Flashback ( PDFDrive )

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She only remembered the day she’d flown with Keefe and Silveny toone of the Black Swan’s hideouts and trusted their dangerous cure tofix her broken abilities. And given that she’d nearly died in the process—and had a small, star-shaped scar on her hand as a souvenir—shewas pretty sure she wouldn’t have forgotten if it had happened anothertime.Unless . . .You said you saw my nightmares, she transmitted quietly. What . . . didyou see?Something we probably shouldn’t discuss with this large of an audience.Which was confirmation enough.And he was right. It definitely wasn’t the right time.But that didn’t stop the terrified green eyes from filling her mindagain.Amy’s eyes.The name alone made her shiver. But the real chills came from theblank space surrounding the memory.Sophie knew what that space meant.She’d been begging the Black Swan for years to tell her why she’dwoken up in the hospital when she was nine years old with no memoryof how she’d gotten there and no explanation, other than the doctor’sdiagnosis of a severe reaction to some unknown allergen. And thewhole thing had become much more mysterious after she discoveredthat she was allergic to limbium—an elvin substance, which sheshouldn’t have had access to while living with humans. She’d alsodiscovered that her sister had the same blank spot in her past, sowhatever had happened had affected both of them.
And Magnate Leto’s slip now made it clear they’d given herlimbium that day to reset her abilities.But the rest of the memory was still missing, still stolen away—except for one piece.One piece the monster unearthed from the darkest shadows of hermind. And in that tiny, fractured flashback, her sister had stared at herlike she was the monster.Screaming, Sophie, please—stop!
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For Mara Anastas, for believing fro
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ONESO IS IT STRANGE COMING here and
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“Relax, Foster,” Keefe said, sh
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The younger Vacker siblings had bee
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wasn’t giving them access either.
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“Yeah. I guess.”“Hmm.” He t
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“Ugh, you elves overthink everyth
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“The Vacker parade,” Keefe corr
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“Your dad didn’t tell you he go
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around the Councillors’ thrones.
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Alvar bowed again. “I understand
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invited for moral support.A quick g
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fury better than anyone. But . . .
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Alden cleared his throat. “I know
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Eventually Emery said, “Well, you
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“Occasionally,” Luzia admitted,
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Fallon ignored him. “It’s also
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He hummed a few more beats, rocking
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Ro snickered.“This will be quick,
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He was following our orders—and w
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“Don’t pretend like you actuall
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He jerked away. “No, we’re—
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“Practice is about building muscl
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“Yes, but I would’ve sliced off
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Councillor Bronte, her inflicting M
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“It helps me to picture the Never
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FOURYOU OKAY?” FITZ ASKED, WAVING
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“That’s because you also made t
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“I don’t think that.” She ste
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interrogated. Her wrists still stun
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“No. But my dad said it was small
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away. And that you left everything
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Fitz dragged out a sigh as he scrap
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Fitz’s answering smile was full m
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FIVESOPHIE WASN’T UNCONSCIOUS.The
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“I guess I’m not the only predi
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There was no way to know if the sig
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“You’d better hope that’s tru
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“The Black Swan is . . . adjustin
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She circled her hands, bending all
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again, this time cracking bone. And
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SIXYOU WANTED TO FIND ME so badly?
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Ruy laughed. “You’ll have to do
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shimmer and shine. But if we want t
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“Those shadows you’re fighting
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yourself this: Have you ever notice
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Thunder clapped and lightning flash
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She didn’t know how—not with th
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Biting her lip and bracing for the
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“Uh, I don’t think this is maki
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down would undo some of the recover
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her to order them back to Gildingha
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“You know her?” Tam asked.“I
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“But not always the same way,”
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At least he looked peaceful.His eye
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“Yes, I did. But”—he took a l
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“If guarding me is too dangerous,
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someone with different strengths an
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His eyes glazed, and there was such
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she’s an Empath.”“How many Em
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Magnate Leto frowned. “There isn
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wrong—and it made it so we couldn
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“And please tell me there’s a w
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instead of standing up to the Counc
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“Hey,” she said, offering him h
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“Look at me, Keefe.”She had to
Page 137 and 138: “The Neverseen don’t get to con
Page 139 and 140: there was still no sign of you or D
Page 141 and 142: searched the facility. But the Blac
Page 143 and 144: TENGRIZEL’S BEEN TELLING ME FOR w
Page 145 and 146: hold our own against an ogre. They
Page 147 and 148: so they can keep doing that to see
Page 149 and 150: work on skills like telekinesis and
Page 151 and 152: Nightmares were far less scary than
Page 153 and 154: Sophie shivered, wondering how long
Page 155 and 156: seeing anything. Well . . . I’m s
Page 157 and 158: named Mrs. Stinkbottom—and now bo
Page 159 and 160: fingers and conjured a short, braid
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Page 165 and 166: The tiny female gnome was one of So
Page 167 and 168: Which of course meant the bad news
Page 169 and 170: “Yeah, bring on the weapons,” T
Page 171 and 172: ELEVENSOPHIE WAS ONE HUNDRED PERCEN
Page 173 and 174: “I didn’t command it,” Tam ar
Page 175 and 176: But darkness is vital—and not bec
Page 177 and 178: encounter with the kind of force th
Page 179 and 180: “Light is not the answer,” Lady
Page 181 and 182: Darkness flooded Sophie’s mind. B
Page 183 and 184: kicked free and crawled up and out.
