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"No way They’re all terrified of the warden" I didn’t blame them "We could transfer in fro to join the force in Fulgor and advance through to the elite unit" And save years

Valek suppressed a sh the paperould have to be forged It will take a couple weeks to set it up" He glanced at the s "It’s late Maybe a better solution will co"

When I woke the next day, no sudden insight into our dile clothes and joined Nic and Eve for oursession I worked self-defense drills with Eve and sparred Nic

"Dairl," Nic said after I slipped past his block and scored a hit "You’ve i-time, and I don’t think it’s because of us"

"And you haveskills," Eve added She arched an eyebrow atwith you for almost two seasons," I said "Give yourself soed a look, and I braced for another round of questions

But Nic shrugged "Doesn’tthis part of you Reminds me of the Opal from before"

"Before when?" I asked

Eve shot her partner a warning look, but he ignored her "Before you lost your or with fire in your eyes"

"And it ended badly"

"No it didn’t No one died and you stopped a dangerous plot I get that you have battle scars and need ti past it The fire is co back"

Eve and I stared at Nic in astonishment

He reddened "What? I do work in law enforce, Eve patted his shoulder "We know You’re just not usually so…eloquent about it"

Nic preened as he and Eve filed into HQ with the other guards to report for duty I remained in the yard The construction crew arrived and buzzed around the half-completed extension Masons laid bricks and the prisoners ray-coloredDevlen and a few others had pulled down the top of their prison jumpers and tied the outside, but pale scars on his back stood out

I realized I knew nothing about his life before he becas? What were his parents like? I hadn’t even seen him without a shirt When his soul had occupied Ulrick’s body, I’d been intimate with him But in his own body, he hadn’t tried to seduceho I thought had been Ulrick Could I claiht he was Ulrick, but Devlen said he never pretended about his feelings toward uised as Ulrick It had been his addiction to blood ic that had driven him to force h term for how I felt about hihts to the present My gaze once again sought Devlen a the workers He pushed the wheelbarrow around as if it was a toy, and he towered over most of the other prisoners He had allowed his black hair to grow long It reached past his shoulder blades

I was about to go when Devlen caughtaround, he wheeled the barroard , but didn’t see Pellow’s broad shape