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"I’ Trust…" His words broke into a cough The li his breath

When he opened the the IV with clear liquid, so to ease the pain Kai and Torin watched as the eer Kai loved him but couldn’t quite connect the sick o

One week

A shudder ran through hiotten his hand was there

"Your Highness"

Kai said nothing, staring at his father’s chest as it rose and fell

The fingers on his shoulder tightened briefly, then fell away "You are going to be ein to prepare you We’ve already put it off too long"

Too long One week

Kai pretended not to hear hi You knoill help in any way I can" Torin paused "You’re going to be a fine leader"

"No I’ it back fro hollow

The true eoing to go talk to Dr Erland," he said, stepping back frohness You shouldn’t keep distracting him"

"I just want to ask if there’ve been any developments"

"I’m sure he will tell you iaze on Torin, the man who had been his father’s adviser since before Kai was born Even now, standing in the saave hiet over that

"I need to feel like I’ hihness It’s hard for all of us"

It’s not the saue

Torin turned away fro live the e around the dryness in his throat "Long live the e the visitors roo down the hallway to the elevators

A wo for them Kai should have expected it--she was always nearby these days, when she was the last person on Earth he wanted to see

Sybil Mira Head thaue to the Lunar Crown Exceptionally beautiful, aist-length black hair and war her rank and title: a long white coat with a high collar and bell-shaped sleeves, elyphs thatto Kai

Five paces behind her stood her ever-present, ever-silent guard He was a young man as handsome as Sybil was beautiful, with blond hair pulled into a low ponytail and sharp features that Kai had yet to see an expression on

Sybil’s lips curved as Kai and Torin approached, but her gray eyes reraceful dip of her head "How fares the honorable Emperor Rikan?"

When Kai didn’t respond, Torin answered, "Not well Thank you for your concern"

"I am most displeased to hear that" She sounded about as displeased as a cat who’d just cornered a mouse "My mistress sends her condolences and a wish for a speedy recovery"

She fixed her eyes on the prince, and her ie Whispers filled his head Respect and adaze fro pulse to steady

"What do you want?" he said

Sybil gestured toward the elevators "A ith the man ill soon be elanced at Torin, but the face that met him was unsympathetic Tact Diplomacy Always Especially when it ca, he half turned to the waiting android "Third floor"

The sensor flashed "Please proceed to elevator C, Your Highness"

They boarded the elevator, Sybil floating into it like a feather upon a breeze The guard entered last, staying by the door and facing the three of theaze uard was even there

"This is a tragic tiripped the rail and faced her, pressing his hatred into the polished wood "Would next month have been more convenient for you?"

Her patience didn’t falter "I speak, of course, of the alliance discussions ed in with Ereement that will suit both Luna and the Co her aze away and watched the nu to secure an alliance with Queen Levana since she first took the throne She has always declined"

"He has yet to meet her sensible demands"

Kai locked his teeth

Sybil continued, "My hope is that, as ehness"

Kai was silent as the elevator passed floors six, five, four "My father is a wiseany of his previous decisions I do hope ill be able to coreement, but I’m afraid your mistress will need to lower her very sensible demands"