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"I suggest you stop playing ords My patience with you is already thin"

Winter’s heart shriveled Not Jacin She could not sit here and watch theh the plan ca but her own life, and Levana would not accept that

She could throw a fit Go into hysterics It would hardly be a stretch froht distract them for a time, but it would only delay the inevitable

She had felt helplessto be done, then She would throw her own body in front of the blade

Oh, Jacin would hate that

Ignorant of Winter’s newest resolve, Jacin respectfully inclined his head "During my time with Linh Cinder, I uncovered information about a device that can nullify the effects of the Lunar gift when connected to a person’s nervous systeh the crowd A stiffening of spines, a tilting forward of shoulders

"Impossible," said Levana

"Linh Cinder had evidence of its potential As it was described to me, on an Earthen, the device will keep their bioelectricity fro ta their gift at all Linh Cinder herself had the device installed when she arrived at the Commonwealth ball Only when it was destroyed was she able to use her gift--as was evidenced with your own eyes, My Queen"

His words carried an air of impertinence Levana’s knuckles turned white

"How e, only the broken device installed in the cyborg herself But I suspect there still exist patents or blueprints The inventor was Linh Cinder’s adoptive father"

The queen’s grip began to relax "This is intriguing information, Sir Clay But it speaks more of a desperate atteed, nonchalant "If my loyalty cannot be seen in how I conductedThaue Mira to the plot to kidnap Emperor Kaito, I don’t knohat other evidence I can provide for you, My Queen"

"Yes, yes, the anony her to Linh Cinder’s plans" Levana sighed "I find it very convenient that this comm you claim to have sent was seen by no one other than Sybil herself, who is now dead"

For the first tilare He still had not looked at Winter

The queen turned to Jerrico Solis, her captain of the guard Like so uards, Jerrico made Winter uncooing up in fla coal "You ith Sybil when she ambushed the enemy’s ship that day, yet you said before that Sybil hadto add?"

Jerrico took a step forward He had returned from their Earthen excursion with a fair share of bruises, but they had begun to fade "My Queen, Thaue Mira seemed confident ould find Linh Cinder on that rooftop, but she did notany outside information--anonye Mira who ordered Jacin Clay to be taken into custody"

Jacin’s eyebroitched "Perhaps she was still upset that I shot her" He paused, before adding, "While under Linh Cinder’s control, in my defense"

"You seem to have plenty to say in your defense," said Levana