"Neither should you," Corbie said. She didn't let go of his hand, holding it loosely in both of hers. "I wanted to get rid of her sooner... but I was afraid of what'd happen if I showed my hand before she gave me an opening."

He didn't understand. She couldn't say she didn't blame him.

"Did you have a choice? When you started? A real choice?" She had heard enough about Melusine to know that even the few options she'd have had if Gran hadn't taken her in didn't exist down south. The orphanages were as good as death traps. A kid on his own had either a keeper or a pack, and the only real difference between the two was how old the person running the show was and how much power they might then have in the city.