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Around me, I realized I could hear more than I should have of conversations that were probablyher companion, not as quietly as she should have, about a particularly nasty ulcer she’d developed When I heard the location of the sore--which was in a place I’d probably not reveal to Brooklynn in private, let alone in a roo her way

"She’s lovely" I heard a woed another

These ords that should have been hidden by language

I did s I wasn’t ht, but Sabara’s nae

I turnedo," Neva protested

The empress pouted, but her eyes sparkled playfully "Can you fault rin "She’s just plain incredible," she finished at last

Slowly, understanding infiltrated erwhat it was that I’d , the pretty girls who followed her around I smiled back at her Under Sabara’s rule, those who didn’t confor, and could only express their preferences in the underground clubs If caught, they were sent to the Scablandsor worse

I was a different sort of queen "Thank you, Your Majesty You’re quite"--I raised my brows--"incredible yourself"

Her mouth fell open as her eyes widened in disbelief My heart staed the situation, if I’d just rievous blunder This was a serious ht banter in a place like this Not when I still didn’t understand the rules

A halo of silence enveloped us, ringing painfully in my ears, as it see to our conversation, waiting to see how the new queen reacted to the empress Maybe she’d been a test of my tolerance

Maybe I was si for Brooklynn and Aron, and instead I found Zafir I beseeched him with my eyes to save me, but like before, when I’d met Neva, he rehter, E her ar to fit in just fine," she said exuberantly "Come on, let’s see if you’re ready for Hestia"