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"I never knew you were such a coward," Vane says, whipping each word at --more than he can know Mainly because they’re true I’ht the Gales to be with him

I choke back h "When I told you to make him love you, Audra, I didn’t mean you should fall for hi at him "Your mother put you up to this?"

"No It wasn’t--I’m not" I send Gavin to find a perch so I can shoveit in ht Enough said In fact, I’ll make this really easy for you"

He stalks away, and when he’s vanished into the darkness, my mother approaches me Her face is painted with sy, Look how Audra screwed things up again

"He’ll lick his wounds and get over it No per a hand on my shoulder

I shove her arht to suddenly act like a lovingBut the thought of Vanehe’s so to care

"Been a rough few days?" ainst the cold base of a windmill

"You could say that"

"Well, unfortunately, it’s only going to get harder" Her handthe intricate blackbird "There’s another reason I’m here--I just didn’t want to say it in front of Vane Didn’t want to worry hi to ask a follow-up question I’ her control the flow of our conversations

She closes her eyes and reaches up, waving her hands through the air "There’s so unnatural in the way they work So much unrest in the winds"

Pain seeps into her features and she doubles over, hugging her legs as her whole body shakes and a faint groan slips through her lips

I’ve never seen the winds affect her so strongly, and by the time I realize I should probably try to steady her, shield her--like htened up But her arht be sick

"I don’t knohat anything I’ed breaths "But I think it’s safe to say we’re in for quite a fight"

"Then ency call"

"No!" Her sharp tone echoes off the wind the blackbird on her cuff, like she’s trying to caluardians--how many times do I have to tell you? They’re spread too thin as it is You have no idea"

She starts to pace,in and out of shadows as she does "I can’t believe Vane didn’t have the last breakthrough You should have pushed him harder"

"Any harder and he’d be dead I forced three breakthroughs in twenty-four hours--and the winds alht him to the west and surrounded him with Westerlies He even breathed part of one in--but it pulled him so deep into his consciousness he al hirabs my shoulders "You released hisinto ift, all those years ago "Why?"

Her lips part, then freeze She lets go of ht that was our last chance Thatthat would help hie But if you released his h"

Her voice fades away

I rubto keep up withmoods I’ve never seen her so unstable She seelint athim here?"

She turns to face e, I followed your trace, but it ledin such a"

"Hovel?" I finish when she doesn’t

She nods She looks atin her expression I’ve never seen before Takes ret

"You couldn’t find anywhere better?" she asks after a second

I shrug Honestly, I didn’t look I didn’t need cos her hands "Well, I saw Gavin there, andI thought maybe it was time to

I know the ether and con language

"Were you really prepared to make the sacrifice?" she whispers

"I h to ers rub so hard at her cuff I’m surprised bits of black don’t flake away

"What?" I finally ask

"Nothing Justyou really are your father’s daughter"

The words feel warm

That’s all I’ve ever wanted to be

"You tere always like the clouds and the sky--a perfect pair Soed in the mix"