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"It’s for your own protection If anyone were to intercept the letters, to find out about you--"

"Are the ca to the walls The ca every inch ofand after a day like today, I don’t kno htuards and people ill tear et aback at me, Cal looks bewildered His eyes blaze around The walls are bare, but he must be able to sense the down?

"Mare, there aren’t any cameras in here"

I wave a hand at hiainst my skin "Don’t be stupid I can feel them"

Now he truly looks lost "Feel them? What do you mean?"

"I--" But the words die inHe doesn’t even knohat I’ How can I explain this to him, if he doesn’t already kno can I tell hiy in the air like a pulse, like another part of me? Like another sense? Would he even understand?

Would anyone?

"Is that--not nor flickers in his eyes as he hesitates, trying to find the words to tellelse

"Not to e," he finally says

My voice sounds s about me is normal anymore"

He opens hishe can say tohe can do for irl sht now, I don’t know if I’ll ever sain

TWELVE

Your schedule is as follows:

0730--Breakfast / 0800--Protocol / 1130 Luncheon

1300--Lessons / 1800--Dinner

Lucas will escort you to all Schedule is not negotiable

Her Royal Highness Queen Elara of House Merandus

The note is short and to the point, not to ht of five hours of Lessons, reroan, I throw the note back down on the nightstand It lands in a pool of golden ht, just to tease me

Like yesterday, the three maids flutter in, quiet as a whisper Fifteen s, a draping gown, and other strange, i I can find in the closet of wonders Stretchy but sturdy black pants, a purple jacket with silver buttons, and polished gray boots Besides the glossy hair and the war paint, I alain

Lucas waits on the other side of the door, one foot tapping against the stone floor "One minute behind schedule," he says the second I step into the hall

"Are you going to babysit me every day or just until I learnht direction "What do you think?"

"Here’s to a long and happy friendship, Officer Samos"