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"You’re early," Raiden said when she stepped back

"I "

He huffed "What happened to, ‘If I eat another fish, I’row scales’?"

She waved her hand "That was last year, when all the otta ad it for thirty days straight"

"That’s a lot of claan said as he pried open another one and scooped out the insides

Heli moved closer and inspected his pile of shells "You’re already a pro What else have you been doing?"

"We’ve been practicing ourready for the big battle" Teegan kept his tone casual, but she spotted the tension in his shoulders

While only fourteen years old, he ell on his way to becoh he didn’t have as ic yet When they’d rescued Valek and Yelena, Teegan had kept her safe froh the air, since she had to be close to the action to see where to focus the calan asked

"Notabout my parents or family?"

"No, sorry"

He wilted It had to be hard not knoas going on She squeezed his shoulder before helping him with the rest of the clams

Soon everyone except Helen had asse to Raiden, she was at a critical point in the orb-ed into plain gray tunics and pants Their black hair dripped water There was no doubt the tere siblings, and their resemblance to Valek, their older brother, was uncanny Both had sapphire-blue eyes and angular faces, but Zethan smiled more, so he didn’t appear asintense as his sister

Zethan gave her a friendly hello, while Zohav’s expression darkened orry Once everyone settled around the fire with a bowl of chowder in hand, Kade asked Heli to repeat her an asked her "No reason e need to move?"

"For your safety"

"We’re safe here," Zethan said "I’ unless they need us to help"

"The only scenario that makes sense is that the Cartel is aware of your location," Kade said

"So what? I’d like to see theh enthusiaso to the Citadel and gather an said

"And walk into an ambush?" Zohav asked "If they knoe’re here, then they’ll be watching for the perfect opportunity"

"It’s not like I’ his spoon into the chowder White drops splattered onto his tunic