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“I don’t believe you”

“And I suppose you have a better theory What did you think we came in here for, a dare? To stuff our pilloith extra fluff? Maybe a lovely little fragrance pot for the corner of our—”

He bristled again, and blistering heat crunched down onneed to shut up washed over me

“We struck a bargain,” he said “The past grievances of your village and your brother are erased I will show them no wrath Come now You must pay for your sins”

The ent out of me I looked down at the everlass plants one last time as tears clouded my vision I nodded, to myself mostly, and picked my way forward

He waited beyond the birch, tall and stoic against the dark wood I faced hih

“Do you want your weapons?” he asked

I huffed “Would they do any good?”

He didn’t answer Just stared

I shrugged indifferently and collected the it back in er

“You could’ve been incredible one day, Finley,” he said

The enored for me

I swung ed off his arolden eyes blinked shut and then his teeth closed against my body