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Kirsten’s eyes widened Dashiell was glowering at h he wasn’t human at the moment, I could easily translate his expression This better be worth it, or you’re dead I just hoped he didn’t mean that literally

Dashiell rose from his chair and turned to address the restless audience "Ladies and gentleument or complaint, "there is a matter which requires my immediate attention We will take our break early, and resuh the crowd, but no one dared contradict Dashiell in any direct way The vae toward me, and Kirsten and Will followed

Five ated in the sa room where Kirsten had prepared her spella laserlike stare on Jesse, as if hethey took Hayne, who’s still alive, but you don’t kno to find hiht?"

Jesse nodded He’d already explained stealing the witch bags and his difficult trip through the wards and the guards The vanized Jesse from a previous trip to Dashiell’s house--three years isn’t much in undead time--but the olf had tried to restrain hi Jesse claih to steal one of the witch bags that protected the wearer from olf infection Of course, now that he was close to me, all his protections had shorted out I had already decided not to let hiht while ere at the theater

"The only thing I can’t figure out is, why Hayne?" Jesse continued "In theory, Hayne could let this guy into the mansion, but you and Beatrice are both here, so what could he hope to gain? And it’s not like you’d trade Hayne for Katia, right, because he’s just a human" Jesse seemed to hear how shitty that sounded, because he winced "I can’t believe I just said that--uh, Kirsten?"

I looked at the head witch Her lips were pressed in a tight line, but her skin had gone red and fat tears were rolling down her face She was practically shaking with the effort to keep it together, and I could feel her ic flex involuntarily inside my radius

Jesse shot me an uncertain look "Hayne and Kirsten are ether," I ether, but they have a toddler"

"Oh Oh," Jesse looked exactly like I’d elbowed him in the stomach "I’m so, so sorry, Kirsten I didn’toff his apology, but she couldn’t handle speaking yet

Will was looking at Dashiell "Would we?" he asked quietly "Would we trade this boundary witch to get Theo back?"

"We would undoubtedly pretend that illing to exchange the hostages, in order to get close to this va "Which is why he won’t ask for a trade, especially considering how much we outnumber him"

Jesse blew out a breath, frustrated "Well, unless he’s just trying to kick us in the nuts, I’ no idea why he took Hayne Ulance at Kirsten

When it hit me, I stupidly clapped a hand overobvious and yet I didn’t want to be true They all turned to look at me

"Scar?" Jesse asked

"I knohy," I whispered, forcing myself to put my hand down "They don’t want Hayne They want Molly"

Chapter 31