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"These are names of the Irina and children from the retreat nearby," Rhys whispered He pointed to one near the top "This was Evren’s wife"

Ava stifled a cry Hundreds of names followed that first one Colu over theer of two hundred years

She felt rage bubble up along with a priht in her throat, and her hands clenched, her fingernails digging into her palms till she could feel the skin break and the blood run She felt powerless Strangled by her own pain By Rhys’s pain By the pain lurking beneath every face she’d seen She shook with it, knowing she was crying, but the tears weren’t enough

"Ava?" Rhys’s voice seeht?"

Don’t speak Can’t speak Never speak again

Shaking her head, Ava pulled her hair and closed her eyes She dug her fingers into her temple, relieved by the bite of pain Her tear-filled eyes rose to the wall of names, but there was only silence

And Ava knew

These were her people And they were gone

"No," she whispered

The shivering took over, starting in her chest and spreading to her limbs Her ain and rocked

"Ava?"

She felt Rhys’s hand on her shoulder He tried to put an arm around her, but she shoved him back

"No!"

"Ava, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have--"

Rhys broke off at the unexpected cry of grief that ca her soul didn’t have the words to express Ava leaned against the far wall, staring at the ive out She felt locked in a pain she couldn’t escape

And then she felt hi down the hall

Closer

"What did you do?" he shouted