Page 185 and 186: “I don’t think that’s a good
Page 187: Well . . .That almost made sense.As
Page 191 and 192: “Because I think I might understa
Page 193 and 194: Something inside Sophie shriveled,
Page 195 and 196: THIRTEENWELL, I THINK IT’S SAFE t
Page 197 and 198: So now the Neverseen even got to co
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Page 201 and 202: “Okay, how were you not in the fi
Page 203 and 204: make getting dressed way easier. Bu
Page 205 and 206: And that kind of conviction doesn
Page 207 and 208: “Uh, we’re supposed to be keepi
Page 209 and 210: “You still up for it, Foster?”
Page 211 and 212: “Foot . . . energy . . . ,” Sop
Page 213 and 214: “Ready?” Ro asked, snatching an
Page 215 and 216: FOURTEENIT TOOK ELWIN MOST OF the n
Page 217 and 218: you’re going to make them wear gl
Page 219 and 220: “Cool—the Prattles kraken! I’
Page 221 and 222: “I thought we’d start with cold
Page 223 and 224: She gave him half a shrug—and a f
Page 225 and 226: nailed the breath control trick on
Page 227 and 228: Then again, wasn’t it better that
Page 229 and 230: FIFTEENHOW LONG HAVE I BEEN asleep?
Page 231 and 232: “Your pulse is also racing,” El
Page 233 and 234: He switched to a red orb around Fit
Page 235 and 236: “Probably pretty soon,” Sophie
Page 237 and 238: And because Fitz insisted, she also
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—and that stuff is horrible, by t
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And very sparkly.And between her ha
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Okay, she said, I’m going to try
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SILVENY! he transmitted. PLEASE! SO
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I know.Silveny had always been an o
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A stream of new images cut off the
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NO CHECK! NO CHECK! NO CHECK!Someon
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“Not yet. But she will,” Fitz s
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“My parents are coming?” Fitz a
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“Alvar won’t even have access t
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SEVENTEENI’M FINE,” FITZ PROMIS
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The tinge of green to Fitz’s skin
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The real prize for Ickiest Way to S
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“This is actually only half of it
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“It’s kinda hard to forget,”
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“Looks like things are about to g
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something to camouflage what they w
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“Hear that, Ro?” he interrupted
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“I can handle it,” he promised.
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“He really doesn’t know when to
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“Aw, come on, Leto,” Ro whined.
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“See, but now you’ve got me cur
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EIGHTEENWITH BOTH OF US?” FITZ as
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that detail. And honestly, that was
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He pointed to their trays, which st
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“Like what?”He stared at his ha
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The thought was softer than a whisp
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It IS, Sophie agreed. I’m super g
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You do have time, he told her. Fift
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Not if her name wasn’t on one of
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brother.”“And I’m worried he
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is Leto making—and why does the F
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“Wouldn’t you rather do it not
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repeated the process with Fitz’s
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TWENTYTHE FIRST STEP,” TIERGAN SA
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“Then the masking fades, the same
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“That’s it.”“That’s it?
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TWENTY-ONETHE GILDED MEMORIES CALLE
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I can do that now if you want, Keef
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me break down like that.Anger burne
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matching tunics that say, My Legacy
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“Yes, well, I’ve never felt you
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Couldn’t have been that big, Fitz
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assuming you can find the right wor
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Then Keefe whispered, “I think we
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No idea. This one’s way more dama
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—but she highly doubted that was
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Keefe reeled toward Sophie and Fitz
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“But she didn’t tell me anythin
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You okay? she asked Fitz when she n
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scribbled questions.”Ro shrugged.
