Page 10 (2/2)

"We monitor the Provincial Gates," Lena says "We would have abducted you long before now if you used only those to travel"

I keep ive any indication that she’s right The Realdoo, ala, a brutal war that translates roughly into "The Dissolution" According to Kyol, the Missing Gates were said to be destroyed, but there were always rumors that some of them remained, and that the locations had just been wiped froic that’s extinct today When one of King Atroth’s aids, with the help of a silverflushed kiate not marked on any map, those rumors were confir for--and finding--other Missing Gates

"If you want to extend your life," Lena says, taking a step toward ates"

"Lena," Aren cuts in Then he speaks in their language She fires soain Whatever he says, she’s obviously not happy about it Sethan barely has time to move out of the way before she yanks open the front door and stor are fae curses under her breath Most likely, they’re directed at o

Sethan turns his attention back to ht into this war We never wanted to involve hu your kind against us His shadow-readers, you in particular, have almost destroyed us We had no choice other than to take you away fro into hts He can’t Telepathy isn’t one of the endangered ics; it’s one of the extinct and forever lost ones "We would like your help, McKenzie And we’d like to help you"

"HelpI need from you is per you?" He shakes his head "That’s not an option"

"What if I agree not to work for the Court again?"

Sethan’s brorinkles as if he can’t comprehend my question His eyes narrow and he studies me I hope he can’t read est concession I canto do for several weeks now Next Saturday, the day I was supposed to graduate if I hadn’t flunked my final exam--and I’m certain I did flunk it--I planned to announcefae is the only way I’ll be able to live a norree, I filled out an application for an entry-level editor position in a suburb outside of Houston I o to movies and concerts and clubs and all the other places nor to happen now, not unless I escape these fae and discover some way to convinceabout escape entle breeze blows, and I half expect Kyol to step into the clearing, a silent, deadly figure in the night A little tug of longing pulls atleaves "She thinks they’ll let her go"

I shift o They’re not the ones who’ve kidnappedto black for theives Sethan a pointed look "See"

"See what?" I derins as if he’s just delivered the punch line to a grand ol’ joke He crosses the porch and rests a hand on the knob of the front door "Talk to her, Sethan Then tell me what you decide"

The door clanks shut behind him My stomach twists and turns, but this ti or because Aren’s left me alone with an unfamiliar fae It makes no sense, I know Aren’s the ht me halfway across the planet, and who’s responsible for the, he hasn’t hurt me In fact, he’s been almost kind He could have--probably should have--ripped into me for ainst the rail "Aren thinks the Court has misled you He thinks if you learn the truth of this war, you’ll ith us"