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The clearing in the woods was much larger than the one at the heart of the Tides’ compound. It was bordered on one side by a river that stepped down the hill as it wove around smooth boulders. Lush foliage decorated the banks, and trees bowed low, trailing their branches in the burbling water. It couldn’t have been more unlike the deadly cold and stark alpine shores of the Snake River.
Around the area, torchlight wavered. Night was falling, the deep blue sky pierced by the stars that flickered to life one by one. Aria heard music. Two drums beating a rhythm, and strings as well. A few instruments had survived the crossing, then.
Sable was right. This place was beautiful. This land had promise. But she couldn’t separate the suffering of the people from the beauty of the place.
Across the field, the Tides gathered in subdued groups, standing, sitting in circles. Her eyes moved over them, her stomach twisting with anger. They didn’t look like guests at a party or like proud founders of a new settlement. They looked like what they were: captives.
Her gaze landed on Hyde. He was so easy to spot, tall as he was. Hayden and Straggler were scattered elsewhere, one close, the other across the field, near Twig. The remaining members of the Six looked lost without Reef, Gren, and Perry. Without one another.
Aria located Marron with a circle of children around him and saw Molly and Bear there too.
Sable’s people stood like watchdogs, strategically placed around the clearing, imposing with their weapons and black uniforms, horns twisting in sinister patterns on their chests.
“Great party,” she said.
Beside her, Loran said nothing.
As they walked toward the center of the clearing, where a table sat up on a dais, she spotted Caleb and Rune with a few other Dwellers. Of the thousand or so people in the clearing, the Dwellers made up a fraction. So much for their supposed superiority over Outsiders.
“Aria!”
Talon ran over, Willow on his heels. He wrapped his arms around Aria’s waist.
“Hey, Talon. ” She held him for a second, feeling better than she had since she’d left the cave. And keeping him close meant keeping Perry close in some way too.
Not far off, a few of Sable’s men watched them.
“We don’t know where Roar is,” Willow said. “No one’s telling us anything. ”
Her eyes were puffy and scared. She didn’t look like herself. No one looked like themselves.
“He’s fine,” Aria said. “I’m sure he’s fine. ”
“What if he’s not!” Several people looked over at Willow’s raised voice. “What if they shot him?”
“They didn’t. ”
“How do you know? They shot Reef and Gren. They shoot everybody!”
A low growl drew Aria’s attention to Flea.
“I will have that dog shot as well, if you can’t control him,” Sable said as he walked up. He spoke evenly, like he was stating a fact.
“I hate you!” W
illow yelled.
“You can’t do that!” Talon yelled. Flea’s barks became grittier and louder. Hyde came over, drawing Talon and Willow away. Hayden picked Flea up and carried him off.
Aria couldn’t believe that only the children would stand up to Sable. This place, which should have meant survival and freedom, was a prison.
Sable’s gaze fell on her. He smiled and held out his hand. “Join me? I have a special place set up for us. ”
She took his cold grip, only one thought in her mind.
Sable needed to die.
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