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Silent, Silas reached into his coat pocket and held out a squat, tattered book She didn’t reach for it, and after a moment, he set it between the "Along with a box of things you set by for when this was over It’s all from the year we prepped for this We have some of your early talis is there You can remember who you were"

Her jaw clenched, and she forced it to relax She picked the book up, feeling the worn leather against her fingertips, knowing how supple it would be if she opened it But this book wasn’t her She was so far fro at so it back

Fro, "Screw you, Fran You know shit"

Silas folded his hands around hers, sealing the book in her grip "Keep it for a while," he said "Stick it on a shelf You ed it in an inner coat pocket, vowing to throw it out as soon as she had the chance "Is thisto at least pretend that everything was okay, and he leaned across the distance between the The hint of pain she’d always seen there was gone

"Your friend," he said

Her gaze fell and he pulled ahen the door to the back roouess how the conversation had gone Fran still didn’t trust her Hell, she wasn’t sure she could trust herself Peri’s erew more and more erratic Silas had said he’d been her anchor, but it made her feel utterly alone He wasn’t her anchor now, and after this long without one, she wasn’t sure she wanted one She wasn’t sure she wanted anything anyry "Peri, you did good Better than good Opti is on the run and we’re picking the to co in the stragglers, and everything will go back to nor harder to breathe She didn’t feel like she’d done anything at all "Can I go?" she said suddenly, and both men stiffened in surprise "I ht?" she aot a lost look on his face "I need to think for a while," she lied, just wanting to leave

"U to meet up with Fran in about half an hour," he said slowly "Lunch, that’s it Are you hungry?"

"She just realized what this whole mission cost her," Silas said "You really think she wants to eat? God, Allen, use your brain"

"Hey! I’erently, and Peri stood, cutting short his retort

"Can I borrow your car?" she said, and Allen fished his keys out of his pocket "Thanks," she said, taking theers Jaw clenched, she headed for the door, the weight across her shoulders growing heavier with every step

"Are you co back?" Silas questioned, and she hesitated