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He watches et," he ers, like he can feel the color that pulses in my veins "I wish they wouldn’t have to paint you up every day"

My skin buzzes under his fingers, but I try to ignore it "Thatto for?"

"Farleyhis hands into his pockets to hide treers "You weren’t here"

Just s He walks to the , staring out at the night sky "She spent ets Shefor inforive I can tell by the droop of his shoulders, the tremor in his voice, that he said more than he wanted to A lot more

"Who?" My mind flies to the many Silvers I’ve met here, the ones who have been kind to me, in their oay Would any of them be a sacrifice to her revolution? Who would be marked?

"Maven, who did you give up?"

He spins around, a ferocity I’ve never seen flashing in his eyes For a second, I’ht burst into flaht We can’t sit still, we have to act And if thatto do it I won’t like it, but I will And I have"

Like Cal, he draws a shaky breath in an attempt to calm himself "I sit on councils with my father, for taxes and security and defense I knoill be ave her four names"

"Who?"

"Reynald Iral Ptoleh escapes me, before I feel eline’s brother, the colonel--they will beShe knows about the other attacks--"

"She coion and heads the war council Without her, the front will be a ion

Maven nods "My father will not send his heir to war after this An attack so close to hoht of the capital"

So her death will save Cal And help the Guard

Shade died for this His cause ishot tears threaten to fall As difficult as this ht be, I’ll trade her life for Cal’s I’ll do it a thousand times

"Your friend’s part of this too"

My knees shake, but I er and fear as Maven explains the plan with a heavy, hardened heart