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"Aren," aze locks withRadath’s trap and ca The horror of his choice, of his decision, is reflected in his eyes, and a part of hier across Atroth’s throat

Aren turns toward Radath, but he’s too late He can’t get out of the way, not without leaving es forward, sword raised

No!

Radath smiles

No!

The ses into his back Radath’s eyes widen His s his sword down, but Kyol shoves hieneral stu Aren He vanishes into the ether the round

THIRTY-ONE

SOMETIME LATER--MINUTES, hours, days, I have no concept of time--the battle is over Supposedly, it’s a victory It doesn’t feel like one I’ on a marble pedestal Two stone fae rise up behindat my feet The bladeshadow on the left points to a smear of blood not too far away There are a lot of those throughout the palace, a lot of the somewhere nearby Lena won’t let him leave the palace At least for a while Until the pain and anger subside Until he’s no longer deterood, she says She’s worried about the vigilantes killing hi shatters, and Naito’s shouts end I close eance I doubt he’ll ever be able to go holi’s hall They’ve been occupied securing the palace The rebels have blocked off the residential wings Every other room and corridor has archers--both rebels and the handful of Court fae Kyol trusts--standing ready to kill Word has been circulated that they’re to shoot anyone who fissures here as soon as they step out of the light So far, the strategy has worked The Court fae have alainst the legs of one of the stone fae It’s a beautiful day The sun is just now beginning its descent fro, it’s quiet If I keep aze away fro very wrong about that A day like this should be filled with darkness It should be filled with clouds and the threat of violent weather

"McKenzie"

Lorn stands a few paces away I’ve never seen hiy, his shoulders are slumped, and his silver eyes seem darker, duller, than nor earlier when Lord Raen foundthen, but I didn’t have to Kelia’s father took one look at my face and paled Tears blurred one

Lorn sits beside me

"I hired fae to protect her," he says

I look at hi at the floor

"I haven’t heard from them," he continues "I assume they entered the ether before she did"

"It was chaotic"

There’s so pensive in his soft hmm We sit in companionable silence for a while Then a streaain

Lorn looks in the direction of the subsequent crash His Adahtens his shoulders