35 LYRIC Jarisstartedthecarandkickedusintotheroad.Initially,IthoughtIwaslucky,butitwasnt untilthatmomentthatIthought maybe,Jariswastryingtokillmeforeverythingthatjusthappened.Becausewhythehellwashegoingsofast!? Hewasdrivingatanincrediblespeed,makingallthebuildingsandpeoplepassbyinablur.
Ithoughthewasmad,butwhenIlookedathim,Isawamusementinhismetalliceyes.Then,itdawnedonmethathewasenjoyingthis,andhewasntdoingitbecausehewasmadorwantedtopunishme.
Ilaughedatsomepoint,alsoenjoyingthethrillofit.ButIsoonbecameworriedfromhowdangerousitwas.
IIthinkyoumightwanttoslowdown,Istutteredwhenwednarrowlymissedatruck.
Heglancedatmeandsmirked.Areyouafraid ofdying,LyricHarper? Goodness,hewasenjoying this!Butnow,Iwasntsomuch.
Hesteppedonthegaspedal,makingusgoevenfaster.Inareallydangerousway,hemaneuveredtrucksandcars.Hornsblaredangrilyatus.
Thepeoplearenotfindingthisfunny!Myvoiceroseanotch.
Oh,LyricHarper.Embracethethrillsometimesandlive.
Thethrill.
IswallowedhardasIlookedoutthewindow.
Iwouldntdeny;therewasapartofmethatfoundthisreallyfundespitehowscaryitwas.Livingmylifewithoutasinglefear….

AsmallsmiletouchedmylipsasIclosedmyeyesandallowedmyselftoenjoythefeeloftheairfromthewindowagainstmycheeksandmyhair.Itwasexhilarating.
Jarissuddenlystoppedonthebrakes,makingusbounceonourseats.Myexcitementvanished.
WhatinHades? Iheardalowchuckleandlookedathimtodiscoverhewastheonechucking.Andhe didthatonpurpose! Thatwasscary,Isaidwithafrown.
Iknow.ThoughtIdbringupalittlescaretothefun.
Ishookmyheadand endeduplaughing.
Then,itdawnedonme.JarisandIwereactingnormalforthefirsttimesinceIsawhiminafewweeks.Howdidthishappen? Tonight,IcouldcatchaglimpseofthatfunmanIdmetinabarfiveyearsago.Aglimpseofthatlovingman thathadtakenmetobed.
Heabandonedyouinthemorning,Lyric,andhadyoukickedout.
No.Ishutthevoiceout.Tonight,Iwasntgoingtodwellonthepast.Iwasgoingtoembracethepresent.
Thankyou,Isaidtohimwithalightsmile.
Helookedatme,hiseyesprobing.
ForhelpingwithRoderick.Andnotjudgingme,Iclarified.
Hesaidnothing,simplyshrugged,andsteppedonthepedal.*************** MARTA Martahatedthatshewashereatthemoment,butshedidnthaveachoicewhenhergrandmotherhadsummonedherherself.

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Shekeptherheadlowassheenteredherfamilysmansion.Fortunately,noneofthemwereinthelivingroom,exceptfortheservantscleaningupthepace.
Shetookthestairs,headingtohergrandmothe Onceuponatime,thismansionusedtobefull Successfullyunlocked! somuchfurNea empty,sad,andbothersome.
Shecouldperceivethesmellofburningincenseassheapproachedthedoor.Knockingtwice,shemadeherwayinandfoundhergrandmotherseatedonthefloor,variouscandlesburningaroundher.
Infrontofherwerebooksuponbooksand clumpofherbs.
1/2 35 Thewomanseyeswereclosedasshemutteredsomewords.
Martastoodbackwithherheadbowed.Hergrandmotherdidnotliketobeinterruptedwhenshewaspraying.
Haveyouanyideahowmuchofadisgraceyouare?Thewomanaskedafterawhile,hereyesstillclosed.Forsixyears,youonlyhadonetask:getAlphaJaristomakeyouhisLuna.
Thewomanopenedhereyes,thenslowly,turnedaroundtomeethergaze.Howdisappointingcouldyoube,Marta? Whatexactlyhaveyoubeendoing? Ivebeentrying,grandma.IIevengavehimkids.Ithoughtthatwouldbeenoughtomakehimchooseme.But- Well,itsobviousyourenotdoingenough!Thewomansnapped.HowcanyoubethereandhesplanningonmakingsomeoneelsehisLuna?Howuselesscanyoube,Marta? Martakeptherheadlow,tearsrimminghereyes.Ifithadbeenanyoneelse,shedhavespokenbackatthem.Butnothergrandmother.Thatwouldbehersigningherdeathsentence.
Thisfamilyhasgonedowninshambles!Hergrandmothercontinued,turningawayfromher.Weallputourhopesinyou,thinkingyoudbeabletohelpusout.Butwhatdidyoudo,Marta?Youveobviouslybeenthere,enjoyingtheprivilegethatcomeswithbeingJarisbabymama,whileyouleaveusheretorot! Marta frowned.Imsorry,Grandma.Believeme,Ivebeentrying.
Then,tryharder!Seetoitthatthematingceremonydoesnottake placethisFriday.Ifitdoes,wehavelost,Marta!AndyouIlbeuselesstome.
********** JARIS Afteralong,exhilaratingride,LyricandIarrivedatDarkspire,andIcouldseehowgratefulshewasthatwearrivedinonepiece.Hehadbeenveryscaredduringthewholeride,butIcouldalsotellthatatinypartofherhadenjoyedthethrill.

IcouldntexactlytellwhyIhadtheneedtodothiswithher.Iloveddrivinglikethat,butitwasoftenalone.Yettonight,Idbeentemptedtodoitwithher.
Illadmit,IdbeenshockedtoknowshewasstillbondedtoRoderick.ButitdidnttakeageniustoknowRoderickwasanassholewhowastryingtomanipulatethingsinhisfavour.Whenshesaidhedtreatedherlikeaslave,Ididnthaveahardtime believing.Becausethen,itprovedwhyshehadthisunderlyingfearinhereyes,likesomeonethatwasusedtobeinghurtbyothers.
RoderickwasluckyitwasagainsttherulestokillanotherAlphawhodidntpose aseriousthreatto others.
ShetoldmeshewantedtocheckonthekidstomakesureXylondidnthaveanotherepistle.Ifollowedher.
Wefoundoneofthenanniesatthedoor,andsheconfirmedthatXylonwasfinethroughouttheday.Lyricstillwentintotheroom.So,Iwaitedatthedoorframe.
Thebluelightswereonintheroom,sowecouldseehowpeacefullytheyslept.
IlookedatLyricinfrontofme andnoticedshewasstaring tookeenlyatthekids.Itwasalmostasifshewaslostforamoment.
Iheardalightsniffle,andmybrowscreasedontheirown.Wasshe…crying?No,thatwasntpossible.
Herhandwentoverherface beforesheturnedaround.
Theyrefine.Illcheckonhimagaininthemorning,Inoticedhervoicewasalittlehoarsethistime.Andhereyes…theywereglossy.
Didmykidsremindherofsomething? Notsayinganotherword,welefttheroomtogether.
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