waiting," Brenda said, her

rward, her eyes fi

wasn't on the

n the gold Wa

smile spread

ica said, her voice smoo

Jessica rarely thought

ed into Alex' s family. Comfo

ked to me, full of

must be the key to a life of leisure, suppo

And she' d drawn t

to Alex, a gilded cage

" Jessica declared, reaching

e you saying? The Trailblazer i

e killed. Used up and thrown away. No, tha

an have the Trailblazer, little sister. Go on, knock

. A dis

d she was snatchi

rther, Jessica' s fingers clos

umphant smirk on her

r, almost invisible, pulsed from

sealed," as fami

Jessica! You foolish gi

ring her favored daughter got

t

I reached for the si

almost alive

a different shimmer, brighter,

, her face a mask o

er voice venomous. "

aze, my exp

de her choi

ted. Not of triumph, not

intellect. Opportunity. A pat

I desperat

ed, the words tasting like ash in her mouth. "But this isn't

changed e

m, looked smug. "Enjoy your struggles

ht of the Trailblazer in

nd Jessica had just han