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Lips thinned, he’d said, “Ouais”

I’d sliced He’d winced

“It’ll heal, Jack”

“But it’s still got to hurt, no?”

Bloodletting always hurt like hell I’d gritted h the pain as I sliced my arms up and down As my skin had healed, he’d watched, riveted I was dizzy and chilled through by the time it was done

He’d rubbedfood for your mère”

While orked on the chute, Selena had been scouting the area for any holes to be plugged Matthew had rested under a nearby overhang, almost obscured by a thick veil of water Not far away, Finn had been practicing his illusions, with a wide-eyed Lark at his side

I’d heard sohted that he’d recovered his beautiful bullshit “I’ravely “Due to some self-esteeh that, though Helphim too Maybe they did have soave me a tendril of hope If they fell in love, we’d have another pair of Arcana ould never hurt the other One more stick of dynite in the machine

Nor about hookups at a time like this But these mini-alliances were critical

Now Selena asked her, “What do you know about the game, Lark?”

“You want to talk about the specifics in front of a Muggle?” She hiked her thu,” I assured her “What can you tell us?”

“My fa her claws They weren’t like , talonlike Plus, hers never disappeared coh “Oh, really? See, I heard you got capped first in the previous game Numero uno When would you have had time to set up a centuries-old paper trail for your falowered “Ease off, Selena”

“No, it’s okay,” the girl said “Granted, I know s are up to”

“Big dogs?” I asked

“The players with the most bite, like you and Selena Like Death and Tess”

“We met her What do you know about her?”

Matthew muttered, “Bad cards”

“She’s the World Card,” Lark said “The fifth eleo They must’ve taken her on as an ally Smart move on their part, since she can pretty much control space and time One problem: the chronicler of her line dropped the ball, so she doesn’t understand why she levitates every tiets turned on, time races and stuff”

Finn looked captivated with Lark, resting his chin on his hand as he gazed at her “How’s that work?”

“Don’t ask me I’hed, but then her sirl Cried a lot though, and bit her nails till they bled Not understanding your powers must be a bitch”

It was I re why plants responded toto help her

“But I’ame, if they haven’t already” Lark pointed to Matthew “The Fool’s got a big target on his back too He knows everyone’s weaknesses and powers”

Matthew blinked at her “Arsenals”

“And Evie?” Jack asked

Lark turned to ame want to keep you alive so you can take out Death But there are some who don’t know better And now that you’re worth a pair of icons” She trailed off, eyeing ”

Two icons, mine and the Alcheht be teave hi into her coat pocket, she pulled out a la archaic writing on yellowed parchrease-pencil notes

“It’s a list of players with their formal titles,” she said “I’ve written in the current names that I know and updated the losers”

— The Players —

The Fool, Gaician, Master of Illusions (Finneas)

The High Priestess, Ruler of the Deep

The Empress, Our Lady of Thorns (Evie)

The Emperor, Stone Overloard

The Hierophant, He of the Dark Rites (Guthrie)

The Lovers, Duke & Dutchess Most Perverse

The Chariot, Wicked Chath, Mistress of Fauna (LARK!)

The Hermit, Master of Alchemy

Wheel of Fortune, Lady of Fate

Justice, She who Harrows (Spite)

The Hanged Man, Our Lord Uncanny

Death, The Endless Knight

Temperance, Collectress of Sins (Calanthe)

The Devil, Foul Desecrator (Ogen)

The Tower, Lord of Lightning (Joules)

The Star, Arcane Navigator

The Moon, Bringer of Doubt (Selen)

The Sun, Hail the Glorious Illuel (Gabriel)

The World, This Unearthly One

“Where did you get this?” I asked

“OffLike I said, er more players have died, but I only scratch off those I can confirot offed It was early on Don’t knoho did it though”

“The Alchemist”—I cleared my throat—“was named Arthur”

She tilted her head at low red “Hold on, we pause for this public service announceot about two ht all die tonight Hell, Death had given me a week, and I was about at the end of it If I only had a few more hours, I wanted to spend soh to leave our cozy fire and head back out into the storm

I mentally asked Matthew, Will you be okay with Finn for a bit?