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"She and some of the other queens are already here and have requested the large conference rooerously Chiyoko was definitely a tough customer, but I wouldn’t want to cross Adriana with that look on her face "Don’t worry about a thing, Mother I will take care of it Concentrate on getting well You will have your throne to come back to"

Apparently Lopaka had seen the sahter that I had She smiled, proud and pleased "I don’t doubt it You will be a fine queen, daughter"

There was a flicker of warh "I don’t worry about my safety for the moment, but I won’t be able to leave Serenity for the duration of this impromptu queens’ council Celia, I must ask for your help So the bridesa as well"

I hated it, but she was right If so party to disrupt the event, the bridesets But while Adriana was confident about her safety, I didn’t know that I agreed A lot of people live on Serenity, not toNo doubt the queen’s guard and security force was going to be pressed to the liuest and citizen I certainly couldn’t be at two places at once Serenity Who was on Seren--? Okay I had a thought about a scenario I could accept Lopaka hts because she lifted delicate blonde eyebrows just as I once again raised a hand to catch everyone’s eyes "Sorry to interrupt, but how about this--I’ve worked with Helen Baker of the Siren Guard I trust her skill, and her loyalty is without question If she’s available, I’d be willing to ith her as a partner in protecting Adriana and the Rusland bridesmaids Partners protect each other, which uard Adriana while on Serenity, oals Would that be satisfactory?"

Lopaka nodded "That would be satisfactory Her skill is renowned and I would trust her with hter I will make her available"

Adriana mirrored her mother’s dip of the head "Baker is acceptable"

It didn’t appear that Dahlh he was once on the island when she orking with me He deferred the issue about the protection of his future bride to Creede by looking up at hi expression Creede said, "I’ve ood shot, smart No objection froh, as though a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders "Then it’s settled Celia, as for the dresses, at this point I honestly don’t care what they look like or how et the brides suitable Your taste in clothing seems to be similar to my own"

Wait She wanted a and Natasha? I bitbecause anything I said would cos, and the telepaths ht hear them, but my lips would be sealed

Creede raised a single eyebrow, and I swear I saw the hint of a smile twitch at the corner of hisdistance? Surely not

Could he?

Another smile twitched at his lips But when he spoke his voice was utterly bland and businesslike as he changed topics "The authorities have spent the last several hours going over the nature and mine were on some of the artifacts that had been shattered and worked into the bullets So the authorities were very interested in what the two of us have been up to I was detained and have been answering questions As, I believe, has Mr DeLuca Fortunately for each of us, it was obvious that the iteo"

Oh, crap That explained why Bruno looked like hell Frankly, I was a little surprised he’d gotten out as quickly as he did It had to have been ugly I was surprised neither of the questioned I looked froht have been friends if not for es, and rivals

Creede continued, "There was a nize Bruno, had you seen it before?"

I stepped back so that Bruno could stand on the X "It was vaguely faesture of frustration "I know I’ve seen it soht be from orked with so nize it, that can’t be it"

That got ic users without Creede?

The ansas obvious, at least to e" Emma echoed me an instant later as Kevin nodded Clearly I hadn’t been the only one to figure it out

Rizzoli looked froht, people So about?"