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TWENTY-FOURWHO’S READY TO GET OUT
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“Wow,” she whispered, letting o
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Her mind flashed to the monster, bu
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Yeah. That’s why I haven’t chec
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easy way to stop or pivot direction
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Fitz cleared his throat and shifted
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And their hurried pace was smoother
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TWENTY-FIVEDON’T LET GO!” LADY
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the attack.”“Really?” Linh as
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you’d probably be sleeping. Oh—
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Just like Sophie couldn’t stop wi
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“Thanks for all the visits,” Fi
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TWENTY-SIXWHY ARE THEY WAITING UNTI
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“I’m not leaving early,” he s
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The echo was only a tiny part of he
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“Check in when you can,” she to
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Lots more patience.Plus a long list
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Boy reference? Because you know I h
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“But you know they have to be hum
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“Why not?” Sophie had to ask.
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turned out to be her protector and
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“Here,” Mr. Forkle said when sh
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of weather vane. The third might’
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“No, we’re long past that. The
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He crouched to study the metal anim
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even sound like words, just gibberi
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stopped in front of a cluster of wi
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“Okay, what was that?” she aske
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“Fake caches,” Mr. Forkle corre
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“Mr. Dizznee has made some simple
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“What about the other thing you t
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Tinker tapped the base of each nail
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Dex pressed his finger to the tiny
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“Caution and moderation will be k
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The pen had a much more cagelike fe
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training?”“Not without Elwin’
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“That too,” Bo said as he stepp
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—you carry the hate for what thes
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Tarina followed her gaze. “Can yo
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TWENTY-NINEYOU WANT TO FORM AN alli
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asking you to join any plot or sche
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“I didn’t say our soldiers—I
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over the years. She’s amazing. As
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reason I can think of, other than h
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finishing up without me?”The gnom
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“Did you search his bags?” Bo d
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Sophie took a slow breath, working
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She closed her eyes, swaying softly
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But she wasn’t going to complain.
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THIRTYSHOULD YOU BE LYING LIKE that
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“She seems okay. Though I think t
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I’m expecting you to hold true to
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She didn’t. But it made sense.How
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breath. At least Councillor Oralie
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“Of course I am. I’ve been stuc
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Then he stepped aside.Her turn.And
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mentally prepared for the ugliness
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“The first rule of dagger throwin
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rhythm and could hit exactly where
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Between visiting Tinker and finally
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“But find out everything else. I
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Daddy’s little hugfest tomorrow.
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See. See. See.Silveny’s mental vo
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So she would save it for a last res
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“Wrong!” Tarina informed her.
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session. And she could feel his min
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And since Sophie had already blown
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I’ll see what I can dig up, he to
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And yet, despite all that time and
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Sophie spun around to find Marella
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“Nope. And way to be smooth about
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wants training to defend herself, I
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“Is that bad?” Linh added, shar
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think it must be the rhythm of dark
Page 489 and 490:
That’s actually why I reached out
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“You’re not all coming with me,
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“Of course,” she said, smoothin
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most of the space, framing a small,
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THIRTY-THREEWOULD YOU LIKE TO SIT?
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think it’s easy to sit here knowi
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LEGACY!LODESTAR!NIGHTFALL!KIDNAP!AD
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Sophie nodded, hooking Fitz’s arm
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Sophie’s eyebrows raised as he le
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crusty and gross. Honestly, I don
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“Yet,” Fitz added. “I still t
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gleaming door made of braided silve
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THIRTY-FIVEFITZ MEANT HIS WINNOWING
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as a tradition. Then people just si
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She shook her head again, sucking i
Page 519 and 520:
And it only grew bigger when she bu
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THIRTY-SIXSORRY!” SOPHIE SAID, FE
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Right before they would’ve splatt
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“Hang on tight,” Sophie warned,
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THIRTY-SEVENLABOR IS GOOD NEWS, RIG
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But none of that mattered.“Silven
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“I can handle it,” Timkin said
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“More of a calming agent,” Vika
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THIRTY-EIGHTTWINS,” SOPHIE REPEAT
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“Hey,” Fitz said, stepping clos
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And Timkin didn’t look convinced.
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Sophie’s gaze darted back to Silv
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the beach, their feet kicking up sa
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that we have to invent ways to surv
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Sophie grabbed her arm, feeling lik
Page 549 and 550:
Tarina shook her head. “It would
Page 551 and 552:
Out loud she added, “And I was al
Page 553 and 554:
way she kept glancing over her shou
Page 555 and 556:
“With all due respect,” Tarina
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“This is the hive?” Sophie aske
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thick and green, like a lake of sno
Page 561 and 562:
“Is it me, or is it super stuffy
Page 563 and 564:
FORTYSOPHIE LEARNED MORE ABOUT BIRT
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And so was her brother, who arrived
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“It doesn’t have a name—and i
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She wasn’t sure what they were ta
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at the moment, her brain could bare
Page 573 and 574:
Sophie wasn’t a fan either. There
Page 575 and 576:
She chewed her lip as she considere
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“So it was you this whole time?
