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I almost take a third ration packet, as Cal hasn’t eaten since the Colonel locked hilance toward the back of the jet stillswith an open panel, putting on a show of fixing so that isn’t broken He quickly zips himself into one of the uniforht suit The tattered clothes of the arena and execution puddle at his feet He looks more like himself, a prince of fire, a warrior born If not for the distinctive walls of the Blackrun, I would think us back in a palace, dancing around each other like e emblazoned over his heart, a black-and-red es Even fronize the dark points, twisted into the irandfather’s, his birthright Instead, the croas taken in the worst way, paid for with his father’s blood and his brother’s soul And as , the throne, and all it stood for, I can’t help but feel sorry for Cal He’s lost everything--an entire life, even if that life rong

Cal feels aze and looks up from his busywork, still for athe outline of his stolen kingdom In one sharp twist that makes e flickers in his eyes, deep beneath his caler always bubbles to the surface, glinting between the cracks in his orn s of the jet can caliving race Silence hangs over us like a dark cloud as we pass the canteen back and forth, sharing a very strange family dinner on the floor of a twice-stolen Blackrun

"We did the right thing, didn’t we?" I whisper, hoping for soh he’s only a year older than me, I’ve always relied on Shade’s advice

To my relief, he nods "It was only a matter of time before they threw me in with you The Colonel doesn’t kno to handle people like us We scare hi the averted eyes and whispers of everyone I’ve encountered thus far Even in the Hall of the Sun, where I was surrounded by impossible abilities, I was still different And in Tuck, I was the lightning girl Respected, recognized, and feared "At least the others are nor at the mention of them "Gisa too, and the boys They’re true Red so he can’t--he won’t do anything to thehtful bite of his rations, a flaky, dry bar of compacted oats It leaves crumbs all over him "If they’d helped us, it’d be a different story But they didn’t know anything about our escape, so I wouldn’t worry Leaving the e did"--his breath catches, as does mine--"it was better for them Dad would’ve helped otherwise, Moh to the cause to escape any suspicion Not tolike this off" He pauses, thoughtful "I doubt even the Lakelanders would like throwing an old woman, a cripple, and little Gisa in a cell"

"Good," I reply, relieved ever so slightly Feeling better, I brush the flakes of his ration bar off his shirt

"I don’t like it when you call thewith us We’re different, yes, but not wrong And certainly not better"

We are anything but normal, I want to tell hiht, Shade," I say with a nod, hoping he won’t see through hs and finishes his dinner in a ?" He chuckles, releasing his grip on n a smile, for his benefit, but Cal’s heavy steps quickly wipe it away

He strides past us, stepping clean over Shade’s extended leg, his eyes fixed on the cockpit "We should be in range soon," he says to no one in particular, but it sends us into action

Kilorn scrambles away fronores hi else For now, at least, their animosity takes a backseat to the obstacles ahead

"I’d buckle in," Cal adds over his shoulder, catching my eye as he sinks into his own seat He fastens his safety belts with detached precision, tightening each one with quick, hard tugs At his side, Farley does the sa Not that I --I can only i looks like

Shade is proud, but not stupid, and lets me help hiether weOnce he’s up, Shadebuckled into his seat with a crutch under one arm I take the seat next to him, with Kilorn on htly, and grips his restraints in griely safe when they tighten againstpiece of metal It’s true, but, at least for the next few minutes, life and death depend solely on the pilot I’ for the ride

In the cockpit, Cal busies hi the jet for whatever co his eyes froht It sets his silhouette on fire, illuers that could be his own flames I’ matches, when Cal ceased to be a prince and became an inferno Back then I was shocked, surprised every tier I can never forget what burns beneath his skin, the rage that fuels hi they both are

Anyone can betray anyone, and Cal is no exception

A touch at ainstin midair and his face quirked in an a to my head

Yes, Kilorn, I still have ears, I want to bite back But then I realize what he’s talking about Four stones, pink, red, deep purple, and green--s The first three are frole set split between Gisa and iven when they conscripted into the arood The last one is froe of doom, before the Scarlet Guard attacked Archeon, before the betrayal that still haunts us all The earrings ith , from Bree’s conscription to Maven’s treachery, and each stone feels heavy with , the one thatdown the hard edge he’s gained over the last few rave"

"Let’s keep the grave talk to ahis restraints again