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"No," he said at last, conteet You’re acting like one now, refusing to do the right thing just because I’ve asked you to You’re being contrary out of spite" He strode toward the door "If you don’t act soon, you’ll regret it"

I didn’t like hi the one to end this conversation It wasme?"

Dorian put his hand on the door’s handle and glanced at me over his shoulder "No I’ on and on about how ed you and lied to you, I can say with absolute certainty that what I’ve just told you is the truth"

"Noted" Hastily, Ilike the queen around here "You can go now And don’t coh there wasn’tmy hospitality?"

I hesitated "No I’ht thing and stay the hell away fro my earlier tone He opened the door and walked aithout another look I stared at the e who’d coued and found Shaya, Dorian had already leftabout what had transpired with him, but worry ritten all over her face

"How close are we?" I de doith Katrice and writing up a treaty?"

Shaya paled, and I realized I had turned er at Dorian on her "Not as close as I’d like She agreedshe agreed she’d come in person, but only if the talks were held in the Willow Land Queen Maiwenn has agreed, but Dor - King Dorian says that’s unacceptable He suggests the Linden Land or the Maple Land Katrice refuses"

Linden and Maple Kingdoms both staunchly neutral Maiwenn theoretically was too She’d always put on the pretense of friendship, and I was certain Kiyo would endorse her hospitality But so about it made me uneasy I didn’t want to support Dorianbut then I realized that instinct ca to oppose him just out of spite Our personal round was best for us

"Reiterate Dorian’s stance," I said "Linden or Maple I’ back to Tucson Let me knohat happens"

Shaya opened herfor help, I couldn’t say Dorian’s words came back to me Get actively involved "Wave the crown" and ree to our terree with him I wouldn’t use that crown like he wanted me too, even as a threat

"That’ll be all," I told Shaya She nodded, obedient as always

The look on her face as I left s easier for her Maybe I could expedite all this But for now, there was literally no har achieve? If she began hostilities again, she ran the risk of facing the crown she obviously feared My people were safe The waiting was frustrating, but it had to end soon I’d told Dorian I was huo hoentry deal with this red tape until I was absolutely needed

And that was exactly what I did

I returned towith hi way toward blocking out ies of beautiful, voluptuous Ysabel in Dorian’s bed My workload increased - as did h my jobs tired me out more than I was used to That scared entry I’d fought to keepover? Stunting my shamanic abilities? No, I firmly decided This was stress, pure and sih, I had to concede to entry side occasionally The Thorn Land called toand - nomyself Unfortunately, I took little joy froood news ever ca back and forth Yes, she’d agree to the Maple Land - no, she’d changed her mind Linden But only if ao But it was back to the Willow Land Or ether different? What about the Palm Land?

Dorian made no attempts at direct contact with ht, I could see his face Wave the croave the crown Fortunately, h to fall asleep quickly

Good news of sorts finally ca The te, and I’d welcoh the wilderness was so Dorian would certainly never do - especially in the desert But like ed beauty and heat of the land I’d missed these excursions with hi "You can get a signal out here?"

"Apparently"

I was as surprised as hi at the ID, I saw Enrique’s nae of proue: sis

I answered eagerly "Please tell "

"I have," he said Enrique had that s then, but now, I found it encouraging "I finally tracked down the gun dealer and - "

I didn’t hear the rest because a sudden drop in the te in the air heralded Volusian’s arrival Apparently, I could get an Otherworldly signal out here too My ent news trumped whatever Enrique had to say

"Hey," I interrupted "I’ll call you back"

"What the - "

I disconnected, not giving hie He probably wasn’t used to being hung up on I turned to Volusian, aited patiently and silently for me He was a spot of darkness on the sunny day; he seeht of the world

"Please," I begged "Please tell iven in, so that we can talk"

Volusian stayed silent a few moments I swear, it was for dra hiotiations yet, althoughshe has acted"

Kiyo and I exchanged looks There was no way this could be good I was also pretty sure Volusian liked delivering this news

"She’s kidnapped your sister," he said "And has a list of deain"