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"When I am queen, Casper will be court coth of the blood seep in, daring Verusha to contradict me

She cackled, just as she had when I had been s a bludbear or running away to join the caravan

"And what a miracle that will take, athering her cheeks to spit blood When she couldn’t find a square inch of her own floor not dominated by expensive carpets, she cleared her throat and sed it back down "Your poor mother and father, executed My little Alex, ensorcelled The barons thrown out and hungry as the huboth of my hands in her twisted talons, she looked square into my eyes and said, "Darleenk, you are our only hope"

"I was hoping you would say that But I need your help"

She s you would say that What can Verusha do for you, princess?"

"I ar Snow Ball It’s our only chance Casper will go with me We ins the dance, I’ll take her"

"A bold plan,deep into the pilloith a crafty look on her face "My invitation to the ball is yours, of course But there is one other problem, and well you know it" She pointed one claw at Casper

"I’ the bread down to lean forward in warning

"In ly "Pinkies are not allowed at the Sugar Snow Ball, not unless they are on the table And I suspect that she is not so ready to give you up"

I sed and took backaround the porcelain She was all too sharp, my old nurse Walking close to Casper, she put her cheek alainst his forehead and inhaled deeply When she exhaled again, it carowl

"You would take an abomination to the most holy and secret rite of your people? I raised you better than that, Ahnastasia!" She sat, tre with fury "How dare you put royal blud in the veins of aawhatever he is!" This time, she did spit, and it left a splatter of red on the crea in with the woven roses

"Don’t blanorance, and believe ret it ood sense to be ashamed," she snapped "But do not lie to s to me from your skin"

"What would happen if I went to the ball?" he asked "Would they notice?"

"Without the fetters of Pinky clothes, younger noses and sharper teeth would notice, race for everyone’s fury Staked out at four points and eaten whole by the co, slow death and not one that would help ainly, and they both looked to me For once, I didn’t feel bold I sipped at the distasteful dregs ofmy face carefully blank

"Then what do we do?" Casper finally asked

"She can’t go alone We ht have a friend who can be trusted" Casper bristled, his posture changing subtly to indicate a threat

"Or?" he asked

"Or you ascend to a grander life, ht think it would be a relief, after the blud e "So I either send her into danger with another ive up my humanity co back into the cushions to sip her blood thoughtfully "Is not so bad, eh?"

"I can’t irowled

"Easy, little snack The Sugar Snow Ball is in two days So there is enough time to decide"

"Two days," he said to hi too tight, and his head snapped to me

"Did you know?" he asked si?"

"I"

"Well?"

"I had suspicions"

"And yet you neveryou unduly It would end the same either way The future is no more uncertain than the present"