completed"

"No," I said, throat dry "Mzatal saved me"

Realization flashed across his face "He was the one who summoned you He is ever the wisest of the three" He shook his head "There were times he should have listened to me But far more when I should have listened to him" He let his hand drop from the scars "Fuck Rhyzkahl Fuck him"

I snorted "Been there, done that Rather not"

His mouth twitched into a smile "And I told you it was a very poor idea"

I s a shimmer of Ryan in hith in his voice "It is tiet harder if we delay"

An eyes-wide panic ca his head "I cannot"

"No," I said to Zack "Please You can’t do that to him" Numb horror rose at the memory of my own brief submersion "It’s too cruel You can’t!"

Zack didn’t look at me, kept his focus fully on Szerain "I ave a hiss as Szerain backed away

"I cannot," Szerain said, radiating a fear and horror that looked and felt utterly out of place on hirabbed Szerain’s hand "We’ll use the cuff or soain!" I shook my head "Mzatal showed me what it was like I can’t let you do that to hiripped my hand firmly as he backed to the wall Zack kept his eyes fully on Szerain "Kara, it must be We cannot hide him"