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"I'm fine."

"Sabina." Her face softens and she steps away from me. "I can't imagine what you've been through, but I can empathize with it. When everything seems dire and you don't see a way out, it can be kind of suffocating."

As she talks, my eyes slide up to the scar on her forehead. There can't be a pleasant story behind that.

"But you need to trust the people around you and if you don't trust me, then trust Cassian. He came halfway around the world for you. That's got to speak volumes."

Just like that, the knotting in my gut eases slightly as warmth blooms in my chest. She's right. No matter the reason, Cassian came for me and he's still here helping me. The least I can do is not let my own worries mess up what seems to be a plan to help me.

"Okay," I say with a deep, calming breath. "I'm kind of terrified but I'm okay."

"Doing things while terrified is called bravery." She lifts her hand and lightly pats my cheek. "Now. Let's go get your daughter."

Valentina leads the way up the stairwell one floor at a time. It takes so long that by the time we reach Illyana's floor, my T-shirt clings to my back from sweat, my cheeks are burning hot, and the pain in my thighs makes me miss being crouched behind the bin. I gasp for air and cling to the railing as Valentina, seemingly unaffected, hauls open the door and peeks out into the hallway.

Whatever she sees makes her smile, and she motions for me to follow her.

After another deep breath, I do. Stepping out of the stairwell, I brush damp, stray hairs away from my forehead and try to shake my hair free from my clammy neck until I spot a group of tall, broad men all dressed in black halfway down the corridor.

Fear like ice spears through my chest and I lurch for Valentina's wrist without thinking. "Val!" Their tactical armor and dark clothing are reminiscent of the men Mario had wandering his driveway.

"It's okay," Val reassures me. "They're with me."

"What?" My eyes widen, and I slow my pace so that she remains between the strangers and me. "What is going on?"

"Did you think we would be doing this without backup?" From the sly curl of her lips, I get the distinct impression that she's enjoying teasing me.

"Marcus." She greets the tall man at the front of the group. "How are we looking?"

"We took out all the guards on the floor. Given what we observed from check-ins, we have about fifteen minutes before someone raises the alarm." He lifts both his hands and grips the straps of his armor. "She's in there."

Valentina nods and spins on her heel to face me. "Okay, Sabina. It's your turn."

"My turn?" I stare at her blankly.

"You're the only one with a chance of getting Illyana to leave without causing a fuss."

My heart, strained from the hike up the stairs, flutters up into my throat. "You can't be serious."

"Deadly." She lifts her hand and angles her watch face toward her. "And we're on the clock so if you could…?" With a click of her teeth, she jerks her head toward the door.

"What am I supposed to say to her? She doesn't know me. I don't know her!"

"I know," Valentina says. "But I'd rather not drag a terrified, screaming child out of here. You've got ten minutes. Give it a shot."

My life was so much simpler when all I had to worry about was making sure my creme brûlée didn't sink in the center. Tugging at the hem of my shirt, I approach the door and peer inside.

Illyana sits up in bed, eyes locked on the television on the opposite wall with one hand toying with a single braid in her hair. Despite the colorful cartoons on screen, Illyana doesn't look all that interested. I glance back at Valentina and she flashes me an encouraging smile, then she reaches past me and opens the door.

The click of the handle draws Illyana's attention and her eyes snap to the door, curious. With no more chance to hide, I take a deep breath and stride into the room.

"Hi… Illyana. Do you… remember me?"

Illyana fixes me with the same blank look she had while watching TV, then a bright smile spreads across her face. It's a smile so warm and happy that it almost seems plastered to her, given the paleness of her skin.

"You were in the garden!" Illyana shifts slightly under her covers. "Are you feeling better?"

Her voice is unlike anything I've heard before and it pulls at something deep inside me. Back in the garden, I was so caught up in my panic that nothing else really mattered, but now it's just her and me.