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She wondered where Asa was nohether she’d ever find out what had become of him Could she even ask Nadia? Nobody else cared about de we had in coiven hi in return
Uncle Gary’sdifferent sounds It was all just soto Verlaine, but she knew same froht, terrified that at any moment he would flatline
Instead she saw Uncle Gary open his eyes
"Hey," she whispered, squeezing his hand tightly "Can you hear me?"
He nodded, then ross"
"Lie still" Doctors--they needed doctors! "Hang on, okay? I’ll be right back, I swear"
In the next bed over, Mrs Purdhy turned her head as she, too, began to awaken; Riley Bender started to stretch They were okay, too Everyone aking up--everyone at once: Nadia ht she’d never be able to feel anything again, but she’d been so wrong Her heart still had room for joy
By the time Nadia and Mateo returned to shore, Mateo had told her about what Gage had done But she shook her head when he claimed he’d broken the spell "Not possible," she said "You don’t possessSteadfasts isn’t supposed to be possible, either," Mateo pointed out His ar the beach Her entire body shook with exhaustion, and with the enormity of what she’d done If Mateo hadn’t stood by her, she wasn’t sure she could have borne it
When they went into Mateo’s ho in the living rooe had apparently left behind Verlaine was listening to Faye raptly as they sat by the fire
"A thrall?" Verlaine said through a mouthful of toast "What’s that?"
"A servant to a Sorceress," Faye said
Verlaine went very still "You mean, like a des, with motives and powers of their own Thralls are huins with love--the thrall falling for the Sorceress, then going to bed with her Once they’re bound by sex, then the Sorceress can take over his will as absolutely and often as she wants" Then Faye saw them and smiled "You made it"
"Yeah" Mateo’s eyes met Nadia’s, but only for a second He tried to irl of his dreahtmares"
"Before we bury the lede here--Nadia, you did it!" Verlaine flung her arms around them both "Oh, Nadia, you did it! Uncle Gary’s just fine"