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Think, Vane Reround into a million pieces

But I can’t Myto die

CHAPTER 28

AUDRA

Watching Vane plummet from the sky rips me back to the past

A le of dark clothes and thrashing li second I think it’s et a better look at his face

Notrelieved--but I can’t help it

His wide, terrified eyes meet htly bound by the winds to move He’ll never escape on his own

I have to help hiht soles from the wall of the stored tree, and whips it toward round, covering my head with ed branches But the wind shifts again and I hear Vane’s dad cry out

So the gray and black of the storm I don’t understand what it is or where it came from Until another drop splattersfrom his arms, his neck, his chest Streams of red trickle from the wounds

I scream, harder and louder than I’ve ever screamed before

Vane’s scream snaps me out of it, and I command the draft I’d wrapped aroundVane by the waist and pull hi me

"Told you that was a bad idea," he ht

He’s even et that--no round and I realize I’ on me

I can’t let him end up the same way his parents did

I can’t

I won’t

I pull away frouess I blanked"

"You blanked?" He’s being too easy on himself His parents didn’t push themselves, and now they’re both dead

"Hey, I’h wind funnels like a Vane-bullet I don’t even like heights"

"You don’t like heights?"

His cheeks flush "I didn’t say I’m afraid of theet used to them"

"I know"

"Before the Storh, trying to get ahold ofyou really hard But I’ to protect you I have to teach you asyourself fro to have to practice this until you get it right"

He pales as I point to the wind funnel, still swirling away in the darkness

"Try to relax this tiest

He runs his hands down his face as he stares at the funnel "I can’t"

"You have to"

Endless seconds pass as he watches the winds swirl "Come with me, then," he finally whispers

"What?"

"Co you there will help h to re to be at your side during the fight You need--"

"I knohat I need But right nohen I’ to es inyesterday, and still trying to wrap s you’ve told me Maybe with all that, you could help --new skill I know you think you can teachme to paddle, but sometimes people need floaties"

"Floaties?"

"Those dorky inflatable things that go on your ar how to swi about

"Neverthatto do a skill that le part of my brain scream, This will be the death of uess I can’t bla his hand through this process I’ve told myself it’s because no one needed to do that for me But deep down I know it’s et close to hiet hih this No ht I’ll ride with you this time"

He stares at my hand for a second, like he can’t believe his eyes Then, slowly--tentatively, even--he twines our fingers together The familiar jolt of heat shoots uppulse

"Thank you," he whispers

I nod "You ready?"

He licks his lips and satching the winds spin and race

I think he must need another minute But then he squeezes my hand and meets my eyes "With you, I a with the war the winds launch us into the sky

CHAPTER 29