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Tam, Linh, and Lady Zillah, standing in a round room under anopen skylight, surrounded by threads of inky black shadowflux.
TWENTY-FIVEDON’T LET GO!” LADY ZILLAH shouted as the shadowflux twisted andthrashed, fighting to break free of Tam’s hold.He spun his hands, dragging the darkness closer—each thread somuch blacker than the other shadows filling the round alcove.So much more solid and wild.So terrifyingly familiar.And with that thought, the monster in Sophie’s mind stirred.Stretched its legs.Sharpened its claws.But Sophie refused to let the nightmares take control.She stumbled back, pressing her shoulders against the nearest wallto keep her balance as she stared at the stars through the openskylight, imagining herself soaring toward the moon with Silveny—racing for the light.Leaving the shadows far behind.And with every slow, deep breath, she caged the monster in.“You okay?” Fitz whispered.She glanced his way, realizing he was slumped against the wall,both hands pressed over his heart, crutches balanced precariouslyagainst his shoulder.She nodded. “Are you?”“I think so. But maybe we should—”
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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
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backup bodyguard’s going to be?
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The tiny female gnome was one of So
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Which of course meant the bad news
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“Yeah, bring on the weapons,” T
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ELEVENSOPHIE WAS ONE HUNDRED PERCEN
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“I didn’t command it,” Tam ar
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But darkness is vital—and not bec
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encounter with the kind of force th
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“Light is not the answer,” Lady
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Darkness flooded Sophie’s mind. B
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kicked free and crawled up and out.
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“I don’t think that’s a good
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Well . . .That almost made sense.As
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And Magnate Leto’s slip now made
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“Because I think I might understa
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Something inside Sophie shriveled,
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THIRTEENWELL, I THINK IT’S SAFE t
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So now the Neverseen even got to co
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chance to top the Great Gulon Incid
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“Okay, how were you not in the fi
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make getting dressed way easier. Bu
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And that kind of conviction doesn
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“Uh, we’re supposed to be keepi
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“You still up for it, Foster?”
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“Foot . . . energy . . . ,” Sop
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“Ready?” Ro asked, snatching an
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FOURTEENIT TOOK ELWIN MOST OF the n
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you’re going to make them wear gl
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“Cool—the Prattles kraken! I’
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“I thought we’d start with cold
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She gave him half a shrug—and a f
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nailed the breath control trick on
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Then again, wasn’t it better that
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FIFTEENHOW LONG HAVE I BEEN asleep?
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“Your pulse is also racing,” El
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He switched to a red orb around Fit
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“Probably pretty soon,” Sophie
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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
Page 303 and 304: “Wouldn’t you rather do it not
Page 305 and 306: repeated the process with Fitz’s
Page 307 and 308: TWENTYTHE FIRST STEP,” TIERGAN SA
Page 309 and 310: “Then the masking fades, the same
Page 311 and 312: “That’s it.”“That’s it?
Page 313 and 314: TWENTY-ONETHE GILDED MEMORIES CALLE
Page 315 and 316: I can do that now if you want, Keef
Page 317 and 318: me break down like that.Anger burne
Page 319 and 320: matching tunics that say, My Legacy
Page 321 and 322: “Yes, well, I’ve never felt you
Page 323 and 324: Couldn’t have been that big, Fitz
Page 325 and 326: assuming you can find the right wor
Page 327 and 328: Then Keefe whispered, “I think we
Page 329 and 330: No idea. This one’s way more dama
Page 331 and 332: —but she highly doubted that was
Page 333 and 334: Keefe reeled toward Sophie and Fitz
Page 335 and 336: “But she didn’t tell me anythin
Page 337 and 338: You okay? she asked Fitz when she n
Page 339 and 340: scribbled questions.”Ro shrugged.
Page 341 and 342: TWENTY-FOURWHO’S READY TO GET OUT
Page 343 and 344: “Wow,” she whispered, letting o
Page 345 and 346: Her mind flashed to the monster, bu
Page 347 and 348: Yeah. That’s why I haven’t chec
Page 349 and 350: easy way to stop or pivot direction
Page 351 and 352: Fitz cleared his throat and shifted
Page 353: And their hurried pace was smoother
Page 357 and 358: the attack.”“Really?” Linh as
Page 359 and 360: you’d probably be sleeping. Oh—
Page 361 and 362: Just like Sophie couldn’t stop wi
Page 363 and 364: “Thanks for all the visits,” Fi
Page 365 and 366: TWENTY-SIXWHY ARE THEY WAITING UNTI
Page 367 and 368: “I’m not leaving early,” he s
Page 369 and 370: The echo was only a tiny part of he
Page 371 and 372: “Check in when you can,” she to
Page 373 and 374: Lots more patience.Plus a long list
Page 375 and 376: Boy reference? Because you know I h
Page 377 and 378: “But you know they have to be hum
Page 379 and 380: “Why not?” Sophie had to ask.
Page 381 and 382: turned out to be her protector and
Page 383 and 384: “Here,” Mr. Forkle said when sh
Page 385 and 386: of weather vane. The third might’
Page 387 and 388: “No, we’re long past that. The
Page 389 and 390: He crouched to study the metal anim
Page 391 and 392: even sound like words, just gibberi
Page 393 and 394: stopped in front of a cluster of wi
Page 395 and 396: “Okay, what was that?” she aske
Page 397 and 398: “Fake caches,” Mr. Forkle corre
Page 399 and 400: “Mr. Dizznee has made some simple
Page 401 and 402: “What about the other thing you t
Page 403 and 404: 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
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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
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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
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Tarina shook her head. “It would
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Out loud she added, “And I was al
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way she kept glancing over her shou
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“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
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“Is it me, or is it super stuffy
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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
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Sophie wasn’t a fan either. There
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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
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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
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Sandor and Bo, off a cliff. She may
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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
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“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
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Mr. Forkle nodded. “The Council
Page 623 and 624:
“No,” Mr. Forkle called back to
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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
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ability, and it was time to undo th
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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
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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