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"Shut up and turn it on"

I nod and activate the device in my pocket A jan to believe no one could listen in Sevro stares as me till I shift uncomfortably

"So what a his head "You are wound tight Say the na sent you You told ht you in froht She did Took sixmy layover in Triton Go on, Reap Guess"

"Lorn?" His lips curl into a sneer "Fitchner?"

Sevro spits in ain and I leave you like this" He snaps his fingers "I will not come back I will not help you I will not bleed for you I will not sacrifice h of a shit about oes both ways, Darrow This ti And I knohat I want to say But how can it be? Sevro is a Gold A bloodydamn Gold He heard me say "bloodydamn" to Apollo He covered it up Didn’t he? Or was that a ame is already over Eo’s dream has failed Who is closer to e, nasty outcast? No one

So I look hiold eyes "Ares sent you"

Silence between us

A terrible five seconds Six Seven He stands and locks the door before pulling a small black crystal from the pocket of his crumpled pants "For your breath only"

"A whisperGe how ainst its surface My breath makes it wobble, then shatter S up like fireflies out of the grass as dusk settles in deep suh holo that hovers between Sevro and me The spiked helmet of Ares

"My son," he warbles "I am sorry Harmony has betrayed you She has betrayed ainst our principles I discovered her intended use of you too late But you ise This is why I chose you Steps are being taken to curb her efforts Continue with your own Set Augustus against Bellona and fracture the Pax Solaris"

I try to ask it a question, but it is a recording

"I realize this must be difficult I have asked too much of you already But you must carry on Sow chaos Weaken them You have much reason to doubt me We have not contacted you until now, because you atched by Pliny, by the Jackal, and the Sovereign’s spies Troublemakers breed interest But I have watched you too, and I am proud I knoould be as well In case you doubt the veracity of this e, a friend would like to say hello"

Ares’s helmet fades and Dancer smiles at me "Darroant you to knoe’re with you Your fa, my friend Soon you’ll be with us Till then, trust the man Ares sent; I recruited hiht decaying into the air And I’ood for all that surgery," Sevro says His smile is no less nasty than usual "Ares sent that cripple to me The one who sent you to the Institute Dancer"

He can’t say anyI sob and hold on to hi hiht falls from my shoulders Someone knows He knows and he’s here He knows and he ca thank you Eo was right I was right "You are my friend," I tre me this way