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I liftedtheht hand That dahts The moss was soft on my knees and as I bowedit cascade down overso slowly the scene arounda vial tolike my body wasn’t

"Breathe, Larkspur!" Cassava growled, and the world cleared a little

I shook my head and kept my eyes closed

Someone screamed, and then a bear let out a roar that shook me to the center of my bones My eyes snapped open, but the world bobbed and juht

The scenes tuether, but I couldn’t understand what I was seeing I was dreaht ht of the sun that woke ht inwith the steady beat of my heart "I didn’t drink any wine"

"No, you did not"

Carefully, very aware that everybesideweapon across her lap A war spear with a three-foot curved blade at the end The haft was solid black and where the h the , the haft shone ale black bear lay silent, his eyes never blinking as he watched ht, and his violet eyes pegged him as one of our shape shifters I just didn’t knohich one Or why he was inyou The queen can’t control you , and what do you think will happen then?" Niah leaned forward, her face shadoith the light of theto hurtto hurt ht replayed in my mind, and suddenly I wasn’t so sure of noring my question "You have two choices, Larkspur You can come with me and you will be safe; she won’t be able to hurt you Or you can stay and face the consequences The choice is yours"

I slid"I’ my home"

Niah stood "Stubborn, just like your mother That stubbornness killed her, you know that?"

My throat tightened "It is just a drea burrowers" But even as I said the words, they sounded hollow and false toout the only tune it knew, even if it rong

The bard stood and handed acy A weapon she chose not to raise in anger, or even in defense I hope you don’t make the same mistake" She thrust it into my hands and I fumbled with it, unsure of what I was supposed to do with a weapon of that size

Niah and her bear walked to the doorway, the creak of wooden boards under the bear’s weight giving truth to the fact I wasn’t seeing things She paused, one hand on the doorfrao to the recluse on the Edge He can help you, I think"

"I don’t need help"

"Maybe not today, but today is not toes, Lark" Her eyes were pinched and full of sorrow

They slipped out of my roo away froh myI stood, swayed a little and forced myself to e of Niah riding astride the bear as they slipped into the forest I rubbed a hand over the back ofthat had happened

"I’er," I whispered to the moon, as I wished that I hadn’t told Coal to sleep at his own place Though I wouldn’t admit it out loud, even I didn’t believe er, I just didn’t knoto find out

Chapter 5

The nextlay heavier than normal in the trees, so low I could touch it with the tips of ed atthe orn, fa tan-colored pants, the cuffs bound around each ankle with a thick blue ribbon I’d woven partway upMy top wasot to the field did I realize so Si She stood, in between the freshly planted rows of seedlings, her ar with tears

I started toward her and she held up a hand "No, don’t come any closer You’re not a Planter anyround, and stood there, stunned "What do you le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true">