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A gasp escapesinto a smirk "She flew the others to Cancorda, and should be back soon But until then, you should rest"

"I’ve rested for four days You rest," I fire back, reaching over to shake his shoulder He doesn’t budge underdead"

"So" Kilorn’s tone is light, and another , but I know better "Whatever Maven did to you can’t happen again"

The memory of white-hot pain is still too near for h it once ht of what neer Maven holds Even Kilorn, always twitching or pacing, is still He glares out the , at the wall of oncoot any ideas in case she runs into that thing again?"

"If I’ht need some water," I say, suddenly aware of my parched throat Kilorn all but juin

"I think it was a sounder device Modified, of course," Cal says His eyes stray back toup and down ain, as if they hold soent part of me wants to push hi hts His touch is soothing, physically and emotionally It’s proof that someone else is with me I am not alone in the abyss anyo They spit out radio waves, and wreaked havoc with the Lakelander ships Made it impossible for them to communicate with each other, but it did the saers trail lower, following one gnarled branch of scar tissue across my shoulder blade "I suppose this one throws off electrical waves, or static, in great h to incapacitate you, to ainst you"

"They built it so quickly It’s only been a few days since the Bowl of Bones," I ht shatter this fragile peace

Cal’s hand stills, his pal before the Bowl of Bones"

I know that now I knoith every bleeding breath So my back so I can bury my face in my hands Whatever wall I put up to keep theinto dust But I can’t let it bury me I can’t let the mistakes I’ve made bury me When Cal’s warmth wraps around ainst h e wouldn’t do this back in the cells of Tuck We are nothing et you killed But , until our bones are woven together The fire is dying, flames reduced to embers But Cal is still here He will never leave me

"What did he say to you?" he whispers

I draw back a little, so he can see With a shaking hand, I pull on the collar ofhim what Maven did His eyes widen when they land on the brand A ragged M burned into ht set ain

"He said he was a h to draw his gaze away from my newest scar "That he would always find h The only person Maven has to save entle hands, Cal pullshis brother’s mark "We knew that already At least noe truly knohy"

"Hmm?"