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I felt Sabara, deep down inside, stirring restlessly

Her, she whispered, and I could feel herher as a possible host

I staggered backward, falling over ht

She should stay away froerous

Maybe deadly

In the corridor, I cru the fact that Zafir was there, as always He offered no consolation, just stood aside while I clutched my knees to my chest and cried into the hollow space

"Charlaina," Niko’s voice tugged ated away froelina had froerscircles

"What are you doing here?" I asked, lifting my face to his "Why are you always around?"

Zafir turned his back to us, affording us all the privacy he could e

"I orried about you, Charlaina I wanted tonored the hand he offered ot up on my own "Why don’t you say what you mean?" I keptit’s me you’re worried about and just say it Say that it’s Sabara you want to protect Call me Sabara"

He reached foror to steady me, but I ripped it away from him "Don’t touch me," I hissed

He lifted his hands in sub about Of course I’ine what you’re going through, howconflicted you must be It’s hard on me too"

I whirled on hi yourself? Is your identity being co the people you love?"

"Yes" His voice broke, and this ti in his face, so in his eyes, reminded me--or her, I couldn’t be sure--of the hter, still and lifeless His hand closed the distance between us, his fingertips brushing againstthe person I love"

"Don’t touchintheed h I took the step toward him of my own accord, until our bodies were just a heartbeat apart

I shookto keep hi," I whispered

He stilled, as if turned to stone "You can’t"

Sabara felt it too, the truth inlike a toxic flower Dread rooted and spread, pricking me with its nettled thorns