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Even in the pale light of the candle I could see the reseh, it was like looking in a aze to his I had so many questions

"Queen Avonlea," he explained "She was the first to die in the Revolution" His dark eyes were heavy with sadness "My brother and I used to hunt for treasure on the palace groundsI doubt " He held it out for s to you now"

I shookaway as if the locket would somehow scald me "I don’t want it I can’t--"

Max didn’t press me; he simply put the necklace back into his pocket "And then when I saw you with your friend, you seeuards" He studied me pensively "No one should have knohat they said" It wasn’t an accusation, but it felt like one

I looked away, not ready to ade, Charlie, or are there others?" He stepped again, this tiaze, I would only have had to tip my head back But I didn’t I stood stock-still "Didn’t you ever wonder how that was possible? How a vendor’s daughter could understand a language she’d never heard before?" He reached over, his finger nudging ain my attention "You’d never heard it before, had you?" He didn’t bother speaking in Englaise now And I didn’t pretend not to understand

I shookinso much noise I was surprised I could even hear his words

"Your parents knew?"

A slow nod, a simple admission

"They never explained what it lared at hi to offer What did he know of ht did he have to question their reasons for what they did--or did not--tellto relent, even while facing my frown, "only those who can be queen are born with powers Only the fe into the table behindit off "It’s nothing Less than nothing"

He smiled then, but it wasn’t at all war "Really, Charlie? Tell that to everyone who can understand only the language of their class" Then he tipped his head toward Angelina, just four years old, a beautiful slu "What about her? Do you knohat she can do yet?"

I frowned at hinoring his question I felt dangerously light-headed