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with my next sentence automatically as I scanned the crowd to see who I’d upset。 “The remaining three
grandparents are customarily involved…”
No one was upset with me。 Every head was turned in the same direction I was looking。 My eyes
skipped across the backs of their heads to the dark exit。
The first thing I saw was Jamie’s slight figure； clinging to someone’s arm。 Someone so dirty； head to toe；
that he almost blended right in with the cave wall。 Someone too tall to be Jeb； and anyway； there was Jeb
just behind Jamie’s shoulder。 Even from this distance； I could see that Jeb’s eyes were narrowed and his
nose wrinkled； as if he were anxious—a rare emotion for Jeb。 Just as I could see that Jamie’s face was
bright with sheer joy。
“Here we go；” Ian muttered beside me； his voice barely audible above the crackle of the flames。
The dirty man Jamie was still clinging to took a step forward。 One of his hands rose slowly； like an
involuntary reflex； and curled into a fist。
From the dirty figure came Jared’s voice—flat； perfectly devoid of any inflection。 “What is the meaning
of this； Jeb？”
My throat closed。 I tried to swallow and found the way blocked。 I tried to breathe and was not
successful。 My heart drummed unevenly。
Jared！Melanie’s exultant voice was loud； a silent shriek of elation。 She burst into radiant life inside my
head。Jared is home！
“Wanda is teaching us all about the universe；” Jamie babbled eagerly； somehow not catching on to
Jared’s fury—he was too excited to pay attention； maybe。
“Wanda？”Jared repeated in a low voice that was almost a snarl。
There were more dirty figures in the hall behind him。 I only noticed them when they echoed his snarl with
an outraged muttering。
A blond head rose from the frozen audience。 Paige lurched to her feet。 “Andy！” she cried； and stumbled
through the figures seated around her。 One of the dirty men stepped around Jared and caught her as she
nearly fell over Wes。 “Oh； Andy！” she sobbed； the tone of her voice reminding me of Melanie’s。
Paige’s outburst changed the atmosphere momentarily。 The silent crowd began to murmur； most of them
rising to their feet。 The sound was one of wele now； as the majority went to greet the returned
travelers。 I tried to read the strange expressions on their faces as they forced grins onto their lips and
“It’s going to be okay； Wanda；” Ian murmured under his breath。
I glanced at him wildly； searching for that same guilt on his face。 I didn’t find it； only a defensive
tightening around his vivid eyes as he stared at the newers。
“What the hell； people？” a new voice boomed。
Kyle—easily identifiable by his size despite the grime—was shoving his way around Jared and heading
toward… me。
“You’re letting it tell you its lies？ Have you all gone crazy？ Or did it lead the Seekers here？ Are youall
parasites now？”
Many heads fell forward； ashamed。 Only a few kept their chins stiffly in the air； their shoulders squared：
Lily； Trudy； Heath； Wes… and frail Walter； of all people。
“Easy； Kyle；” Walter said in his feeble voice。
Kyle ignored him。 He walked with deliberate steps toward me； his eyes； the same vibrant cobalt as his
brother’s； glowing with rage。 I couldn’t keep my eyes on him； though—they kept returning to Jared’s
dark shape； trying to read his camouflaged face。
Melanie’s love flowed through me like a lake bursting through a dam； distracting me even more from the
enraged barbarian closing the distance quickly。
Ian slid into my view； moving to place himself in front of me。 I strained my neck to the side to keep my
view of Jared clear。
“Things changed while you were gone； brother。”
Kyle halted； face slack with disbelief。 “Did the Seekers e； then； Ian？”
“She’s not a danger to us。”
Kyle ground his teeth together； and from the corner of my eye； I saw him reach for something in his
pocket。
This captured my attention at last。 I cringed； expecting a weapon。 The words stumbled off my tongue in
a choked whisper。 “Don’t get in his way； Ian。”
Ian didn’t respond to my plea。 I was surprised at the amount of anxiety this caused me； at how much I
didn’t want him hurt。 It wasn’t the instinctive protection； the bone…deepneed to protect； that I felt for
Jamie or even Jared。 I just knew that Ian should not be harmed trying to protect me。
Kyle’s hand came back up； and a light shone out of it。 He pointed it at Ian’s face； held it there for a
moment。 Ian didn’t flinch from the light。
“So； what； then？” Kyle demanded； putting the flashlight back in his pocket。 “You’re not a parasite。 How
through the silent spectators。 As he got closer； Jamie still clinging to his hand with a bewildered
expression； I could read his face better under the mask of dirt。 Even Melanie； all but delirious with
happiness at his safe return； could not misunderstand the expression of loathing there。
Jeb had wasted his efforts on the wrong people。 It didn’t matter that Trudy or Lily was speaking to me；
that Ian would put himself between his brother and me； that Sharon and Maggie made no hostile move
toward me。 The only one who had to be convinced had now； finally； decided。
“I don’t think anyone needs to calm down；” Jared said through his teeth。 “Jeb；” he continued； not
looking to see if the old man had followed him forward； “give me the gun。”
The silence that followed his words was so tense I could feel the pressure inside my ears。
From the instant I could clearly see his face； I’d known it was over。 I knew what I had to do now；
Melanie was in agreement。 As quietly as I could； I took a step to the side and slightly back； so that I
would be clear of Ian。 Then I closed my eyes。
“Don’t happen to have it on me；” Jeb drawled。
I peeked through narrowed eyes as Jared whirled to assess the truth of Jeb’s claim。
Jared’s breath whistled angrily through his nostrils。 “Fine；” he muttered。 He took another step toward
me。 “It will be slower this way； though。 It would be more humane if you were to find that gun