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"How?"

She throws up her ar little thing So e It rin--if only to infuriate her more

"That’s ridiculous"

"You’re ridiculous" She pushes herself up fro "And rude"

"I’ in the bloody woods for you I carried you five h a monsoon Does the Queen also not say ‘thank you’ when a man helps her?"

She crosses her ar it feel like she’s looking down at h I’m a foot taller

"No, she doesn’t It’s an honor to serve me, soyou’re welcoot balls Good for her It’s more than I can say foralong already"

The voice comes from behind me--a voice I knoell aswith the haughty Queen rush froram first reached me, I toldhe would do--use dark humor to lure me home But now, as I look at him, I know every word of it was true

And it’s like the floor falls away beneath my feet

Because my baby brother is here in front of me, but at the same timeit’s not him Not the him I remember, not the hi oldpushed by Michael

Only his eyes are the same, behind the lenses of the thick, dark frareen mischief With life

"Hello, Edward"

It’s been three years since I’ve seen hi near Jao down toso th, my health To make this better, now that I’m here, now that I’m hohten up Then he turns his attention over my shoulder

"What happened, Lenora?"

There’s a staff member at each arm as she takes tender steps up the stairs

"Just a little nity and controlled coet reacquainted Don’t wait for ht"

"Stay off your feet," I say, the words naturally coet some ice on that ankle"

She nods stiffly Her eyes dart tonot to look, but just can’t help herself

I watch her go until she turns the corner at the top of the stairs and Thomas touches o to the study We have a lot to talk about"

Horatio brings e of clothes In the study, Michael pours us three brandies, then takes the seat beside my brother’s wheelchair, close to the fire

Thoood to have you hoood to be home, little brother"

"Liar You hate this place with the heat of a thousand suns"

I shrug "Maybe only a few suns now I’ve e"