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“Get Liv and meet me on the northern trail,” I say

The cat eye ht as Perry shakes his head “No Beach trail Someone poured Luster on me and I have to wash it off ”

“Right Beach trail in five”

Only one finger appears this tirin

I recork the Luster and cli to take care of before I uided by the light of the Aether, the rugged cottages of the Tide co around me

At Brooke’s house, I rap softly on the door

She eases it open a few moments later and smiles “The cave?” she whispers

Brooke is Liv’s closest friend, and for the past year she and Perry have been together Half that ti to end it Perry will probably be streaked at s the way they are

I nod and lift the bottle of Luster “You coh I already know she is Brooke is always up for anything when Perry is involved

“I’ll get my bow ” She disappears into the house

I look around the compound as I wait When it’s quiet this way, it’s easy to rerando I was barely seven then Graht just like this We’d been traveling for weeks and the soles on h Gram knocked on the first door we caht he was the biggest man I’d ever seen He invited us inside and had bread and fennel soup brought to us Three kids watched us froirl I couldn’t take my eyes off

The next day Graiven a rooe shed ooden walls thatthe rainy one and the walls stopped clicking a few years ago, but I still sleep there

Brooke returns with a bow and quiver over her shoulder and we oing, the northern cave, is an hour away It’s still part of the Tides’ territory, but there’s always a risk when you travel that far away—especially at night—of being attacked by the dispersed The danger is part of the fun

As we approach the beach trail, I spot two tall figures with pale hair up ahead and frown It rufflesable to tell apart irlfriend froures dashes across the sandy trail and jumps into my arms and I’m reasonably sure it’s Liv and not Perry

“Can’t you be away from me even a few hours?” Liv whispers in my ear