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Cate led him out into the hall "You didn’t have to, and you never need to"

He started down the stairs

"Hey--" I called Lia back up to look at me "Be careful"

His blue eyes flicked back and forth between Cate and o, fro his familiar shape as he stepped outside and closed the door behind him No car, no one to watch over, no one to help He was completely free

And he looked happy Sure of himself, at least His feet instinctively knehat direction ho there

Lia the house and stepped onto the sidewalk He flipped the sweatshirt hood up over his head and glanced both ways before jogging across the street I watched hirow smaller and smaller with each step

All the world will be your eneht, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you But first they er, listener, runner, prince with the sarning

Be cunning and full of tricks, and your people shall never be destroyed

Cate cah my hair "You’ll be happy with us," she said "I’ll take care of you"

I drew the gauzy curtains shut,over their silky surface I watched her for afor the tell that would reveal her lie I wondered if she still thought I was the girl she had carried out of Thurmond, who had cried the first time she’d seen the stars

Because she didn’t know that there were two ofI would now have to be One of riest part, would stay with theseinto their shape But there was another, secret Ruby This one was as thin as a wisp of air, and had struggled for so long just to be This was the one that Lia The one that would ride in his back pocket, whisper words of encourageht

For the first time in months, I heard Sam’s voice whisper in my ear: Don’t be scared Don’t let them see

I turned from the , and I didn’t look back