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Sethan’s lips thin I don’t think he likesAren have his way instead of his sister, who still wants me dead But then, from what Kelia’s toldof Sethan’s fa Ia cloth sack An unfaed

Sethan stands, but I don’tthe picnic bench, not until Lena overturns the sack and a severed head thumps onto the table

I leap away My boots slip on the rock bed and I crash down on my ass The stench hits me a second later My stomach lurches, but I can’t take ht eye is open, but the silver iris and gray pupil are nearly invisible beneath a white film I can’t see the iris and pupil in the left eye because of the stake jaisters the fact that the h a bloodstained note The other part of

Aren pulls me to my feet I don’t knohere he came from I hear his voice, but can’ttoin Fae to Lena and the man who followed her

Ihis face can block out the ilances at ht?" he asks

My gut tightens I’ve heard of the rebellion sending heads with es, but I’ve never seen it before When fae die, they disappear in a flash of light and their soul-shadohite ht--dissolve into the air Kyol calls it "going into the ether," which I guess is their equivalent to going to heaven Severing a fae’s head prevents that, though, and it’s considered exceptionally malicious

"You do it, too," I say quietly

Lena snorts "So of course that makes it okay for them to do"

No It doesn’t habout the Court? What if I’ve spent ten years reading shadows for the wrong people?

Lena rips the note from the spike and shoves it in front of my face "This is a threat The Court wants you back If we don’t give you to thein random raids on cities and encampments until they find you They’ll kill or capture anyone who puts up resistance, even if they have no connection to us" She slaps the bloodstained paper down onto the picnic table "We should send you back to the would do"

She strides away before I can say a word Not that I knohat I would have said I can’t defend this It makes me sick, but it doesn’t fit hat I know of the Court Kyol goes out of his way to capture the rebels, even when it would be easier to kill them The swords cruel or ruthless

But I don’t h my stomach

"You’re pale," Aren says at my side His voice is soft, maybe even concerned

"I’m justI just need to sleep"

I hate the way he nods, like he’s assessed my condition and determined sleep is exactly what I need in order to think clearly

Before I head toward the inn, I force ain at the note I can’t read the words, but I’m certain it’s not Kyol’s script