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“Yes,” I bite out I couldn’t have lied if I wanted to I hate this feeling Like I’ inside my head, but no sound leaves my lips except what he wills It doesn’tI’ll ever get used to

If our plan succeeds, I’ll never have to experience it again

“The fires Your men are responsible?”

I clenchdown “Answer me”

“Yes”

“What is their plan?”

I was still a teenager when I learned the trick to dealing with his ability to use gla mouths With most people, he seems to make thee willingly, to please him With me, he’s always used brute force It hurts, but there is soue his questions “Start fires”

He stares down at me as if he wants to rip my head from my shoulders “What is their plan? Be specific”

I fight against the push of his power To do anything else is out of the question I don’t knohat Lizzie is waiting for, but I will buy as rin up at my father “To start fires,” I repeat

He clenches his hands into fists and releases them slowly “And after they start fires?” He bites out each word like he wants to rip into me with more than power

“Fight”

“I swear to the gods, I will kill you now, child or no, if you don’t stop being so damned difficult” When I don’t answer, he throws up his hands “Well?”

“That wasn’t a proper question” A little bit of blood leaks from the corner of my mouth I’m not sure where it comes from when he does this There’s no cut or obvious injury, but I always bleed when I fight him

I sit back on my heels and look up A wave of dizziness passes over me, but when it clears, I nearly sob with relief A little red dot appears on his throat “Father?”

“What?”

“I hope this hurts” My hand goes toknife in the sheath there, both courtesy of Grace’s bag