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"But I could never be queen," she said "The bloodline The people would never--"

"I know" His expression was sy his words again Spoken with such certainty She wants to kill you, Princess

"She told you this?"

A sharp, single nod

Bright spots flickered in her vision She stepped backward, grasping the rail of Ryu’s enclosure Behind her, she heard a growl, followed by Ryu’s nose against her fingers She hadn’t realized he was there

"She asked you to do it"

His jaw clenched Guiltily, he glanced at the wolf "I’, she dared to look up at the camera over his shoulder She rarely paid the cameras much attention, but now she wondered if her stephter inary threat

"Why would she do that to you?"

He laughed, like someone had stabbed him in the chest and he had no other choice but to find it a "Toher breathless anticipation of this irl she’d been

"Yes," she said, firmly "How could she be so cruel, to ask you, of all people?"

His face softened "You’re right It’s torture"

Tears started to oing to have someone killed if you don’t do this"

He didn’t respond

She sniffed, blinking the tears away He didn’t have to tell her It didn’t really lad it’s you, Jacin" Her voice shook "I know you’ll ine it Would he use his knife? A gun? She had no idea as the fastest way to die She didn’t want to know

Jacin would have had to ask these saht before All that day Heasfor it

Her heart broke for hirowl

"Winter…"

It had been so long since he’d called her by her nahness

Her lip quivered, but she refused to cry She wouldn’t do that to hiers curled around his knife

It was torture Jacin looked more afraid than when he’d stood on trial More pained now than when his torso had been stripped raw fros

This was the last time she would ever see him

This was her last moment Her last breath

Suddenly, all of the politics and all of the ga

"Jacin," she said, with a shaky smile "You must know I cannot remember a time when I didn’t love you I don’t think such a time ever existed"