Someone thought about calling Dn, but everyone knew he was still unconscious.


    Mrs. Ferguson''s face was dark with anger. She watched as ra was dragged down the stairs, and gave a coldugh. "You really are something. First you pped Dn, and now you''ve put him in aa. ra, you''re nothing but trouble. You can''t stay here. And now that Dn''s out of the way, I''m taking you with me."


    ra didn''t say a word. Her eyes went to ckie.


    ckie stood to the side for a long moment, then finally spoke up. "Mrs. Ferguson..."


    He didn''t even get to finish before Mrs. Ferguson barked, "Shut up! If anyone says another word today, I''ll end my life right here on this doorstep!"


    With that, silence fell. No one dared to say a thing.


    Her people shoved ra into the car.


    ra hadn''t eaten in two days. She was exhausted-mind and body.


    The car moved ahead slowly, but ra had no clue where Mrs. Ferguson was taking her.


    Halfway there, Mrs. Ferguson called Tara.


    "Tara, I''ve taken ra from Palm Bay. I''m bringing her to the temple."


    In Mrs. Ferguson''s mind, ra must have done something to Dn-cursed him, maybe. ra was just too unlucky, too strange. She needed to be taken somewhere pure, somewhere spiritual, to cleanse her bad energy.


    Only after getting rid of ra''s "filth" did Mrs. Ferguson believe Dn would


    recover.


    A few days locked away, and then ra would be dealt with for good.


    Mrs. Ferguson had always been decisive, a big name back in the Capital. But the older she got, the more she believed in gods and spirits so much so that Tara could easily manipte her now.


    Tara heard everything, lips curling in a faint smile, but her voice stayed calm. "Mrs. Ferguson, please try not to let this upset you too much. Dn will be fine, I''m sure."


    The only reason anyone even knew about Dn''sa was thanks to Tara''s informant outside Palm Bay. He''d barely caught a glimpse, just enough to see Aiden''s panic and guess something bad had happened.


    After Tara slipped a word or two to Mrs. Ferguson, she''d rushed straight to Palm Bay herself. And just as Tara expected, Dn really was in trouble.


    Every step Tara took was calcted, perfectly timed. Sometimes it felt like even fate was on her side.


    Now that Mrs. Ferguson had taken ra away, Tara figured ra was as good as gone.


    People like her were bound to die somewhere far from home.


    As soon as she hung up, Tara called Flynn.


    UT


    "Uncle, didn''t you say you''d help me out? Now''s your chance. Dn''s unconscious, so you can make your move. ra''s being taken to a templ@outside the city-she should get there by nine tonight. Mrs Ferguson is with her, so make sure she stays safe."


    Mrs. Ferguson was still useful to her. She couldn''t let anything happen to her yet.


    To Tara, her uncle was powerful. Even if he rarely came to the Capital, people gave him plenty of respect.


    Flynn set aside the file he was reading-a dossier on ra from the Capital. She looked just average.


    Why would Dn be interested in someone like this?


    Any man with eyes would choose Tara over ra.


    But he didn''t care about the details. Getting rid of one woman was easy enough.


    Whether ra had ever been to the sanatorium or stumbled onto any secrets, he couldn''t let someone like her-someone so dangerous keep living. .


    "Tara, don''t worry. Your uncle will make sure everything is handled."


    Tara held back her excitement, then said a few sweet words to thank him.


    Meanwhile, in the car, Mrs. Ferguson gripped her prayer beads tightly, muttering under her breath.


    ra almostughed at the irony-how could someone believe so much in gods and spirits, and still plot to kill someone at the same time?


    Rich people, ra thought. Always looking for some kind offort.


    Two hourster, the car started winding up the mountain. Mrs. Ferguson finally opened her eyes and looked at ra.


    "The peach grove by the


    temple-those blossoms are for the pilgrims. They say the flowers at the very top bring the best luck. Dn risked everything-his legs, his recovery-to climb up and pick everyst blossom from those highest branches. The second I saw it, I just knew it was him. Once that boy sets his mind to something, he never looks back. Even when I was away from the Capital, I followed his news for years. He''s never let me down-except when ites to women. That''s where he''s failed me. ra, don''t me me. Everyone has their own fate. Dn has his, you have yours. After you''re gone, I''ll buy you a que at the temple."


    ra''s mind had been foggy, but hearing that, she suddenly looked up.


    "He picked the blossoms himself?"