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"Fourteen"

"Then I think this will be sufficient" He poured a quarter of the antidote into the beaker Corking the vial, he turned back to Cinder "You do realize it came from Queen Levana I do not knohat her plan could be, but I knoill not be for the greater good of Earth This could very well be a trick"

"My sister is already dying"

He nodded and held it out to her "That is what I thought"

Cinder’s stood up and took the vial, cradling it in her palm "You’re sure?"

"On one condition, Miss Linh"

Gulping, she clutched the vial against her chest

"Youas Queen Levana is here"

Chapter Twenty-Six

PRINCE KAI ARRIVED AT THE MEETING SEVENTEEN MINUTES late He was overn with an additional dozen faces peering out from their respective netscreens on the paneled wall before hidom, the European Federation, the African Union, the American Republic, and Australia One queen, two prieneral, three state representatives, and two province representatives Text along the bottom of the screens helpfully displayed their names, titles, and country affiliations

"How kind of the young prince to grace us with his presence," said Torin, as the officials around the table stood to welcoht you could use uidance"

On the wall of screens, Prirunted most unladylike Everyone else reular seat when Torin stopped hiestured at the chair at the end of the table The e, Kai switched seats He looked up at the grid of faces--although each of the world leaders was thousands ofinto their oall of netscreens, it felt as if their eyes were focused on hi not to fidget "Is the conference link secure?" he asked, the question bringing back his concerns over the direct communication chip Cinder had found inside Nainsi The screens in this room were equipped with D-COMMs so they could hold international h the net Had the chip inside Nainsi been put there by one of Levana’s cronies for the same reason--secrecy, privacy? If so, what exactly had she learned?

"Of course," said Torin "The links have been verified for nearly twentyEarth’s relationship with Luna when you deigned to join us"

Kai clasped his hands together "Right Now, is that the one where the dominatrix queen throws a tantruet her way? That relationship?"

No one laughed Torin’s gaze focused on Kai "Is this tihness?"

Kai cleared his throat "I apologize That was inappropriate" Hehiripped his hands beneath the table, feeling like a child sitting in on his father’s as from America, "the relationship between Earth and Luna has been strained for s worse We can’t put bla is that we fix it, before--"

"Before she starts a war," finished a province representative fro prince already observed"

"But if the reports on the net are not mistaken," said Governor-General Williaun again Can it be true that Levana is on Earth now? I could hardly believe the nehen I heard it"

"Yes," said Torin, as all eyes switched to him "The queen arrived yesterday afternoon, and her head thauuest in our court for just over teeks"

"Has Levana informed you of her purpose for this visit?" said Prime Minister Kamin

"She claireeuffawed "I’ll believe it when I see it"

President Vargas ignored the co, isn’t it? So soon after…" He didn’t finish No one looked at Kai

"We agree," said Torin, "but we could not refuse the request when it came"

"It does seem she was always more apt to discuss an alliance with the Coas, "but her requests were always unsatisfactory Have those requests changed?"

Kai watched from the corner of his eye as Torin’s chest slowly expanded "No," he said "To our knowledge, Her Majesty’s requests have not changed Her aie alliance with the Coh the faces in the room and on the screens tried to reripped his hands so tight that crescent ernails He had always despised the diplo, no one brave enough to say it

And of course they would all be sylad that it wasn’t any of thery that Queen Levana could infiltrate any Earthen country with her dictatorship, and yet certain that it would be an i Earth with her army

"The Coed"