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I study contagious diseases and pathogens I find cures for our people It’s what I’ood at Like second nature This will be no different I won’t stop until I’ve done it

I will cure her

Quietly, I step into the sub-faction and stalk her way, thankful that Hadrian, our youngest and most talkative mort, is nowhere to be seen Her eyes widen in surprise, but she does not call out Soht blue eyes It’s enough to fuel et me locked away in a reform cell, should Breccan and the others intercept it

I cannot fail

Kneeling beside her, I hover my palm over her cheek, desperate to touch her But Aria’s co Her laws about only touching if they ask Hesitation swirls inside of eostorm

“Help htly as she pleads “Help me or I will die”

I allow my palm to stroke the side of her face—and then I do the unthinkable

I gently pullalien into my arms, careful not to break her, and carry her out of her new home

With haste, I rush back to my lab, where I will lock us away They’ll find us eventually, but I will have to et in I’ll work relentlessly, undisturbed by them, until I find a cure

I will rekking save her

“Relax now, lilapetal,” I urge,to heal you”

Or I’ll die trying

1

Emery

It’s dark, the room where they lead us and the hallway beyond It h to make the bodies around own they gave us does little to contain body heat, so I try to wrap et a sharp jab in the ribs for atteot I earing