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"Trauhter in her voice I drink it up "I can do that"

I start tounderbrush and dead leaves, but she stays still and tugs on my hand to pull me back

"Tarver," she whispers, her eyes on my face "There’ll be cameras all the time More questions Everyone ant to hear your story Your life will be different, no ht flickers through the trees, broken and jagged as it shines past the trunks The light glances off her face, illu her eyes for a brief, brilliant moment

I step closer "I don’t care"

"My father will try to--" She ss, then lifts her chin, ure out a way to handle hirin down at her, this steely assurance, h "I’d pay to see that shon"

She s on like she’s afraid someone will come and pull us apart "You’ll face it all withsearch party fading, the lights blurring around us until it’s just her andin the cold air She’s stolen irl in ather my wits, try to remember how to breathe

"Always"

Her sht to kiss me while you can, Major Merendsen It may be a while before your next opportunity"

Her cheekbones are still shadowed, her face still showing the signs of her weakness, but her eyes are bright too, her cheeks flushed with life once h she can’t wait to pull ain Even when she caht I’d lost her forever

I break away from her a heartbeat before the rescue parties burst into the clearing I’m almost tempted to tell them to come back later

"Why did you blow up the station, Major?"

"I could see the ships in orbit I was hoping soet-together"

"The danificant"

"Well, it didn’t seem like anyone really needed the place anymore"