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Vane would never want me if he knew I’m the reason his parents are dead I’ because I chose to save Gavin’s life--a bird Vane hates Then I lied to hi per I’m to blame

And hoould I have explained to the Gales if I bonded to Vane? Stole their king? With Vane’s potential for power, they want to make sure he’s bound to the royal line, so our people will have confidence in our world once again Co Trust the Gales

Plus, Solana’s a Southerly, and her bond will be a softening influence--should the power of four go to his head

If I interfered with that, I’d be banished for such treason Permanently branded a traitor

No, it has to be this way Even if my treacherous heart still scalds the inside of my chest

I’ve burned so many different ways for Vane

Guilt

Desire

But this is the worst

The scorching heat of loss

I dive into the pain, let the fire consuer

Water may have weakened my body--but it didn’t weakenI a my pendant with one hand My other hand rubsthe headache caused bythe intricate style The hair is divided into five equal sections, and the four outer strands are twisted and folded around the central strand, to represent the way our lives are inseparably bound to the four winds Even the men wear a variation of the braid It’s a physical display to show that we live not for ourselves, but for the service of the winds The service of the guardians

I’uardian

My plans have been turned inside out and ripped to shreds, but my purpose holds true And I will honor that purpose With everything I have

But I have to figure out what to do about Vane We still have to train together, and judging by how hurt and angry he looked as he left, that’s going to be a challenge

Spots flicker behindtogether Holding on to each other

I scrape together the last of s away

I can do this

I just need to get used to it And Vane clearly needs the night off So tonight we’ll take our space Give ourselves ti No harm can cos

Vane has a rebellious side I’ve seen it flare against even --and this is ht do in response?

I can think of one thing that would be very bad

Irreversible

I curseover fallen branches and pushing s harder than I’ve ever pushed theone

Quick and catlike, I scale the nearest pal on the wobbly branches at the top I don’t care if anyone seesfro yet another disaster, I undo the buttons ofit to the ground, exposing as much skin as possible I closefor Vane’s trace with each cell of e in the draft’s tune, as though the wind ran into a friend and added new notes to its song to carry away theit too loudly--like I did when I called the Northerly I attacked Vane with--and have it carry our trace permanently But even silent contact leaves a faint trail The draft only carries it until it finds so else to chant about and drops the tune Before that, anyone listening can pick up the trace and follow it to the source

I read traces better on the winds of rove Most carry no sign of having seen either of us But when I listen near Vane’s house, I find a soft breeze singing of the jarring blur of motion caused by someone on the run

That has to be Vane

I call the draft torush knocksto the ground A nearby Southerly saves me from a painful fall, but when I’m safely on my feet, I can’t calm my tremors

It’s like I’ve taken in a small part of him, a fractured piece he left behind

Almost like a loss

I have no idea if that’s possible--or what it means if it is--but I’ll worry about it later For now, all thatVane I have to track hi we’ll both regret

Already running, I call the nearest Northerly and spin the wind around h," I whisper, catching ust sweepssun les of Vane’s trace tell ht to him

I just hope I reach him in time

CHAPTER 33