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Then I put my hand over my heart, and reached my broken hand toward his chest He went as still as a deer that hears a wolf in the forest I covered his heart with my hand

"Friend," I said

He looked down at ers, then up at ain

He closed his hand around th I think he ers in a death grip

I nodded, trying not to sho ht change his ers a final squeeze, and then let go I exhaled the breath that I had been holding and stood up Sa lost

"Do you know the way to Amarantha’s castle?" I asked him

He looked puzzled

"Faerie castle?" I tried again There was no reason for him to know the queen’s naestured toward Gabriel "Can you carry your brother?"

Salanced at Gabriel in surprise, then back at

"Same father," I said "Ramuell"

Sa happy faine what itup in the Forbidden Lands with an insane angel for a mother and a ain, and gently lifted Gabriel into his ar tenderness on his face

He s the first blossoet this show on the road," I said

That hen Beezle flapped into the clearing, looking corip on Gabriel and stood in front of me, as if to protect me

I putat my face "It’s okay Beezle’s a friend"

Samiel looked doubtful, but he stepped aside

Beezle landed on a tree branch, looking super grouchy "What in the four hells has been taking you so long? I’ve been looking for the stupid Maze for the last two days"

"Two days?" I said I hadn’t realized thatfor iven me up as a lost cause"

"Don’t be a dork, Maddy," Beezle scoffed, groo iven up on you yet"

I blinked and felt a tear rolling down et all sappy about it, all right? I’m here noe’re reunited, I knew you would succeed, yay And who’s the big fella holding on to Gabriel?"