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So the E at the twenty-one icons on the backs of her hands I’ll pass The ainst Richter as a one-way ticket I didn’t expect to walk away unscathed from a murderer who leveled mountains and bled lava

And I’d never stop until he was dead "Gran, would you rather that I live happily for a few months or be miserable for hundreds of years?"

"We don’t have time for silly questions," she said, exasperated "Your iods You will be the winner Youto pulsate all around us "And why shouldn’t you win? You’ve already made brilliant plays Your alliance is well-picked for the ust of wind spattered rain against theHer eyes darted toward the glass "The Flash must have weakened her Her attack on the Eth with every single drop" Gran ain "At least that little Fauna will be easy to reined threat to Lark The vines on the ceiling skittered Enough "I need you to understand sos I didn’t turn out like you hoped Given the choice, I would never fight or play this gaust ht for my own life I’ll help take out the Emperor and his allies, but I could never hurt my friends"

Her eyes ild "Friends? Friends? They will betray you at the first opportunity!" Spittle dotted her lips "The only reason Death e-old need to kill" She leaned in aggressively "Do you think they care about you?"

I squared ," she promised me "Not after you’ve read our chronicles fro about? We don’t have written chronicles"

"You knoe do"

Mouth gone dry, I shook my head hard "You would’veyou would’ve shown them to me"

"Evie," she said in a measured tone, "I did"

23

The Hunter

"Coo-yôn?"

A light neared, getting brighter A lantern? Shadoavered over the rock walls I raised a hand to ht in weeks

I squinted Blinked Blinked again The ie remained

Before oan to take me to hell?"

He frowned "Do you know the way?"