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“Slag you My sister was not a fiction And neither is Liaer out, remember alos I a for the slavers”

“No, of course not,” Theodora says “The Society killed her ht, Lyria? They denied her the medication that would have saved her life” I nod At least she understands I’d rather die than help the Society “Her blood, along with so many others, is on their hands”

“That’s right”

“And the blood of your faut twists “The Republic should have protected you” Her eyes glisten with empathy She leans forward She understands “We liberated you from the mines, promised you a new life And then we letfrom you We hurt you more than the Society ever could Didn’t we?”

I wipe the tears of anger that fill my eyes

“You’re right to blaht to blaht you want revenge Was it the Red Hand?”

“You aren’t listening to me!”

Daxo takes over “They died because of her Your father, your sister, your brother, your nieces and nephews You wanted to hurt the Sovereign”

“No!”

“To get her back because it was her fault Her fault that they are dead Her fault that you are alone You blame her Don’t you?”

“Yes, I blae oozes out of ht us up from the mines and put us in a ca And she didn’t stop ’eer shit to worry about Like birthday galas and walks in the bloody gardens They’re dead because she proer on the table “But I’ for anyone And I would never hurt a child”

My composure cracks as the last word coht I could keep it down and forget the pain But it wasn’t ever forgotten Being closer to these people hasinsideeyes

“Use the Oracle,” she says softly

“The Oracle,” Niobe whispers

“They have Pax and Electra,” Daxo replies “You saw Father What do you think they’re doing to them?” His mother’s shoulders slump “It has to be done Holiday, hold her down”