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"What?" Phaelan asked

"Just a fun fact to know and share Conjuring up the dead relatives of Caesolian courtiers el supplements his incoel’s roo a very efficient and professional job of it for a refor in practice He’d just discovered a co a jumble of small boxes and papers He took out a white stone box The entire thing fit in the palm of his hand It had been sealed with black wax, but the seal had been broken Quentin opened the box

The world exploded Or at least my corner of it

I found ut If there was any air in the alley, I couldn’t find it My vision swam, and pain stabbed behind my eyes I heard someone whimper I think it wasI didn’t want to identify, its stench the only thing keepingout I di e to make my own contribution to the pile of scraps next to , but didn’t let go I was grateful I don’t think I could have stayed upright on my own I raised my head slowly until my eyes were level with the street I resisted the is I took a few steady breaths My vision began to clear

"Raine?" He sounded worried That made two of us

I tried to answer, but

"Are you all right?"

I thought about nodding, but decided against it "Think so"

"What happened?"

"I think Quentin just found what he was looking for"

Unfortunately, I was right Sons of putting the whatever-it-was back in the box, and my head hurt too much to maintain contact with him until he did Fine I broke contact He was on his own I assu out soon I sat back against the wall of the alley, watched the door where he had gone in, and concentrated on breathing Breathing was good

No alarms went off, no lamps were lit in the servants’ quarters or anywhere else in the house The street was quiet The few people who passed the alley with ht I was either drunk or had just beenhim?" Phaelan asked

Glass shattered A lot of it It sounded like it cael’s house This was followed by shouting I recognized Quentin’s voice It sounded like he had found his good friend Trouble, and they had el’s bedroom Phaelan helped me to my feet and then sprinted toward the back of the house I ditchedhow I felt,No use worrying about waking the neighbors now