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Gabriel floats for a while in the silence. He feels like he is floating on the ceiling when the dog enters his thoughts again.

He is using you.

When Gabriel opens his eyes, he is on the floor.

“Who?”

The Wizard of Oz.

“He has asked me to be useful and I wish to be useful for him.”

But what do you want?

Gabriel closes his eyes again. Some of the intoxication is wearing off. There is a bottle of Oil beside him, half empty now. He is not a regular user like his brother and the thought crosses his mind that he’s already had too much.

What do I want? he thinks.

I want to be free.

THIRTY-ONERook

The God of the West is sitting in my drawing room, drinking a fresh bottle of pumpkin ale as he requested.

“Why are you not fighting me?” I ask.

“Would you prefer I did? Does that get your jollies in a twist?”

I snort at the sarcasm, but truly, I detest passivity.

“It makes me feel like you are lying in wait.”

“I am not a predator,” he says and sets the bottle on the table. “Not like you.”

“Predator.” I scoff. “That’s rich coming from you.”

“Is it? Do I detect an accusation in the flatness of your words?”

“I’m sure you know what I’m referring to.”

“Truly, I don’t. Enlighten me.”

It’s been several hours since we arrived back at the Emerald Palace. I half expected Kansas to follow right behind and was disappointed when she didn’t.

Was I baiting her?

Yes.

But then again, she barely believes in her own power, let alone knows how to use it. Bayla did report back to me that Kansas and my brother used the silver slippers to transport themselves out of the north before Bayla could get them to surrender.

Well done, Kansas.

But she will be here today. I am sure of it.

I will be ready.

“Do you plan to kill me?” Blue asks.

“I think so.”