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"Opal, is so?" he asked

"No Why would you think that?"

"You never stay after the soldiers leave for their shift Did the Councilor give you the day off?"

"I wish"

He waited

"I’ out like I had hoped, and I need to figure another way" I shrugged, trying to downplaythe wheelbarron, he stepped closer to estured No one paid us any attention "I’ll let theet close to--"

"No"

"I can help"

"Ulrick won’t talk to you I need to get inside"

The shock on his face lasted a second before he grabbed my shoulders He pulled"No, don’t I won’t let you" Real fear filled his eyes

"You can’t--"

"I have heard horror stories about the conditions and the prisoners The COs threaten us with it to keep us in line No I’ll go and force Ulrick to tell o, Devlen" When I realized he wasn’t backing down, I said, "I can handle , I had an edge

He closed his eyes as if enduring a surge of pain, then pulledmy arms around his bare torso I inhaled his familiar scent--a mix of spice and sun The same smell I remembered from when I had lain with him after… But he had been in Ulrick’s body then Odd

Devlen drew back to aze "Promise me you’ll be careful?"