a P

Corie back to me. He didn't answer my qu

do you

pond. It was noncommittal, but it wasn't a d

turned my attention to Aden, who was

s been sick with worry for three years. In all that time, did

er. Because th

ce. "Tell me, who was it that 'accidentally' dropped the Sunstone Cha

truck her. "No... that's n

to Elna. "Mother, you say you love me. On the day they

her head, her face a m

hrowing me into hell, then complaining that I tracke

r. "Your guilt is seeing my wounds, and then ru

less heap of despair. Aden's face was a mottl

purged a poison that had been choking me for ye

card to play. I turned back, my

e light, almost cheerful. "I hear Lord Klein and Miss Powers are

now became explosive. Corie instinctively stra

wed. He hadn't expec

ight! Their union is blessed by the High Sovereign himself! It i

I wanted. A genuine

an 'outsider' like me shouldn't be here,

u sell me back to the Blackore Mines? Or

talking abou

money for the family, and it would allow Miss Powers to prepare for her wedding

om. It was a checkmate. If they kept me, it proved I had value t

Corie's face cycled t

ciation in his eyes. The girl who used to follow him around like a lost

rned and began the long, painful walk

ing with rage, but a hand shot

n," Derrick said

se side are you on? Don't forget, it's