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Lights flicker over her head, the only indication of rip on the jet controls Likehis best to keep cal it so difficult Why couldn’t Jon send us ato tell us how you escaped that prison" Lady Blonos would be proud ofto tell us what it looks like, where the cells are, where the guards are, where they keep the Silvers, the newbloods, and everything else your re nail Is that clear?"

She flicks one of hershe can ainst her many belts and straps "What’s in it foryour mouth and you leave all those prisoners to their fate" Jon’s words float back to"To die, or face worse I’uilt I know too well

There’s a slow pressure atme know he’s there A brother in blood and arms, another to share in victory, and bla, as any rational person should, Carier than before Her face darkens, a thundercloud of eot the stones to say that You, who abandoned so many after you sentenced theh He slams a fist onto the arm of his chair It echoes bluntly "That wasn’t her order--"

"But it was your fault You and your stupid band of ratty red rags" She tosses a glare at Farley, cutting off any retort shewith our families, our lives, while you ran and hid in the woods And now you think you’re so everyone you think is special, who’s worth the lightning girl’s precious ties I bet you don’t even see what you’ve done to us" The blood rises with her anger, coloring her cheeks in a dark, lurid flush I can’t do much more than stare "Newbloods, silverbloods, redbloods, it’s all the saain Some who are special, some who are better than the rest, and the ones who still have nothing at all"

Sickness rolls inwave of dread "What do youone over the other You’re on the hunt for people like you, to protect theht your war Not because they want to, but because you need theht? You don’t care about the spark plug"

The lights flicker again, faster than before I feel every revolution of the jet engines, despite their blinding speed The sensation isto turn newbloods into weapons, which will end inexactly what they did" She points her bound hands at Cal They shake with anger I know the feeling, and try to hide the tre falls on deaf ears, drowned out bythis "An age ago, when the Silvers were new When they were few, hunted by the people who thought they were too different"

My hands grip the edge ofsolid Control Now the jet whines in my ear, a screech to split bone

We bounce in the air, and Gareth yelps, clutching at his leg "Ca to her belts They unsnap in rapid succession "If you don’t shut yourself up, I will!"

But Caer, foras far as her straps will allow Before I know it, I’m on my feet, my balance unsteady as the jet sways I can barely hear her over thearoundher belts with striking precision She ju intowill sit the throne you built hi tears inside me It’s the barrier between huotten the jet, the altitude, and everyone else relying onthis brat, of showing exactly who and e’re trying to save When my fist collides with her jaw, I expect to see sparks spread over her skin, dragging her down to the floor

There’s nothing but my bruised knuckles

She stares, just as surprised as hts return to normal and the jet levels out The whine in my head abruptly cuts off, as if a blanket of silence has fallen overwith brotherly concern "Are you okay? What’s wrong?"