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“So that’s why the moonlark’s special,” Ro breathed as she stared atthe vials hovering around her like tiny glass satellites.Not a single one had hit the floor.“You okay, Sophie?” Elwin asked. “No headache? No pain?”“None,” she promised.And she knew then, beyond any of the doubts waiting to roar at herfrom the shadows.She might be broken.She might be healing.But she was strong.
FOURTEENIT TOOK ELWIN MOST OF the night to clean up after the Foster FootEnergy Triumph—as Keefe had named it—so Sophie was stunnedwhen he still let Keefe and Ro into the Healing Center the nextafternoon.She also couldn’t believe that Ro already had a new tattoo inked tothe underside of her right wrist.Bold, impossible-to-ignore letters declaring, Sparkles Rule!“Did it myself this morning,” Ro said when she caught Sophiestaring. “A bet’s a bet. I figure this is my reminder to never sideagainst the moonlark.”“Always the best way to go,” Keefe agreed, his eyes trailing overSophie’s bandages. “No setbacks from yesterday?”“Nope!”According to Elwin’s numerous tests, her echoes hadn’t stirred atall. So physical strain didn’t seem to bother them. Only emotionalturmoil.Whether that was good news or bad news was yet to be determined.“And I see Fitzy’s still snoozing,” Keefe noted, moving to his bestfriend’s side and waving a hand in front of his face. “Since he’s alsocuddling with his sparkly dragon buddy and looking all rosy cheekedand peaceful, I’m guessing we don’t need to be worried about that?”“You don’t,” Elwin agreed. “The sedatives are just a precaution.”
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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
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“The Neverseen don’t get to con
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there was still no sign of you or D
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searched the facility. But the Blac
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TENGRIZEL’S BEEN TELLING ME FOR w
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hold our own against an ogre. They
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so they can keep doing that to see
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work on skills like telekinesis and
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Nightmares were far less scary than
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Sophie shivered, wondering how long
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seeing anything. Well . . . I’m s
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named Mrs. Stinkbottom—and now bo
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fingers and conjured a short, braid
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slumber party a secret. That’s wh
Page 163 and 164: backup bodyguard’s going to be?
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 and 188: Well . . .That almost made sense.As
Page 189 and 190: And Magnate Leto’s slip now made
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
Page 199 and 200: chance to top the Great Gulon Incid
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: “Ready?” Ro asked, snatching an
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
Page 239 and 240: —and that stuff is horrible, by t
Page 241 and 242: And very sparkly.And between her ha
Page 243 and 244: Okay, she said, I’m going to try
Page 245 and 246: SILVENY! he transmitted. PLEASE! SO
Page 247 and 248: I know.Silveny had always been an o
Page 249 and 250: A stream of new images cut off the
Page 251 and 252: NO CHECK! NO CHECK! NO CHECK!Someon
Page 253 and 254: “Not yet. But she will,” Fitz s
Page 255 and 256: “My parents are coming?” Fitz a
Page 257 and 258: “Alvar won’t even have access t
Page 259 and 260: SEVENTEENI’M FINE,” FITZ PROMIS
Page 261 and 262: The tinge of green to Fitz’s skin
Page 263 and 264: 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
Page 379 and 380:
“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
Page 389 and 390:
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
Page 459 and 460:
Between visiting Tinker and finally
Page 461 and 462:
“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
Page 467 and 468:
So she would save it for a last res
Page 469 and 470:
“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
Page 485 and 486:
“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
Page 491 and 492:
“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
Page 503 and 504:
Sophie nodded, hooking Fitz’s arm
Page 505 and 506:
Sophie’s eyebrows raised as he le
Page 507 and 508:
crusty and gross. Honestly, I don
Page 509 and 510:
“Yet,” Fitz added. “I still t
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gleaming door made of braided silve
Page 513 and 514:
THIRTY-FIVEFITZ MEANT HIS WINNOWING
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as a tradition. Then people just si
Page 517 and 518:
She shook her head again, sucking i
Page 519 and 520:
And it only grew bigger when she bu
Page 521 and 522:
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
Page 529 and 530:
But none of that mattered.“Silven
Page 531 and 532:
“I can handle it,” Timkin said
Page 533 and 534:
“More of a calming agent,” Vika
Page 535 and 536:
THIRTY-EIGHTTWINS,” SOPHIE REPEAT
Page 537 and 538:
“Hey,” Fitz said, stepping clos
Page 539 and 540:
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
Page 545 and 546:
that we have to invent ways to surv
Page 547 and 548:
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
Page 557 and 558:
“This is the hive?” Sophie aske
Page 559 and 560:
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
Page 567 and 568:
“It doesn’t have a name—and i
Page 569 and 570:
She wasn’t sure what they were ta
Page 571 and 572:
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
Page 577 and 578:
“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
Page 583 and 584:
Edaline shook her head at him. “D
Page 585 and 586:
Real wasn’t bad.But it was . . .
Page 587 and 588:
“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
Page 597 and 598:
“Or Keefette. Or Keefelle. Or Kee
Page 599 and 600:
best friend and see how Fitzy was h
Page 601 and 602:
counts.”“Has it ever occurred t
Page 603 and 604:
“Cadfael,” Sophie repeated, nee
Page 605 and 606:
She stalked deeper into the pasture
Page 607 and 608:
Breathing became a little easier. B
Page 609 and 610:
“Well, for one thing, the masking
Page 611 and 612:
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
Page 635 and 636:
Pyrokinetic is hardly reliable. Par
Page 637 and 638:
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
Page 661 and 662:
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
Page 687 and 688:
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
Page 699 and 700:
“Not like this. Our hives are cel
Page 701 and 702:
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
Page 727 and 728:
“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
Page 733 and 734:
something for their soporidine—so
Page 735 and 736:
answered Grady’s and Edaline’s
Page 737 and 738:
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
Page 747 and 748:
“But it looks like no one’s fil
Page 749 and 750:
I’d also be lost without my amazi
Page 751 and 752:
KEEPEROFTHELOSTCITIES.COMALADDINSIM
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