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Mehdi hed “Oh, I can see where you’d be confused No, I am not However, I do knohat it’s like to have choice taken away from you, and I didn’t want you to have to suffer the sao back to the liinal destination with no questions asked, or you can stay a while withthe rules a little bit”

Steph’s brain struggled to catch up as happening Mehdi had sent a decoy lie, and he was now offering her asylum until she was ready to face the consequences of that action

She stopped in theher eyes “Wait Hold on a minute I just need to process this”

She opened her eyes and looked back up at Mehdi, as staring down at her patiently She pointed at him

“You’re like…the king of El Farah,” she said

“That’s right,” Mehdi said with a nod

She waved her hands around the roolittering with gold designs

“And this is your home,” she said

“That is correct”

“And you aren’t supposed to beme today,” she said, and he shook his head

“Unfortunately not,” he said, and Steph noticed a s of disappointment in his voice

She stared at hiether Then she burst into a wide smile

“You are insane,” she said, and Mehdi laughed

“Probably, but here we are So what do you choose, Steph?”

“What do I choose? You just kidnapped !”

She was torn between feeling indignant and feeling relieved Mehdi looked coon of confidence