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I released an awed breath, but the sensation itself was sinful I wasn’t certain I was ready to admit what that si h to ask the question I’d been afraid to broach It would have been impossible for him not to hear the tremble in my voice "What about the queen?" I bitin the pit of my stomach

Max raised an eyebrow "The queen is safe"

They were the last words I’d expected to hear, and I jerked upward, shoving Max away froet out of here! You don’t knohat I know, Max I’ve seen what she’s done, what she’s capable of"

But Max put his hands on my shoulders and eased me back down "Relax, Charlie You’re the queen now At least you will be once you’re officially crowned" His eyes rerandmother is dead"

It took a moment for his words to sink in, but I still didn’t understand "How could you be so sure that she was the one who’d died?" I asked "How did you know the transfer didn’t work, that she wasn’t"--I glanced down at erously low--"in here? In h nited within ht "You really don’t reaze "I really don’t"

"She didn’t die right away, randmother She lived for several mo nonetheless" His grip tightened "Seconds before she took her last breath, you spoke"

"What did I say?"

Max’s face broke into an easy grin, and once again, I foundto be near him "You said‘I win’"

I wondered how I could possibly forget so somomentous Queen Sabara was dead She really was dead this tih my mind How many bodies had she buried? How ray eyes sparkling "Angelina assured J"0e Aured J"us it was you Apparently she has a knack for these things"

I selina’s other ability It felt good to not have to hide e could do

"What if I don’t want to be queen?" I finally asked

Max sighed "It’s too late for that We need you, Charlie The country needs a queen, and we no longer have one"