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"Guard the door and make sure no one else disturbs us," Max told Claude, disuard

Xander didn’t even speak to Max, barely acknowledged him at all Instead he came directly to o, Max had stroked with tender reassurance "You h J glintwe areave no idea the danger you put yourselves in by leaving, Charlie We can’t protect you if you won’t let us"

"She doesn’t need your protection" Max shoved his way between Xander andyours? She’d be safer in a nest of vipers You may as well hand her over to Sabara with the noose around her neck," he scoffed, surprising ue

I took a step back;Hoas it that Xander spoke the language of Royals?

"And you believe she’s safer with you and your band of misfit soldiers? Have you told her who you are? What you used to be?"

Xander cast a quick glance inhidden, and I knew in that moment that my secret was still safe He had no idea that I understood what he was saying Angelina was the only one in the rooht she’s safer with us We have her best interests in mind"

"Your interests are as selfish as the queen’s You need a ruler, and you think Charlie fits the bill"

"She does She’s the One And you know it too, or you wouldn’t be here on the queen’s errand"

Max’s teeth ground together as he took a warning step toward Xander "You have no idea why I’m here, and neither does the queen"

Xander hesitated, but only for aOtherwise" His eyes swept over the destruction inside the house "Otherwise she would have no need for Charlie’s parents"

I gasped, ered backward I settled down on the sofa, where Angelina sat silently