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"I’m sorry you had to find out this way"

"You kne many more secrets have you kept fro the table as he tried to approach, keeping it as a barrier between us I didn’t want his syoons? I’ since you travel in a pack that they’re soive up that easily; he eased towardslow, cautious steps "I orried about you, Charlie How long have you been here?"

"I don’t want to hear hoorried you were I want answers I want to knohat you haven’t been telling er now?" I tried to keep elina, but I felt hysteria creeping in onat once

"I don’t think so No one knows you’re here The queen thinks you’re a member of the resistance She doesn’t know that I" He didn’t finish his sentence, but I wondered hoould have: Know you? Kissed you?

I was thankful that the queen knew neither

"What about your guards, they didn’t tell her? Are they here now? Will they turn us in?"

"They’re right outside the door,sure no one can enter," Max explained "They’ll tell only what I allow them to, which is only what you want to reveal You can trustto deceive you" He stepped closer, but I shovedit So it’s true, then?"

I waited, needing to hear it froht away, and I wondered if he understood what I was asking

Then he nodded his head So slightly, almost imperceptibly I closed my eyes I’d needed his confirmation, more so even than Xander’s

I was a princess As was my little sister My father was a prince, ain a long line ofto a royal bloodline

Only the girls were born to rule

"How did you know?" I finally found ain, and Max took another slow step toward ap

He shook his head "I wasn’t entirely sure until now" His eyes fell on the box again It was the Di Heyse family crest that should have been destroyedelse fronty But it wasn’t It was here In my home "I first suspected when I saw you in Prey" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a heavy gold chain--a necklace with a locket, and on the outside, that saraved into the antique metal His thulen?se fture photo inside