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My head whips up

I need

I alaze snaps to Hector’s

I need tomuch more powerful than Tristán’s A war hero The best leader I know Before,him would have been foolish, for he was already dom is about to split apart, a very public alliance with hiether

"Elisa?" he says softly "What is it?"

I stare at him, at his precious face I love his dark eyes, the way his hair curls slightly around his ears, his strong jaw, his beautiful lips I know exactly what those lips feel like against ht say no Or I could coive me

But maybe, just maybe, I will ask and he will say yes

How, exactly, does a queen propose? Is there an etiquette to observe? A docuazes back, puzzled

I hear shouting Sto of steel on steel

Soldiers pour into the dining hall froold of Conde Eduardo’s countship

Everyone at the table shoots to their feet, drawing their weapons, even as a strong arer presses againstthe room We are outnumbered three to one

"Drop your weapons," says a sibilant voice in my ear

Hector looks toer atthrough htened and helpless

If they defend me, ill all die But if the assassin kills ht, maybe he’ll let them live "Do what he says," I say cal the to face my captor, I say, "Hello, Franco"

"Well ivenchase Thank you for that"

"How did you find me?"

"We followed the old lady" Ximena’s mouth drops open "We knew you’d rendezvous eventually"

"Are you going to killto send ht o

I turn to face him Up close, I don’t knohy no one saw him for an Invierno He is too tall, too preternaturally beautiful, to be anything else His slicked-back hair is a shade or two lighter at the roots, and his eyes are a startling gold--a rare color a Joyans

But maybe that’s e never met, why he conveniently absented himself when I sunize an Invierno a us

"Then what do you want?" I ask, even as I pray silently, drawing power through the earth, into the Godstone It comes slowly, a mere trickle, but it comes

"Don’t you dare," says Franco "If you try to work the le person in this roo me empty and hollow

"Better Now, if you want your people to live, you must come withsacrifice It is very ily, in accordance with God’s will Failing that, my secondary objective has always been to kill you, which I did attempt, but you have proved wily"

I don’t understand what h I can’t help but note the eerie si sacrifice I’ll have to think about it later

"You’ve been pulling the strings the whole time, haven’t you?" I ask "Invierne e for a civil war You want us to tear ourselves apart so you don’t have to"

His edged grin gives host in a dream"

"Does Eduardo know you’re an Invierne spy? Does he know he’s being s "He knows But his ambition allows it I have pro line of them The rank fool thinks he betrays you in service to his country So, Your Majesty, will you co her neck instantly, but she puts her hands out, palms up, to show that she means no harm "I have a better idea," she says

"Ximena? What are you--"

"The queen still has supporters If you take her now, Joya d’Arena will rise up against Invierne So take hi to Hector "If you let everyone go and take hily She loves hi? What is she thinking?

"Is it true, little queen?" Franco asks eagerly "Do you love thatto God--for you to follow, intending to give yourself up for hiives his own life"

I hate Franco for quoting that verse, the one I used to heal Hector Swords ring Hector’s neck now His eyes on mine are steady but dark with fear--for me, not himself He nods once, almost imperceptibly He wantsive your life for aze, I whisper, "Yes I love hih to follow him anywhere"

And then Hector realizes hisainst the pain of it

I turn to Franco, andwhen I say, "Hector is a Quorurins "Stupid queen We never stopped being at war, your country and estures to the rab his arhly away from the table Hector does not resist

"You have two months," Franco says "I expect to see you in our capital by then Co to God Youa very small escort, but no soldiers Otherwise, he dies"

"If you kill him, I’ll destroy you" Actually, I think I’ll destroy hinores o," he says to his men To Tristán he says, "If your soldiers follow, he dies"

They are halfway out the door when I cry out, "Wait!"

Franco whirls