With a mix of hopelessness—that we cannot expect help from that corner, even if most of us knew it—and hope—that maybe now we can create something new of our lives without their shadow.
“Well, what are you going to do about it?” the old woman asks.
His tortured gaze turns to me again, and Iknow.
I know what he is going to do, and my anxiety vanishes in a rush of anger.
“We’re going to stop them, of course,” I say briskly.
Kovan’s gaze darkens. “This will be dangerous, Tasa. You should stay—”
“I deal with dangerous every day. I’m a null, remember?” I glare at him. “Someonetold me recently that makes me powerful. Or is that only when you don’t want an audience?”
Before he can respond, the old woman announces, “Good. Tasa’s one of us. Someone from Crystal Hollow should be there. Get on now, both of you. Shoo!”
She whacks us both on the butt with a broom, which jolts me into action despite the way my brain is fritzing, and I take off at a run.
Of all people,shejust claimed me for Crystal Hollow.
Accepted me as arepresentative.
Yes, okay, it’s probably because this way she doesn’t have to put herself in danger and also that if I get it wrong they’ll feel comfortable disavowing whatever I decided—
But despite the fact that I moved to the mountain, and that I’ve caused her and everyone else countless problems over the years, I am still part of Crystal Hollow.
And Idoget a say.
So when Kovan reaches for me as I hurry along, as if to stop me, to slow me down, I shake him off.
That is not what I need from him.
“Tasa,” he growls.
“No,” I snap. “You think I don’t realize that you’re planning on sacrificing yourself?”
He jerks back like I’ve struck him.
“You can take the scales past Yora’s sphere of influence, and then they won’t be able to connect anything to Zan,” Kovan saysurgently. “You won’t be in trouble for harboring a dragon, or me—”
“Yes yes, you’re very noble. They really did a good job with you, didn’t they? You’ll always jump to sacrifice yourself.”
That finally gets through to him. He snaps, “I’m doing this foryou.”
“WellI don’t want it.” I whirl and shove him. “I wantyou, you absolute lunkhead!”
His eyes flash gold.
But then it fades, his expression growing pained.
It makes me madder.
“Is this your limit then?” I demand. “You try for one whole day, and that’s all you have in you?”
“Tasa, I don’thavemore days—”
I start running again.
I am not waiting for anyone to see that I’m worth keeping.
