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She’d discovered two doorways after endless searching, but they weren’t er, had becoh to open one, just a crack to send out the call, but she would never have enough power to escape through either one of them on her own

The stranger should, with any ic in him at all, be able to leave the way he came Why endure this torture? Each day a neorld—some familiar to her, sos and loud machines—would arise from the ashes of the old All of them created to kill Did he not know he could escape? There had to be soel

“Sarah Blackwood”

She whirled around in shocked surprise, her long skirt kicking up the dust of the road she’d been walking as she waited for today’s assault How long had it been since she’d heard her name? “Who speaks?”

There was no one there

“Sarah Blackwood Come closer”

Her heart was pounding in her chest Two voices now Male and feh she still saw no one Her heels dug in to the dirt as her body was dragged off the road against her will One of them must be a Siren It was, she reic broken through?

This was new Her lips otten words meant to fend off those ould compel her, but they had no effect Proof that this was another illusion? Would she be forced into a battle with Magians now? But that was not the punishment Hers was always to “suffer the death of a witch at hued?

The voices led Three Then four joined as one The layer of

dust that coated the ground began to swirl and twist in front of her eyes Not yet She hadn’t seen her angel today She had to look into his beautiful blue eyes before death took her again

“Not yet!” she cried

A ravel and sand “Step inside to gain your freedom Now, before the way out is closed”

Freedom It was the only word she needed to hear She could not allow herself to regret leaving her angel He would understand that she had to be free She stepped into theto lose

It solidified around her and began to h her veins, alive with possibility Was it heading for the doorway she had e open? Could she be that fortunate?

If she woke in her s this was just another illusion…it ht truly break her