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“No,” she whispers “It’s bullshit Virginia would have protected him I know it He fed you a line”

“Society fleet ripWings are eight minutes out,” Pebble says “We’ll have to burn like hell to escape At current orbit, we can be back on Luna in four weeks”

I barely hear her My o back in time and never coain in my arms I would protect him from the worlds I would never leave hiain The world swier itch behind e He stor for the Howlers to load up

But my feet do not follow They cannot

“Darrow?” Pebble ?”

Sevro turns at the top of the ramp to look down at me

“I’,” I say, and as I say it, I feel the last of my soul empty itself from the vessel ofback to Luna”

“Boss,” Colloway says “What are you talking about? They have your kid We have to go back”

Pebble comes back to touch my shoulder Her hands are coated with dried blood, likely her husband’s “You’re in shock You need to get on the ship”

“Whatever happened, it’s over,” I say “If he was taken, Mustang will get hi to be done” Even to myself, my voice is like that of a condear’s body The key is so heavy on its chain against

“Don’t say that, Darrow,” Pebble says

“Mustang needs you,” Thraxa says; her own love for my son runs deep, just as it does in her whole family Where were they? Why didn’t they protect him? “Your family needs you”

I think of my wife She won’t survive this with the Senate They’ll say she’s unfit to rule Coht already be deposed The life I left behind is shattered, and my fist put the first cracks in it Whoever took my child did it to wound me and my wife Our sins passed down to that perfect, innocent boy

Death begets death begets death

How many sons did Lorn bury? Four?