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Nubiti, if she hasn’t already. An
Page 581 and 582:
FORTY-THREEOKAY, THAT MIGHT BE THE
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Edaline shook her head at him. “D
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Real wasn’t bad.But it was . . .
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“The most powerful elf our world
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FORTY-FOURGRADY AND EDALINE TRIED T
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know how proud we are of how you ha
Page 593 and 594:
Sandor and Bo, off a cliff. She may
Page 595 and 596:
Flying wasn’t possible until Silv
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“Or Keefette. Or Keefelle. Or Kee
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best friend and see how Fitzy was h
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counts.”“Has it ever occurred t
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“Cadfael,” Sophie repeated, nee
Page 605 and 606:
She stalked deeper into the pasture
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Breathing became a little easier. B
Page 609 and 610:
“Well, for one thing, the masking
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that her writing was still mostly i
Page 613 and 614:
She started with Gethen’s taunts,
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panic switches—which could now se
Page 617 and 618:
They didn’t fly far, just circled
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should’ve let Vertina talk her in
Page 621 and 622:
Mr. Forkle nodded. “The Council
Page 623 and 624:
“No,” Mr. Forkle called back to
Page 625 and 626:
practically invented that strategy
Page 627 and 628:
“Oh, are we to the part where you
Page 629 and 630:
“And what about you, Sophie?” F
Page 631 and 632:
ability, and it was time to undo th
Page 633 and 634:
FORTY-SIXWE SHOULD CANCEL THE FESTI
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Pyrokinetic is hardly reliable. Par
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attention.”With that she turned a
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that he’d figure out when and whe
Page 641 and 642:
Ro muttered something that sounded
Page 643 and 644:
“Thank you for thinking about me,
Page 645 and 646:
“Smart,” Biana said, glancing a
Page 647 and 648:
looked . . . scared.“I’m fine,
Page 649 and 650:
The good news was, the security for
Page 651 and 652:
“Or you could take this,” Dex s
Page 653 and 654:
The Collective agreed. And the Coun
Page 655 and 656:
FORTY-SEVENA HUGE RED MOON FILLED T
Page 657 and 658:
“So, who’s going with whom?”
Page 659 and 660:
The thirty minutes felt like thirty
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Maybe he thinks he can.Is he even n
Page 663 and 664:
built into the Warden’s band. “
Page 665 and 666:
darkness and landing them among the
Page 667 and 668:
“Right,” Fitz muttered, wincing
Page 669 and 670:
FORTY-EIGHTI KNEW IT!” FITZ YELLE
Page 671 and 672:
“So this was never about the fest
Page 673 and 674:
“Why do you look so afraid?” Um
Page 675 and 676:
“That’s all?” Gethen sighed d
Page 677 and 678:
“There has to be another way,”
Page 679 and 680:
“So they were never here?” Mare
Page 681 and 682:
to himself about how he should’ve
Page 683 and 684:
“Trying to,” she said, choking
Page 685 and 686:
halo of light up ahead.“That’s
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More important, though: Keefe’s s
Page 689 and 690:
they know they all but phased me ou
Page 691 and 692:
“Actually, I was thinking more ab
Page 693 and 694:
I know, he said, reminding her that
Page 695 and 696:
So they concentrated on coming up w
Page 697 and 698:
Even Alvar looked shocked by the re
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“Not like this. Our hives are cel
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And the drippy walls were lined wit
Page 703 and 704:
dragged it back to her. “I mean i
Page 705 and 706:
“Interesting,” Gethen said. “
Page 707 and 708:
“Aim for its eyes!” she shouted
Page 709 and 710:
as she fumbled to regain her balanc
Page 711 and 712:
The name pinched her heart, jolting
Page 713 and 714:
“I’m not serving anyone,” he
Page 715 and 716:
Fitz nodded and went back to starin
Page 717 and 718:
The Neverseen couldn’t say the sa
Page 719 and 720:
Ro raised one eyebrow. “I think w
Page 721 and 722:
Sophie had no doubt of that.It’s
Page 723 and 724:
each containing an orange blob. “
Page 725 and 726:
new Shade.”Tam snorted. “So, wh
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“Are you sure? From what I hear,
Page 729 and 730:
a chance to experience our side and
Page 731 and 732:
FIFTY-TWOSOPHIE HAD NEVER SEEN KEEF
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something for their soporidine—so
Page 735 and 736:
answered Grady’s and Edaline’s
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All rang with vulnerability and str
Page 739 and 740:
So it seemed especially timely when
Page 741 and 742:
Or . . . maybe that was why she was
Page 743 and 744:
perfect shade of shimmering teal.
Page 745 and 746:
“I never realized there were this
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“But it looks like no one’s fil
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I’d also be lost without my amazi
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KEEPEROFTHELOSTCITIES.COMALADDINSIM
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