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Because the switchboard was no more? If Matthew haddied, then Jack would have as well Selena and Finn too? “Y-you killed theen flattened thatloves In a voice I barely recognized, I said, “You wear their icons?”

“Apparently I was closest to the as a direct kill, but we do e can”

Fury began overwhel words, it burned hotter, breath on an ean to sharpen I would slice Death’s ht off his hands—or slay him and earn them

Death murmured, “Try to tap your powers”—cold steel made contact with my neck—“and I will shove this blade into your temple I’ll keep you like that, brain-dead, unable to en hissed froh in a more human form, he still sported those h her than the other When he skirted a rising retention pond with a wary expression, he looked younger Maybe fifteen

On our right side, Lark spurred her horse to match our pace “You should make this last, boss,” she told Death “Toronna have to wait centuries for the next opportunity to cap her ass” Even in this weather, Lark looked snug and co her suffer will be so lared at the little bitch, proeance I blamed her as much as these other two More even

In a thick voice, I asked Death, “Why not kill me now?”

He whispered in my ear, “Because a part of you wants me to”

Chills broke out over my drenched skin I wanted to deny his words, but didn’t know if I could In the last nine h school boyfriend, my best friend Mel My mother Now four more people had entered my life for such a short tione

“Kill her NOW!” Ogen’s fangs dripped slime, his veiny eyes crazed “A feast of her bones! No!”

Death snapped soen quieted like an obedient dog

The rainds buffeted us, driving the rain sideways, but I was too dazed to perceive it Hypotherhts were as numb as my body

My friends are dead Jack is dead What did I have to live for?

Revenge

When we reached a hill that was covered with banks of sliding mud, Death sheathed his blade, wrapped one arallop in place until it got purchase, finally vaulting over the edge onto a paved street Ogen and Lark followed

Once ere on flat ground, I told Death, “Let

“Silence”

“Lethis ” Death plucked s must have fallen asleep in the saddle; they couldn’t support utter Unable to catch h with e of the curb

Pain seared alongoff my chin and jaw Just as it had in the barn when I’d first discovered I could bring plants to life

Ogen laughed at my fall Lark muttered, “Dumb-ass”

Drip, drip, drip

Too weak to utter, face-planted, as if the curb were my pillow With my back to the three, I watched runoff race around

“Get up,” Lark said “Stop dicking around”

Hadn’t we passed a retention pond just o? One with charred trees and dead reeds all around it? My blood was probably rushing toward that pond even now

“More cannibals are co, Evie” Lark huffed with impatience “They’re hot on our trail, because you’re ‘unclean’ or so Surely we’re better than they were”

No No, you’re not At least the cannibals were loyal to their own Lark was a two-faced betrayer Because of her, my Jack andinto a wildfire, so hot I alforfro with life, new li like a victim, I smiled Because I was about to kill this trio My ar thatup behind these Arcana I’d show them unclean

There was no reason to quell the heat of battle noould give et free The cuffs arounda clan to slice the ht circle

I strained to twist ot in the way The heat of battle was like a growing thing within me I knehat the red witch would do in this situation Hatred scalding azed down at my thumb

Pitilessly

I couldn’t reach theit’d take enerate, didn’t care

With an undertone of disquiet in his voice, Death ordered, “Eed or collared—or captured

Biting the inside of er to slice halfway through e blunted the shock of what I was doing Blood spurted into the rushing water More fuel forfire

Death’s stallion sta threat Lark’s wolves growled and raised their snouts to sniff the air They’d scent nothing out of the ordinary

Death commanded, “Rise, Empress, or Fauna will send her familiars in for a bite” I heard hi

With another swipe and a stifled scream, I severed my thumb Out of the corner of my eye I watched the water sweep it away My h the cuff with ease The right cuff was no match for my claws

Freed

I was a s Finally, I was ready to rise

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