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I nod.

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

For a second, I want to touch him.

That scares me enough that I leave.

Not because he did anything wrong.

Because I am not ready to find out what one touch might make me want next.

By sundown, Raven is almost ready for his final ride.

That matters more than anything happening between Bitter and me.

The School of the Dead prepares him.

I prepare him.

Mercy lets me handle the final color at his temple and the damaged hand. Junie fixes his hair. We arrange his cut exactly the way Hyde requested.

When we finish, Raven looks like himself.

Not alive.

That would be wrong.

Himself.

Death is still there.

It is simply no longer allowed to be the only thing anyone sees.

Mercy stands beside me beneath the preparation lights.

“You did the temple.”

“Yes.”

“And the hand.”

“Yes.”

She examines both.

I try not to hold my breath.

Mercy smiles.

Not big.

Mercy does nothing big unless it involves threats.

“Good work.”

Pride hits me so hard my eyes sting.