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I cleared ain and walked to the seat I stared at it for a ic and then plopped down on the too soft couch

I sat for athe bedrooh the sheer curtain The silken curtain ht air that the open entrance could not keep out The breeze distracted me and enhanced the beauty of the thin divider I forcedout the breeze and any other beautiful part of the Moroccan night

I looked up at Kiran, satisfied with my action, but then I looked back at the bedroom and realized what that must have looked like I stood up suddenly, not sure how to explain

"Trade places withto the other side of hi room instead of the bedroom I cleared my throat for a second time, and attempted to focus completely on Kiran I tried to coverleft forall right?" Kiran asked, both concerned and a's fine What is this about, Kiran?" I sat up straight and talked evenly, desperately searching for my composure

"I think you should reconsiderto tell you what to do by any means, but you said so yourself that you are a terrible leader If you traded places with your brother, he could go back to leading the Rebellion and you could rest in the knowledge that you saved hi heavily in the air I knehat Kiran really wanted, that his grand scheme wastrue and I searched for reasons why I shouldn't agree

"Ok, let's talk this out," I allowed, deciding I should have all of o with you tonight, hoould I know that Avalon would be let go, that you wouldn't just kill him immediately?"

"You have my word," Kiran promised passionately, but then he saw the ht and I saved your brother's life in India I have good intentions, you can trust me"

"No, I can't" I rolled my eyes, "Besides, you had to save Avalon's life in India; he is your only leverage And, I still haven't left with Lilly, so we'll see how this plays out" My ly more difficult to handle; it had turned into an electrical stor my blood "Anyway, let's move passed whether or not I can actually believe you would let Avalon go, what happens after that? Like to ic? What happens next?"

"No, I' to kill you!" Kiran defended hiave yourself over toof course, but in the future It would be necessary to marry me; that would be a concrete part of the deal, my father would demand it However, if it seemed to be your idea, then you would have some control over when that date was It obviously couldn't be decades in the future, but you could buy yourself at least a year, I'm sure"

"Ok, let me see if I completely understand this I turn o free Then we get uess, in a few more months, probably nine to be exact, I produce a healthy, little heir to the throne and everyone lives happily ever after?" I narrowed usted by the idea

"Eden, I a to offer you an alternative to your brother's ultimate death and the imprisonment of your friends!" Kiran i you is not an alternative! It's just a different form of the death penalty!" I whined, desperate for him to understand

"I didn't say that it wasn't," he snapped, a flash of dark blue changing the color of his eyes, "but saving your brother is what you want That's all I' India was a dismal failure for you You will not break into the Roic is useless in those prisons I a you to consider a different alternative for your brother"

"You promised to keep him safe," I accused venomously I never believed his words before, but with the dispiriting picture he painted, I was grasping at straws

"And I a my best, but my father is a desperate man and he will not be satisfied forever"

My hands began to tremble and I wiped a small trickle of sweat that had for to find the reasons to say no to him, to believe in another way

"Please," Kiran whispered, leaning in closer to o with me Choose the easy way, save your brother"

I shookmy brother's life more than I ever had and I was forced to come to terms with that I couldn't say if I would ever be able to break into the Roeons and save Avalon, but I would spend every day trying I would put faith in the Resistance, in Jericho and in myself and not let the sweet manipulations of the son of a tyrant persuade o with you, are you kiddingat him "We're done here, I can't even believe you"

"That is the wrong decision, Eden Please do not ly

"Don't pushto