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"Mae, come here"

Kris Eriksson stood in the doorway to her father’s office, a conspiratorial grin on his face "What are you doing here?" She wasin the sanctuary of her father’s office than Kris’s soliciting her attention The Eriksson fatime friends of the Koskinens, and Kris was one of her h but had never given hi around to uy, she followed hi on?"

His blue eyes were alight with excitement "It’s all settled," he said "I didn’t think it would happen this quickly I thought we’d have to eeks after tonight Maybe evenlots of other offers and didn’t think your h she were trying to understand a conversation in another language "What’s all settled?"

"You andto get a partner’s share in our stock, and we can get rin that didn’t quite e to reach his cheeks The Erikssons were heavily affected by Cain, and Kris had had a number of skin treatments "I’d rather have it sooner, but I suppose we’ll have to take the tiht"

A cold lump settled in her stomach "No one asked me It can’t be settled And I wouldn’t--" She hesitated, unable to say that he was no one she’d choose Not that it really mattered who they’d "settled" on

Kris didn’t seem deterred "I can ask you now"

And then, to her coot down on one knee in her father’s office and produced a ring box fro her a gli mess

"Maj Erja," he said, still grinning like they were in on a joke together, "will you doseconds, her ape Finally, she si’s not right"

Not waiting for his response, she nearly ripped open the door and tore down the hall to the kitchen There, her ed in some kind of altercation with Claudia, Mae’s sister, while their brother Cyrus leaned against the wall and looked on with amusement

"Mother," exclaimed Mae "What in the world is--"

Heri ry expression reserved for Claudia shifted to confusion and then understanding "Ah, that"

Mae felt her eyes widen "Yes, that! How can this be soency novel where you trade me for a dowry!"

"So dramatic" Her mother tsked "You know these kinds of business transactions are h antiquated by plebeian standards, oods weren’t unco the castes, especially the upper classes

"Yes, but usually the parties involved get asked!"

"Why? Is there someone else you wanted?"

"I didn’t want anyone!" Mae told her "Not yet"

"Maj" Her mother put on as apparently supposed to be a kindly look, but it ca to Mae "You can’t really have thought you were going to flit your days away doing nothing of use, did you? Look at you You are our last, best hope to turn this family around You need to redeem us, save us frolare in Claudia’s direction, and that hen Mae got her first solid look at her sister’s face "Soht have been an understate Mae glanced between the?" she asked

"What’s happening," their mother said, "is that your sister is a slut"

Claudia’s white face turned red "That’s not true! It’s notherself out?"

"It wouldn’t have happened if you’d let me keep my implant!" Claudia cried