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The bird screeched, bouncing up and doith iitation forcedto the sill

With the heavy bird on one hand, I did my best to unroll the scroll and read

However, the raptor didn’t wait It had done its duty--it had delivered its lance, it soared off h thecrack and into the sky Instantly, the ca stars

My heart steadily increased its te the note, I s, most miraculous sentence I’d ever seen imprinted on my brain

Cos

Jethro

He’s here

He’s cootten

MY LIFE WASN’T mine anymore

It was hers

Hers

Hers

I’d told her that, but I didn’t think she believed me But noas back I was alive and ready and ry She was mine to protect and adore, and up till now, I’d failed her

I should never have brought her here I should’ve had a fucking backbone and ended this when Cut killed Eht I hurt Jasmine I should’ve ended their evil the day my mother couldn’t cope

So much history, so ame--I’d waited and learned and prayed

But I’d been stupid to think there was any other conclusion

It’d taken Nila to slap e, and show hts I suffered--of torture and ruin--weren’t mine That the horrors I’d committed in the naroomed to be

I’m my own person

And it was tione

The led to breathe

Nila…

The ht cast her in silver as she padded down the s beneath the white he black coat swa around her face She didn’t run She glided over the frost-glittering grass

I wanted her to soar toShe moved too slowly Like a woman who’d lost her fire

My heart shattered as she slowly closed the distance She looked ical and mystical and far too precious to tame