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Max smiled as he kissed h he’d never actually said the words, I knew he lovedhirandness to sacrifice hi to keep me safe But that didn’ta country--or maybe I wasn’t, and Ludania would suffer simply because of the fact that I was born with royal blood in my veins--but I certainly wasn’t ready to be anyone’s wife I wasn’t ready to claim a husband to rule bythe rest of htly, and queen or not, I wasn’t even of age yet I hadn’t even finished school, so no one but me seemed concerned about

Max knew my reasons, and I was sure he understood theain that he planned to outlast my obstinate rebuffs That he would one day be h as far as I was concerned, he already belonged toover him as he lay on his back onceby the currents that crossed between us The curtain of my silver-blond hair fell over his much shorter, much darker hair as I cocked my head to the side and studied him He was far irl, and more honorable than anyone I’d ever known, save my father And when he looked at me the way he did now, I could alain and again Soh his eyes

"Are you sure I can do this?" I asked, when I trusted rew "Kiss? I’m certain of it In fact, you’re rather skilled Should I be worried about your mastery?"

I shoved hi onto hi beneath my cheek "You knohat I mean The summit Are you sure the other rulers will take me seriously? That I won’t make a fool of myself?"

"Oh, I’m positive you’ll , but his tone was serious and laced with tenderness

I lifted raze htfully "But that shouldn’t stop you And knowing you, it won’t You were right, Charlie, Ludania needs this I didn’t want you to go, but not because you can’t handle it, not because you’re not ready to face every queen on this planet My own reasons are far ed beneath me "What can I say? I’m afraid If I had my way you’d never leave the safety of the palace walls where I can at least guard against those who ht try to haring at his lips "But that’s not you, is it? You’ll go, and you’ll face those queens, and damned if you won’t win them over and convince them to do whatever you want the out of your hands, I swear you will"

Fueled by his unnecessary praise, I could feelin every sense of the word His fervent support was both sweet and hu

"And if I don’t?"

He lifted his head, his forehead resting againstoff me "Then it’ll be an adventure, won’t it? Either way, I plan to be there, watching over your every step"

I sagged, letting the panic that had been weighing onthen?"

"I wouldn’tsee he could do about the fire that ripped through him

He hadn’t felt that kind of heat in more years than he cared to count

It was her It was nized it the moment he’d cootten to bow before a queen

Yet it wasn’t who she was he cared about, it was that flare of so dead That unna that sparked to life the instant she looked at hiain, he thought before he could quell the notion But why the hell did she have to be this young queen? Why here? Why now?

Maybe it would have been better if that part of hinorance truly was bliss

It was too late now, though The thoughts had been stirred, the feelings ignited He wouldn’t be able to tell hiet about her She was here

She was close

v

The a after his arrival, carrying with him my acceptance to attend the summit I was both terrified and exhilarated Now, besides preparations for n decoru into the teeks before it was time to depart for the su another queen with a friendly hello, or even a stately--and in my opinion, respectful--boas completely unacceptable in many countries Instead, I was forced to s for each nation whose queen would be in attendance at the conference Orwould be considered offensive to whichI not only needed to understand, but was expected to emulate in some people’s opinion