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I tippedthe waraze "A caste of Seelie ca with their probleic, I am their ruler I would be required to hear their petitions, deal with their politics, protect theuide the And if I were to truly rule and truly care, it would, in time, take me over I don’t want that future When this is over, I want to…I trailed off

What?

Play in the sun Love people Run with your beast Explore worlds Live

Cruce washis breath Oh, yes, he hungered to lead his people And despite the things he’d done to me, I couldn’t say he wouldn’t be a fine leader for theure out how to use this power," I said aloud, "it won’tit Or wield it Or whatever I’m supposed to do with it"

"He doesn’t have you over a barrel, Mac," Ryodan pointed out "If we die, he does, too That’s powerful enough motivation for hily ehtest chance of his survival"

Ryodan was right We could hold out But for what purpose, what gain? "I’m okay with it, provided the Coured out how to restore Cruce’s wings, I could heal a hu amount of poay

Barrons inclined his head "If this is what you want"

I took a final, brief rets The power insidethings for so ht be able to shape the icy is

But I didn’t want to take on that challenge I kneho and what I’d beco halfway In tiht and responsibility of the Faery croould take over e et uarantee do we have that Cruce will honor it?" Jada demanded

"He claims we’re both irrevocably bound by it, and once I access the True Magic, I’ll have confir , that means neither of us are bound and, with full access to the queen’s power, I’ll be far more powerful than he is In which case," I turned to Cruce and said with a cool smile, "I will terht"