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"Only what everybody says," Holly said, low

"And what does everybody say?" Jared deela announced

"You’re an outsider," said Holly

Angela’s face was both angry and hurt for a er

"You are," Holly told her, looking desperate to make her understand "You and Rusty only o Most of the faenerations Some have been here since the start"

"The start of what?" Jared snarled "Since the Lynburns founded their private kingdoether? Since then?"

"They’re just stories," Holly said "Stories about settling in Sorry-in-the-Vale because it was a good place, a ical place Where ere all meant to be, and the price paid is worth it They’re just local legends, though, just stuff my dad says when he’s drunk They’re not true Nobody can really doKami had heard other people fro for crops not to fail and storms to pass, but she realized now she’d heard herhappened to scare her, as if to reassure herself: the Lynburns are gone

As if the Lynburns were genies who could grant wishes, andto leap, all at once

Jared watched Holly with cold eyes He said, "Noe’re back"

At Holly’s feet, her helmet shattered into pieces of crystal and bone Holly bit her lip and looked to Angela as if she was her only possible source of coela stared at the pale and translucent shards on the floor, and her expression grew even ot up, with her hands placed flat on the desk "You’re paying for that, buddy," she said mildly

"I don’t believe you can read each other’s ician or a criela told Jared, and then looked at Kami "But you’refreak is not convincing you that he can talk to you in your head, for God’s sake"

Kaela look evenfor proof, and that Kami could handle

"What we need to do," Kami said, "is run a test I want you to co you’ve never told me before And then Jared will tell Holly what you told !"

Kaela in the eye "You’re so sure it’s not true," she said "Don’t you want to prove it?"

Angela held her gaze for an instant longer "Fine," she snapped, and turned, her black hair flying like a cape fro up the ground in four long, sela’s curled ht?" she asked

Holly reached out and touched Angela’s hand, fingers twining briefly around hers

"Yeah," she said, and sie nodded at Holly and walked on

"This is all going to be totally fine, I have a plan," Kaht," Holly said She looked doubtful, but that was possibly because Kauy who looked on the edge and ready to juela did not look doubtful in the least as she and Kah-heeled boots sounded like gunshots, going down every step

"You’re ela’s stern face "I could always trust you never to think I was crazy"

"Your faith is touching but totally ela said "I believe you to be a permanent inhabitant of cloud-cuckoo-land, and this year youelected mayor" She reached the botto into Kami’s "But you can trust ela hesitated for adown at Kami She still looked furious, but she leaned forward Her face was still set and angry, but she brushed the hair gently back froot back, they found Jared kneeling before Holly Kaht: Holly was pretty popular with guys, but in Kami’s experience they seldom literally threw themselves at her feet They all looked down at Jared’s bowed blond head and saas gathering up the shards of crystal and frag with ic

The air in their headquarters seeh ht But not any snohile the bone glowed ivory as if discovered by candlelight at night

Jared looked up "I can’t fix it," he said The corner of his mouth came up in a tired, crooked half ss thanthem I’m sorry I’ll buy you a new one"

"Okay," said Holly "I like bright colors Maybe red or orange"

Jared’s eyebrow lifted "Okay" He stood, crystal and bone falling from his open hands He was one of those boys who uys were shaped froic Kaast?" Holly wanted to know, her voice very soft

Jared flinched "I didn’t kill her My aunt Lillian says we’re going to find out who did"

He looked at Kaela, who nodded Holly took a deep breath

"What is Angela’s secret?" she asked

Kanized the look on Jared’s face, intent and withdrawn She’d seen the sarateful to hiela’s privacy, though Jared and Kaela’s never kissed anybody"

Holly laughed "What? But of course Angie’s--"