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Right away, Magiano’s head appears over the roof of the carriage I have no idea where he came from, but I realize he hat had landed on top He castshis attention to the crowd Then he hefts a knife in one hand and leaps down froe directly in front of the first protester, putting hi in the wrong direction," Magiano says to hierous siano’s dagger Then he narrows his eyes and points a finger atus to death!" he shouts "This demon, malfetto, false queen--!"

I shift focus to the protester and his words falter at the sight of y, and weave

A burning sensation along your ar that turns into fire You look down, and what do you see? Spiders, scorpions, spiny-leggedall over your body There are so many that you cannot see your skin anymore

The man looks down at hiers back

They are pouring into your h your eyes They will eat you alive, froain," I say as he finally finds his voice and shrieks "What were you saying?"

The round His cries fill the air Other protesters behind hiure I continue to weave, strengthening the illusion again and again until the ony Then , blades drawn--descend on the rest of theli orders at his patrol

You can finish hi me to stare at the man I’d attacked Colee in the air around ether into one maelstrom I close my eye, suddenly dizzy frothens their shouts You want to, you know you want to A cold sweat breaks out on my arms No, it’s too soon since I killed in Dumor Ever since I took Dante’s life in that narrow alley not far from here, I’ve learned that the row, and the th of a dying man’s terror If I take another life now, I knoill spend tonight drowning inhelplessly at a wall of

"Adelina" Magiano is calling er still drawn, givinglook

"Get him out of the street," I command My voice comes out weak and hoarse "And have hiiano doesn’t hesitate He drags the protestor to the side of the street, out of the way of the carriage, and then waves a hand at the two nearest Inquisitors "You heard the queen," he calls out As he passesto one of the Inquisition soldiers behind e "Keep a better eye on our path," he says, "or I’ll make sure you are all tried for treason"

What if so to slack on their responsibilities too? What if they wantto show even a hint of insecurity, daring theiano’s voice drifts over again froh theand seated hi with hi quite this often," he adds His tone is lighthearted, but I recognize it as the one he takes on when he’s concerned

My side is pressed against his, and I findthat he stays in here with me for the rest of the ride "When we reach the palace," I say softly, "have the Inquisitors brought to the tower for questioning I don’t want a rat in iano watches me carefully "It will be impossible to catch all the rats, ainst h the cracks You need to beto say Perhaps he is the rat The whispers dissolve into laughter

"In good tiet our way The people will eventually realize that the marked are here now, that ill reiano replies, still lighthearted He hops back up and crouches on the seat "Of course"

I raise an eyebrow at hi you to stay here, of course, in service to o as you wish You’re an Elite, after all The greatest of rees "No one is forcing me to stay"

There’s another emotion buried in his words I blush I’, but then he nods politely and hops through theagain "Happy ride, Your Majesty," he calls "I’ll be in the baths, soaking off the dirt of this journey"

I’e with him, and let him take us both away to the baths--but instead I sluhtness in iano later, apologize to hi his co me from a distance