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I point the spike at the Stormer’s head

"Put it down, son, and I’ll make this a lot easier for you," he tells me

"Or," I say as I stand Audra tries to stand too, but her legs collapse I step in front of her, shielding her "How about you leave now and I won’t run you through with this?"

I hold the edge of the spike out so he can see the way it glistens along the edge, like a real sword

"It’s fun to watch you play soldier But you forget that I know your kind I’ve been with Raiden for all the Westerly interrogations Violence isn’t in your blood, boy"

"Your partner ree Or he would if he weren’t dead" My voice shakes on the word and ht for control

The Stormer falters Then he shakes his head "If that’s true, it must’ve been an accident You think you have the stones to stab round?"

My arrins "Typical Westerly So let’s stop pretending there’s even the slightest chance you’ll do any harm with that toy"

"It’s not a toy," I shout, getting seriously pissed The callous way he talks about the ive me the weapon," Audra orders She can barely hold out her hand, but I know she irlfriend wants to play too And I’ood on her threats--if she weren’t half dead right now" He winks at Audra "Don’t worry, we’ll get you the rest of the way before the day is over"

Soled roar erupts froirlfriend" The Storht at his heart--assuru of words I can’t understand and whips out his arle around me like a lasso I slice them with my spike and they unravel

He frowns "Like I said, your toy is quite iirlfriend live"

"Don’t even think about it, Vane!" Audra shouts

I ignore her "How do I know you won’t kill her the second I’uess you’ll just have to trust rowls Then, with a blur of rabs the windslicer froe and slash it The sword explodes, peppering the ground with tiny needles

"I can do this all day," I warn hi ive you h If you want a deal, you’ll let me launch her safely out of here in a pipeline and then I’ll turn et up Trying to stop me

I move away from her Closer to the Stormer, careful to keep the spike trained on hiet, I’ve watched your kind let us torture their wives--their kids--and do absolutely nothing to stop us You’re gutless weaklings by nature Nothing changes that"

He staresI won’t Can’t It’s all a ga

I raiseit between his eyes "Let Audra Go"

My hands shake My voice shakes But I mean it

"I’m done with this!" he yells

His body’s a blur, his next words ato kill Audra Break ht left to resist hi back, almost like it’s attached to someone else It’s easier to think of it that way

It’s so the weapon at his heart Soht point in the toss So squish of flesh and blood

Someone else

But it’s et the question out of my head--the one I don’t want to know the answer to, but have to ask anyway

What have I done?

CHAPTER 54

AUDRA

I scream as I claay to Vane’s side It all happened so fast, I couldn’t tell who fell first, or why

He’s not dead He can’t be dead Please Be Alive

My hands reach him then, and he’s still war But he’s alive

Tears fill my eyes as I search his face, his chest--everywhere--for blood, a wound He’s perfect No injuries

Then I see the Storged angle Thick, syrupy blood strearate and float aith the wind His eyes are glazed His mouth twisted in a snarl Cruel even in death

My storoans

It hits me then Vane did this

A Westerly did this

I pull hi to cal I wrap ainst him as I can to warh to meet mine

He shatters into sobs Low, deep wails of pain and terror

I pull his head against ht as I can, afraid if I let go he’ll cruether

The stor back the sun Nor of hope and relief But Vane still feels like ice

How long can he stay like this?

"It’s okay," I whisper "It’s okay You didn’t do anything wrong"

He groans into "

He shakes his head, and the hter

I can’t i I’ve never killed anyone--and I’ Help hiain? Bring back the funny, obnoxious boy I’ve grown to love?

Love

I haven’t let myself love anyone--not since my father died