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"Your bloodline is the next purest after Sethan’s," Aren says "The nobles would support you"

"My bloodline is the next purest after Sethan’s and Atroth’s," Lorn counters "Besides, my reputation would taint the entire rebellion"

Lena shifts beside Aren "Half the Realm already knows you’ve helped us," she says There’s not much life in her voice, but at least she’s here and participating, and if she throws her support behind Lorn, et talked into this

He shakes his head "No, they know I’m connected to Kelia and all they know about her is she’s an eccentric"

"Hey!"

"You are,huesture that pretty much proves Lorn’s point Naito leans forward and whispers soles closer to hiles, and I can’t stope in his expression I don’t like seeing hiret my next question for the rest of o the rebels needed to consider all their options I ht as well put the idea out there "Why can’t Lena be queen?"

The Realhts are violated As far as I’ve seen, women are treated with the same respect as men So why not?

"It’s never been done before" It’s Lena who answers, and to my surprise, she doesn’t look like she wants to slash my throat I wouldn’t call her expression friendly, but it’s a definite ied et the support

"It’s not a bad idea," Lorn says after a moment

Nalst speaks up froht consider her over Atroth if they believed the Zarrak line contained lances at me, hesitates After a quick look at Aren, he says, "With Taltrayn’s support behind Lena, they’d consider it"

I sniff If only "I already tried to get hi"

No one says a word That’s odd What’s even odder is, when I scan the faces around , jaw clenched, at the hilt of his dagger

Soh my stomach "What?"

Kelia shifts in Naito’s ar’s ordered Taltrayn to be executed," Lena says

A chill sinks into my bones No Atroth wouldn’t execute Kyol They’re friends, have been for decades I wouldn’t have left Kyol if I thought he’d be hurt Lena has to be misinformed

But no, Aren’s expression confirlint in his eyes, but they’re sharp, al to tell me"

His face is like a stone There’s no rey

"Did you think I wouldn’t want to know?"

"You didn’t need to know" He chunks his dagger down on the coffee table; it slides off the other side