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Kilorn’s voice sounds different, older The longing ache in my chest returns

"Mare saved every one of you from prison or death She risked herself every time she walked into your cities She’s not perfect, but she’s not a monster, not by anyto look at me "I have seen monsters And so will you, if we leave newbloods to the mercy of the queen Then she’llleft of what you are, and no one alive to remember what you were"

Mercy, I almost scoff Elara has none

I don’t expect Kilorn’s words to haveThe rest look on him with respect and attention It’s not the saed with fear I’eneral to them, a leader, but Kilorn is their brother They love him like they never could Cal or even me They listen

And just like that, Cameron’s victory is snatched away

"We’ll turn that prison into dust," Nix rurip is too tight, but Kilorn doesn’t flinch "I’ll go"

"And me"

"And me"

"Me too"

The voices echo in my head More than I could have hoped for volunteer There’s Gareth, Nix, Ada, the explosive Ketha, the other invulnerable wrecker Darmian, Lory with her superior senses, and, of course, Nanny has already pledged to co The silent ones, Crance, Farrah, Fletcher, and the illusionist Harrick, fidget in their seats

"Good" I step forward again, fixing theest look I can muster "We’ll need the rest of you here, to keep the kids fro happens"

So Another raid, an all-out attack, what could becohter of the ones I’ve tried so hard to save But staying behind is less dangerous than going to Corros, and they exhale sighs of quiet relief Cameron watches them relax, her face twisted in envy She would stay with them if she could, but then ould train her? Who would teach her how to control her abilities--and use them? Not Cal, and certainly not me She doesn’t like the price, but she’ll pay it

I try to look at the other volunteers in turn, hoping to see determination or focus Instead, I find fear, doubt, and, worst of all, regret Already, before we’ve even begun What I would give now for Farley’s wasted Scarlet Guard, or even the Colonel’s Lakeland soldiers At least they have some shred of belief in their cause, if not theh for all of us I irl they need Mare can wait

Diain

"I’ll need you to walkbetween Ca illusion of Corros Prison "The rest of you, eat well and train as best as you can When the storm lets up, I want to see you all back in the yard"

The others snap to attention, unable to disobey As I learned to speak like a princess, Cal has always kno to speak like a general He coood at, it’s what he was meant for And now that he has a , all else fades away Even me Like the others, I leave hiainst the faint light of the illusion, as if it has bewitched hi his illusion alive