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"What?" snapped the queen

"We’ve been informed that since the security breach occurred, our syste to relay information from the tunnels--"

"Quickly, Aimery"

His mouth turned down "They are inside the city, My Queen All eight of our barricades are down"

"Who is inside the city?"

"The cyborg Civilians from the outer sectors Even some of our own soldiers have joined thee "The next person who uses the word cyborg ina limb" She took in a sharp breath "Why haven’t they been stopped?"

"Our resources are thin, Your Majesty So many of our s We cannot send reinforce our position here in the palace"

Gathering her skirt in her hands, Levana drew her shoulders so close to her neck that a spot of blood was left in the crease "Fine," she hissed "This little rebellion will end here"

"Also, My Queen, we found this in the system control center after we discovered that our security had been tampered with" Ais to none other than our honored king consort"

Levana’s gaze spoke ofwhere that had gotten off to," he said, his e "And here I spent allfor it"

Levana’s nostrils flared, her expression vicious and calculating She grabbed the portscreen fro shattered

"This celebration is over," she said, her voice areat hall as she faced the audience "It appears that soht to incite what they see as a rebellion But do not be alarmed--I am sure it’s littlecontrol over her eain "For your safety, I uests, remain seated while I see to the disturbance"

A rustle passed through the crowd

"Wait," said afrom the rows of Earthens "You can’t expect us to stay in this room while the palace is under attack This is your war, not ours I demand to be allowed to return to my ship at once"

The man had an Earthen-European accent, and a vision of the red-haired girl flashed through Wolf’s thoughts He frowned, searching for the reement rose up from the other Earthens

Levana’s lips drew back "You will stay here," she said, each word hard and cold as an ice cube, "until I give you permission to leave"

All at once, the Earthen dissent hushed Levana directed her attention to the guards "Bar all the doors No one is to leave this rooers "That one stays at my side He will make the perfect shield should I need one"

"My Queen," said one of the guards, "we must insist that you allow us to escort you to safety The lava tubes beneath the city--"