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“Don’t killorders I can help you”

“At the first sign of trouble, she’ll turn,” Greydusk said

I kneas right Butdreadful to this cowering feave her hope

“Possibly,” I allowed

“I’ht hand” It was clearly an empty boast

I pretended to believe her “Are you? Prove it What’s his true name?”

The Sarehed with a touch of hysteria “Nobody knows that, except Oz’s o to keep her fro”

“Nice,” Chance muttered

“So far you’re not telling o,” I pointed out “I don’t want excuses Dazzle me”

Her brow furrowed “He plans to kill you and take the throne himself, now that you’ve opened the castle He’ll restore order in the city and everyone will be so grateful, they won’t care if he has royal blood He thinks power is enough”

“That’s probably true,” Greydusk said

Shannon shrugged “So? That’s not news And I don’t see how it helps us”

I gazed down at the wounded Saremon on the floor She wrapped her ar them to her chest as if they could protect her Her horns were tiny, barely there aled , and then I cut the thread of that thought I couldn’t feel sorry for her In my place, she would’ve killed me by now

“That’s information we puzzled out on our own I need to knohere Oz is, where he’s left the most troops”

“I’ your quarters He’s looking for sos to you”

In reflex, I touched the red jewel atI’d taken frohold Oz must be after , as if he shared my curiosity but didn’t have the answer

“Troop movements, then?” I prompted

“Oh Well, the Hazo have been divided up They were stationed in the throne roo The Xaraz are in the kitchens I don’t think they were ordered to do that, but they’re scavengers at heart They’re just looking for stuff to eat and steal I don’t iht very hard”

Rereed “And your cohorts?”

“We have orders to find and slay you”

I sensed that was all I’d learn A nod at Greydusk conveyed my intent, and the Saremon panicked She fumbled for a spell, any spell, but fear ave the order for her execution, I wasn’t the queen of Xibalba I was only Corine Soloood Yet when Grey broke the ood at all

“We have Hazo after us,” I said, ignoring the aeight in my stomach “I blocked them, but I can only do that two or three more times before I’m done”

“Then we’ll be fast” Chance took my hand

Shannon was already o I don’t much care where, but we can’t stand around”

Butch yapped in agreement Mostly he cowered in reed we had to put so I hoped he wasn’t permanently trau our escape hatch than about ’s mental health

The I the castle layout Too bad Shannon couldn’t get on her netbook and call up Google Maps The absurd thought put a desperate, exhausted s—a hu—since we arrived at the palace With effort, I set it aside Later, I’d deal with the weirdness of having someone else drive my body around like a smart car

“Hurry,” Chance urged

Greydusk opened his black eyes and flashed a look that said he wasn’t helping, but he set off nonetheless Behind us, the shield I’d set flickered and went down It didn’t have the power or lasting potential of a permanent ward I could throw blocks in their way—that was all

Hope it slows theh

The Hazo couldn’t know the castle as well as Greydusk did Hopefully that would work to our advantage Shouts echoed through the corridors, most useless and faraway The next one h that they ain I had to keep them there

“I’ll catch up,” I called

I didn’t know if they heard , I stopped to drop another block Another slash to ulated, and they burned like hell when I sliced theained handling charged objects

Set, shape, strength I worked as fast as I could,indown the hall at ed it One popped through, a second split in half in a grotesque explosion of guts, neatly sheared by ical barrier Demon innards splattered all over er problems

Naed demon whose pal I just tore in two

Its ursine features twisted with rage, the tusks rising and falling with each breath as if anticipating how good I’d taste “You killed Caim”