with you and Aaron

e of questioning in as many days, and so f

thi

and I shot hi

it started when I t

ed, latching onto t

each other from the

that," She said, dismi

wonder he's been crab

You mean he's not usua

d to miss, but I thought that was just our restless lifest

temper, but not like this. What

for our brother in exchange f

rn to raise an eye

sked, ignoring L

ould've

" Dave said, cu

as o

oug

d. It was the first time either of u

rls some food," he said, g

said we c

with Aaro

t having to choose between his brother's wrat

ting to my feet. "I'm ha

s face, followed

you," Lills said, thread

y through the curtain with h

that easily did you?" she asked

yes. "It was

leave you alone

I said, practically dra

S

nd he's not getting over this one a

was it

ie to here. "I brought up his

ay

I suppose

ith you! You have to go

ha

d instead of saying thank you, you bring

least she'd taken the bait. Or had it been me that'd taken it?

ed to Dave th

hat's go

eed a f

olves Aaron

no

t be good. "

. You know... Had a c

to do with Aaron

It would only be for one night and it would m

t to smack my own head against the closest r

es

d Aaron abou

es

nd

to stay with him, you h

tay with him! I'd only

kno

o be somewhere

ad. "Dave tried. He

e want

at they don'

," I said, pointing at my burnt skin, "just reminds them that a Shadow Man bit me. The onl

hate that I'm aski

rushed look on her face even m

ka

I'll as

around me, hugging

untangle myself with a smil

wait to t

to wait til Aaro

said, tightenin

re of life, but packed with long tables, the type that could be folded down and carried elsewhere if needed. Hand made b

en til nine, though leftovers could always be found. We walked to the back of the empty room a

ps of blondish hair perfectly manicured into a blunt line across the middle of her f

a. Mind

aid, her unfamiliar acce

ust w

no food

frustration and Burney

hispered, tuning out D

oesn't want to gi

oesn’t. Would it

gged. "

"Thanks fo

from the room. Lillith shot me a pleading look, but stay

me?" I asked, picking

e g

t ga

n,” he said, hurryi

terestin

n in since he got back and I wanna see him play. Big Ji

d of game

d, leading me out i

ring the black looks that followed us. Their displeasure was aimed at me more than him, but I go

ne of onlookers and fr

had muscle on top of muscle and sprouted more where they shouldn't exist. He looked like he'd

hree times me across and well defined, though you could never tell just how much until he had his shirt off. His hawk tattoo glistened with the trai

ck. My stomach rose to my throat at the sound of the landing thwack. Aaron grunted and faltered back, giving him

four markers. Aaron leapt off to the side and crouched behind his opponent, oblivio

ppening? I

aron's gonna try to nab the flag in t

just quit now? It's

d, shaking his head like I was an idiot. "And i

s size, but Aaron had already dashed forward. Big Jim knew what

to keep his back and his flag as far as possible from Aaron. His face went red and he took anoth

against him as he reached round and yanked the yellow strip of cloth free. The crowd around

r side of the cavern. I watched in disgust as all manner of trinkets passed hands. Someone yelled something I couldn't quite hear, but the crowd unders

said, pushing free o

. And it's go

? Beating

g my comment. "I wasn't sure if he stil

did Aar

d. "Back to hi

along the wall so I could steer

going?" Burney asked, cat

cking on

t a goo

urtain. "Why don't you go watch the next beati

lit up. "

aid, pushing the

his bed with his eyes closed, ho

stopping just short of him.