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Star’s thug barreled though the woods Not far fro the treetops My heart raced Iwith my cloak Sword raised, he hunted for me

When he was belowhis back with my feet We fell hard I rolled away and stood before he could recover, then kicked his sword frorabbed ht pressed on top ofme trouble" Then he pressed his thu, I plucked at his arms before I remembered my switchblade I fu to snow The srasped the handle, pulled it out and triggered the button

The snick of the blade caused fear to flicker in his eyes For a ed the knife into his storowl, he increased the pressure onh dizziness and pain, I jerked the weapon out and tried again This time, I pointed the tip of the blade up toward his heart Thethe knife in farther, and finally collapsed

The deadth, I rolled his body off of me

Dazed, I wiped my switchblade clean in the dirt, found my bow and went in search of Star

Twoe settled deep ina layer of ice aroundHer red hair blazed against the dark gray background of the forest dusk Night would soon be on us

She made a small noise of surprise when I stepped clear of the trees Peering through the gloo to my skin When she saas unhar for her goon

"He’s dead," I said

The color drained fro note entered her voice

"No, we can’t If I let you walk away, you’ll only return with more men If I take you to the Cos I’m out of options" I stepped toward her, my body frozen with dread The others I had killed in self-defense during the heat of battle; this would be difficult--this would be premeditated

"Yelena, stop!" someone called from behind me I spun One of the Commander’s soldiers stood with a sword in his hand As he ed the distance between us

He nized my battle stance because he stopped and sheathed his sword Pulling the wool cap off his head, he let his black curls spring free

"I thought you had orders to stay at the castle," I said to Valek "Won’t you be court- days were over," he replied as he exa His crushed windpipe had suffocated him "Tell you what If you don’t tell, I won’t That e can both avoid the noose Deal?"

I jerked my head at Star "What about her?"