Page 53 (2/2)

"They look like--" Cal hesitates, running a finger down a particularly thick ridge It shiversscars"

I pull out of his touch as quickly as I can and force myself to s, and Kilorn is there to catch o of my wrists

"What happened in Harbor Bay? What did--what did Maven do to e of a black crown burns in my mind, deep as a brand And the new scars are just that Brands His marks on me "He killed Wolliver and set a trap for us And why do you look so pink?"

Like always, Kilorn laughs at er But the sound is hollow, forced,a finger over ht, I realize as I close one eye, then the other The world is drastically different through the left, tinged red and pink by swirling clouds of what can only be blood The pain of Maven’s torture did this too

Cal doesn’t stand up with the rest of us, and instead leans back on his hands I suspect he knows , and that I’ll drop back down soon enough He has a way of knowing things like that, and it ry

"Yes, Maven slipped into Harbor Bay," he answers, all business "He didn’t make a fuss, so ouldn’t know, and he went for the first newblood he could find"

I hiss at thebut being born different Guilty of being likefor the soldier we have lost What ability did he wield?

"All Maven had to do ait," Cal continues, and a muscle in his cheek clenches "They would’ve captured us all if not for Shade He got us out, even with a concussion It took a few juh"

I exhale slowly, relieved "Is Farley all right? Shade?" I ask Cal dips his head, nodding "And I’htens "How, I don’t know"

I raise a hand to es with pain While the rest of one, Maven’s brand is very real

"It was painful, what it did to you?" Cal asks, causing Kilorn to sneer

"Her first words in four days were ‘kill h Cal doesn’t flinch "Of course whatever thatsound "A?"

Four days asleep Four days of nothing Panic chases away all h my veins like icy water Howfrom trees and statues now? "Please tell"