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"Which brings us to the least sexy word in the English language, kids," Dad said, kicking back in his chair "Inbreeding Avoid it Think about dating outside the Vale"

Muht that it looked as if her spine was made of steel Dad rubbed a hand over the curve of her shoulder "You have a ave hiht on Muraines Kami wondered how many of her headaches over the years had been about sorcerers and secrets Mum looked back at Kami and said, "Some families were important once and aren’t anymore Like the Prescotts Power fades with time All power but the Lynburns’ They’re the ones to watch For your article"

"Article," Kaht"

Dad reached over and pulled a lock of Ten’s wavy bronze hair "Do you get the feeling that they’re talking about so other than an article?"

Ka forlornly askew on her plate "I don’t knohat you couldabout boys," Dad told Tomo and Ten "I believe your mother may have concerns about Kami and a Lynburn boy Possibly in a tree Potentially k-i-s-s-i-n-g I couldn’t say"

Kami stood up from her chair "Not likely" And how true that was

Her dad whistled cheerfully at her as she went out the door Ka up the whistle as she climbed the stairs, and the murmur of her mother’s voice She went to her bedroo out the lass, she saw her town on one side She saw the dark curve of the woods, starting fro with the manor

Sorry-in-the-Vale, the Sorrier River, sorry, sorrier, sorcerer Her town, and now she knew the truth of it She’d helped shape her toithnew to the world with her story Kas: discover truth and change the world What she needed to do now, before anything else, was discover all the truth

The Prescotts, herto figure out exactly when Holly had become friendly with her She only had Holly’s word for it that Holly had ever been attacked The Prescotts had once been powerful, her mother had said, and Holly had told Kaainst the Lynburns A Prescott ht choose the time of the Lynburns’ return to do it so a Lynburn would be blaht be born a sorcerer Power ht tempt Holly, if she had the opportunity to take it

Kaainst all the light and darkness of Sorry-in-the-Vale

The next day, Kale member of her team in school She didn’t have class with any of them on Wednesdays, but she didn’t see anyone in the cafeteria and her headquarters were deserted

It gave her room to think

By the time Kami cornered Holly in the corridor at the end of the day, she had already ht Holly smiled back, and Kami wondered if the s?" Ka as Ash Kami wondered how much more likely it was to be a sorcerer if you had a few drops of Lynburn blood in you "How are you?"

Why was Holly turning Kaht wildly Then she told herself to get a grip "Also fine!" she answered "Thank you for asking!"

Holly squinted at her, but she didn’t ask Kaht Kaela?" Kami asked in desperation She didn’t think she could bear to stand here doubting her friend for an instant longer

Holly’s face shut like a door, leaving her eyes glittering and cold "No idea," she snapped "I’m not interested in where she is or what she does"

While Ka, Holly turned on her heel and walked down the corridor Other people saw Ka the brush-off A wave ofto pretend nothing rong

Ka out her phone and calling Angela She stood in the center of the white tile floor, listening to the phone ring until it went to Angela’s voiceela’s recorded voice said, tinny and far-off in Ka Angela’s ho picked up, she breathed out in deep relief The breath froze on her lips when Rusty’s sleepy, good-natured voice said: "Rusty Montgo and then tell me how I can serve you"

"Rusty, for God’s sake," Ka?"

"Your h I’ rocer, then?"

"Mr Hanley has a very individual but coh She didn’t even kno to pretend to be nor hoeet, friendly Holly’s eyes had turned cold "Is Angela there?"

"No," Rusty said, his casual drawl co an instant too late to be natural

"Well," Ka her phone"