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“We found them in the woods,” Kinneret said. “Alem took us out really far, but we’re not supposed to tell Ivet.”
“Tell me what?” Ivet said as she approached. A large but thin turtle’s shell hung at her back, and she had leather turtle-flippers sewn onto her gloves.
Alem flinched. Verve bit back a laugh. But the village leader only smiled at the two children and beckoned. “Come along. We’re about to eat.”
Both kids shrieked with joy and raced past her, making a beeline for the table now loaded with food. Ivet rolled her eyes fondly, then glanced between Verve and Alem. “Join us whenever you’re ready.”
As Ivet went back to the others, Alem cut his eyes to Verve. “You don’t have to join us unless you want to.” He held out his hand and smiled. “But I’d really like it if you did.”
The apprehension she’d felt while hidden in the barn’s shadows faded away with that smile. She was free; she could stay in Lotis, maybe try to build something good. The life she never knew she wanted lay within her grasp.
All she had to do was take it. Verve slid her hand into his and grinned. “Let’s go.”
