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Inwardly, I recoiled, but so my back to the two of them, so they couldn’t see the strain on e was frightening for everyone The integrations were tricky Former Counsel people didn’t want those who’d been born of the Vendor class living next door to the to the sa servants

I didn’t kno to erwith people Children attending school with children

It still astounded o back to the old ways To curfews and segregation and being told where, when, and what they could speak To live in fear of being sent to the gallows for ht, maybe Ludania needs me here Maybe I’ a hard ti the words--"such an important task"

Xander’s reaction was not at all what I’d expected I thought he ive me a pep talk, assure --to allay my concerns, the way Max had done

But Xander wasn’t Max Xander was hard He was steely and determined, and rarely minced words He’d turned his back on his family because he wanted a different kind of life He’d led his friends and co some of them die for his cause And he had the scars to prove it

Literally, I thought as he came to stand in front oftime, the scar that slashed across his face Normally, I didn’t even see it It had become invisible to me

Today, it was all I could look at

"We don’t have time for you to be ‘tired’" His voice was low, but fir like one"

Zafir took a warning step toward Xander, but I raised my hand to stop hih otten You can’t speak to aze directly now, daring hi the words and my throat constricted around them even as they spilled frorinned then, a wide, self-satisfied grin that made the scar across his cheek pucker like a shiny ser, but too baffled by his reaction Onelike a fool

"My apologies, Your Majesty," he stated crisply, succinctly "But that’s exactly the kind of queen you need to be when you go to the summit"

My frown deepened

Xander reached forI could feel Zafir stiffening His protective nature was rivaled only by Eden’s Xander’s fingers felt like the coarse polishing cloths used by cabinetes until they were smooth and ready to be finished Hands that had toiled and warred

His voice was softer now, and for a moment I understood the reason that Eden’s moods shifted whenever Xander was near I wondered if he spoke to her like this If, when they were alone, he ever used the persuasive tone he was using onand resolute She can’t let others push her around, Your Majesty" The inflection he put behind those tords--words I generally despised--gave the They sounded fresh and new, like a breaking dawn e Goose bumps shivered over aze "You," he said, bowing all the way to the ground beforea true queen"

vi

The vehicle cae, polished school building and lass that separated me from the real world I told myself I could do this, even as ain," I said breathlessly,there now, to realize that so little had changed in the pastwas different now The school looked exactly as it had before Even the na today there were no more restrictions on who could attend Everyone would be allowed Children born of all classes, who’d once been segregated by birthright, now clustered and converged on the s their way toward the entrance

I’d gazed upon this particular building so h it had once conjured feelings of disgust and envy in h athered in front, squeezed together on the sprawling lawns and spilling out into the streets, body against body as far as I could see I knew they weren’t here to see the doors of the school opened They were all awaiting their first glimpse of their queen

"You’re ready," Brooklynn assured nored the quiver in her voice and wondered if she felt what I had, the sa here

I si down to release the door Zafir was already on the other side of it, waiting to shield me as much as to escort me up the steps

Brooklynn remained behind me I suddenly wished I hadn’t insisted that Max stay behind with Xander to work on preparations for the summit I wished, too, that my parents were here just to hold my hand and comfort me