Blackfeather Woods With strange aeons even death may die

Maybe, she said vaguely. She didn't know the nature of her old mentor's relationship with Damien, nor even the extent of it. Maegi had to believe that if push came to shove, Kove would side with her; they had always been so fond of each other. But that was hypothetical, and hypotheticals had no place in a time of action.

Her jaw firmed. I'll keep an eye out for Flicker, she said resolutely. And I'll tell Mou to do the same. And for the rest of them, too. See if they come. I wonder if Nyx would tell me why Damien wants us. . . Nyx had once been close to her heart, too. Maybe nostalgia could be used to get some information. She doubted it, but it was worth a try.

"Clusterfuck" wasn't a word in Maegi's vocabulary; had it been, she might have looked at Ramsay and uttered it then. As it was, she merely shook her head, appalled by the events of the past few days. Thanks for letting me know, she said. I guess I have to be more careful with who I trust, in the future.

fade here? you can PP them exiting separately or together if you wish