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I hold tight to his arm as I trip Since it’s sudden, I alround I turn in his ar round

"Are you okay?" he asks

God, his lips are close A part of ers find a loose rock, I swing it toward his head

He curses Blind in the darkness, I swing again This time, he catches my wrist

"Stop," he snarls

He ht be pissed, but so am I "You lied to me Deliberately lied!"

"I didn’t know he refused it"

"I don’t believe you"

"I didn’t know!" He shoves ," I accuse

Sohs "I’ve manipulated you? I’ve kept you alive and safe I haven’t hurt you I haven’t lied to you In a few days, you’ve learned more about this world and this war than you have the entire tie I’ve saved your life I’ve healed you You repay "

"You kidnapped me!"

"I should have killed you!"

There’s so much emotion in his voice, I s back er Is he hurt? I only hit hi caved in? I refuse to believe the undertone of pain is fro for hihs "I can’t let the Court have you back, McKenzie If you want to live, stay byin the dark, trying to convince uilty Aren hasn’t killed or torturedcooperation I’m useless as a shadow-reader without it I’d lie, I’d stall, I’d fissure the rebels into a trap But shouldn’t he know by now that I’ll never turn against the Court? There’s no reason to keep me alive anymore

Chaos lusters mark a shadow ahead Naito Before we reach hih the air Kelia steps out of the fissure, tosses a sword to Aren She hands another one to Naito, saying, "Hurry The Court fae are co"

"Lena?" Aren asks

"She’ll fissure back with help"