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In another place, another time, born to different parents, Terah Graesin’s evils would have been less, for she was merely obliviously selfish She had desires, and others existed to fulfill theave thee she did would have been confined to jilted lovers and cheated custo about you, Kylar Drake, but they could have warnedwhite teeth that somehow reminded Kylar of a shark

For some reason, the comment flustered Kylar He’d always considered hi into her eyes, he knew--knew--that sheit aloud to flatter hi and whatever it was that made him see into Terah faltered and disappeared She chuckled, and it was a low, acquisitive sound

"And such beautiful eyes," she said "You’ve got eyes that h her"

"I can," he said

"Is that why you’re blushing?"

That, of course, lanced back to Terah’s ladies-in-waiting They had dropped back Apparently they knew that when Terah approached aprettily, no doubt at his expense He caught a gli the comments, but then he lost her

"Tell me, marquess, what do you see when you look in hly indiscreet for hness," Kylar said

For an instant, her eyes filled with hunger "Marquess," she said gravely, "aindiscreetly to a queen"

"Tongues should be used to coasped "Marquess! You’ll haveyou"

Her eyes dilated, then she pretended to cool "Marquess Drake, I consider it my duty to know the nobles who serve hness"

Her voice softened "Wait ten h the door I expect your discretion" He nodded, s about you that see the coup "I’m sorry I didn’t make more of an impression on you" Six inches into your heart would have been about right

"Well, we’ll remedy that"

"Indeed"

She slipped away and Kylar saw Lantano Garuwashi fifteen paces away, staring at hih he didn’t look pleased, Garuwashi made no etting why he’d coirl broke away frouards at one of the doors She turned His eyes took in the large eyes, perfectly coifed hair, clear skin, full lips, narroaist, and lean, firm curves It was Ilena Drake She was one of the queen’s handmaidens Kylar had the sense of dislocation He’d looked away froirl for a mo As she pointed hih to see the queen, her eyes suddenly ust

She thought she was being used to help her big brother cheat on her friend, Elene She thought he’d beco a queen that he’d left everything else behind Worse than the anger was the monumental disappoint in Ilena’s eyes He had been the sla made her excuses, left the rooed fro on his cane His eyes went fros that weren’t there

"She’s beautiful," Kylar said