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Kai peered into the sickroom just as a med-droid pulled a white cloth over his father’s closed eyes His ha heart plummeted "I’o," he said, forcing himself away from the wall Kai took in the adviser’s lined face and sleepless eyes, and a cup of untouched tea that sat beside his portscreen He’d stayed late to work, rather than return to his own hoht up to Kai all at once and he pressed his burning forehead against the cool glass He should have been there too

"I will set up a press conference" Torin’s voice was hollow

"A press conference?"

"The country needs to know We will ether" Torin seemed shaken for a rare moment--he covered it with a measured breath

Kai squeezed his eyes shut and chafed the, that his father was sick with this incurable disease, it still made no sense All that had just been lost, taken so quickly Not just his father Not just the eood emperor," said Torin "As he was"

Kai flinched away from him He did not want to think about it, all of his own inadequacies He was too young, too stupid, too optimistic, too naive He couldn’t do this

The screen behind the communication for Crown Prince Kaito of the Eastern Commonwealth from Queen Levana of Luna"

Kai spun toward the netscreen, blank but for a spinning globe in the corner, signaling an available co headache The air thickened, but neither of them moved

"How could she know? So soon?" said Kai "She must have spies"

Frolare at hi not to start in on the conspiracy theories just yet "Perhaps the thauh the castle in thehis jaw, Kai drew hi the screen like an ene period is over," he htened Kai bristled at the sight of the Lunar Queen, her head and shoulders draped in an ornate cream-colored veil, like a perpetual bride All that could be seen beneath the shroud was a hint of long dark hair and the ghost of her features The explanation told by the Lunars was that their queen’s beauty was a gift not to be seen by undeserving Earthens, but Kai had heard that in reality the queen’s glamour--her ability totheir brain waves--could not translate over the netscreens, therefore she never allowed herself to be seen over theure for too long always ent," Levana said in a saccharine voice, "may I be the first to offer ood Emperor Rikan May he forever rest in peace"

Kai cast a cool glare at Torin Spies?

Torin did not return the look

"Though the occasion is tragic, I do look forward to continuing the talk of an alliance with you, as the new leader of Earth’s Eastern Commonwealth As I see no reason to defer these conversations until your coronation, whensoever that shall be, I do think it appropriate to plan aMy shuttle is prepared I can depart as soon as your next sunrise and coratulations in the flesh I will alert e to expect my arrival She can ensure that accommodations are adequately prepared I ask that you do not concern yourself withthis tragic time My sympathies are with you and the Coe with a tilt of her head and the screen blackened

Jaw hanging, Kai faced Torin He squeezed his fists against his sides before they could start to shake "She wants to come here? Now? It hasn’t even been fifteen minutes!"

Torin cleared his throat "We should discuss this in theBefore the press conference, I suppose"

Kai turned away, thunking his head against theBeyond the glass, the peaks of his father’s body were obscured beneath the white sheet, not unlike the queen and her veil The eht in the past weeks that his form seemed er there Unable to protect Kai Unable to offer advice Unable to lead his country ever again

"She thinks I’ to try and persuadeis in chaos" He kicked the wall, biting back a cry of pain when he re shoes "Can’t we tell her no? Tell her she’s not welcome here?"

"I’m not sure that would be the indication of peace your father had been striving for"

"She’s the one who’s been threatening war for the last twelve years!"

Torin pursed his lips, and the haunting worry in his gaze quelled Kai’s anger "Discussions hness We will listen to her requests, but she must listen to ours as well"

Kai’s shoulders drooped He turned around, craning his head back and staring at the shadowed ceiling "What did she e will prepare her acco the mirrors, I suspect"

Kai squeezed his eyes shut "Mirrors Right I forgot" He ed his forehead What was it about the Lunars? And not just any Lunar Queen Levana On Earth In his country, his ho to like this"

"No" Torin sighed "Tomorroill be a dark day for the Commonwealth"