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“No, absolutely not,” I denied

“Then you lied?” he asked

“No,” I answered “But I can’t give it when I’ain “And make no mistake, Prince Noctorno, I… am… peeved”

“You’re peeved a lot,” he observed

“Learn froht back

He chuckled

I gritted my teeth

Then I heard it

My head snapped to the left and I peered into the trees at the sah his lips

“Cora?” Tor called and my hand shot up

“Sh!” I hissed and listened

There it was again

“Pull back on the reins,” I ordered

“Pardon?”

There it was; I heard it again!

“Pull back on the reins!” I shouted then kept shouting, “Salem, stop!”

Noctorno pulled back on the reins and Saleer?” Tor whispered in ht at ie”

Then I broke from his arm, slid off the side of Salem, landed on my slippers and immediately darted around the front of the horse and ran toward the trees

“By the gods, Cora! Stop!”

I didn’t stop Instead, I shouted, “Aggie! Aggie, is that you?”

I kept running and heard the hooves of a horse and the boots of a ie!” I screa was halted by an iron arm around o!” I yelled, pushing at his arround out in my ear, “don’t ever –”

“Chirp, chirp, chirp,” I heard faintly and I knew it meant, “Cora, help ged me toward Salem who’d run off the road with Tor and I

“Tor!” I cried desperately, tipping ainst his ar ie!” I yelled

Tor stopped and stared down at lethorpe! The bird!”

His brows shot together “The what?”

“Bird!”

“Chirp,” whichWe have to do soot up on tiptoe, leaned in and begged, “Please!”

He stared into rabbedie!” I called “Chirp for us, sweetie, so we knohere you are”

I listened Nothing