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"No," I said I found it unthinkable that Ellen would do such a thing When it caer need to defend her than I did my own mother "She loved Tucker, and she would have nome"

"And you once believed that your sister loved Jackson, and that she’d never want to hurt you either" That stung, especially since he was voicing my own repressed fears "Listen to me," he said, with an anxiety that I’d never heard before in his voice "If Emily is truly dead--and I still think that’s questionable--ould have reason to kill her? Who was harmedin Tillandsia all these years? Who knew the truth about the power generated by the group? Who would have the power to turn those saainst you? Who else is a strong enough witch to turn that Ryder buffoon into a collector?"

"All right Stop" No longer caring that I ht be seen, I crossed arden, Eed to attach himself to arden to see if anyone was home, but we had the place to ourselves

"I ask that you consider what I’ve said Whoever gave the order to cause the dome to fall could at best be considered indifferent to your well-being Perhaps you are correct in your convictions Perhaps Ellen is an innocent"

"She is"

"If that is indeed the case, then you should question why Oliver is so eager to get his hands on the power that has been built up by Tillandsia"

"He wants to use it to help Maisie," I said,in my voice "That’s his only interest in Tillandsia And what do you have to say about Iris?"

"Well, your aunt is aDon’t you think it is possible that she may in some part blame you for that? No, it may be that your aunts and uncle love you and want to protect you, but are you willing to bet your life on it? Your child’s life?"

I considered his words Yes Yes, I would betmy family, at least what remained of it, in spite of Maisie, in spite of Ginny, and in spite of ainst them But no, I could not, would not, risk little Colin’s life by betting on any of theht I can’t take the risk" There had been too many lies, whether well-intentioned or no "I’m afraid there’s only one person I trust that deeply" His black eyes warht "I’ about Jilo"

He covered his disappoint to look as if he had just learned an interesting clinical fact "Then we shall request her assistance"

"I’ could frighten Jilo, but she had been terrified by what had happened with the gray rainbow "And I’"

"The old wo you ask," he said, and then added, "I think you are right to place your trust in her" He crossed the garden and leaned over to touch the rose quartz in the flowerbed It glowed as brightly as a lightbulb "If I cannot dissuade you froht, then I propose we do what your uncle suggested, what your mother requested Reach out and take control of the power of Tillandsia We’ll do it without your family We will do it on our own"

"Okay, and then what?"

"We drain the power from Tillandsia and store it elsewhere, put it in our pocket so to speak, for use e have a clearer vieho is pulling the strings and working against us We use it to protect you Then, once we knohere we stand, I will not interfere with you retrieving your sister, assu that there is power, and that we can access it, hohere could we store it?"

"Your friend Jilo has vacated her haint-blue cell She designed it to hold energy"