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Theran gave them all cold silence, which was understandable since Dae hi and Grayhaven hadn’t wanted her to coer and distress was a hot, pulsing, living thing Until they kneas wrong with Cassidy, Gray was an unsheathed weapon, and no one knew the sharpness of that blade or how deeply it could cut

He waited until Gray knelt beside hi out to this spot several times a day

“They grew evenhis voice quiet “We’ll actually get a decent crop froarden”

“She can’t do it again,” Gray snarled “This almost killed her”

“I know that” And he did He also knew the Queens had looked upon this garden in shock initially, thenalmost understood how this had happened Almost

“Co his attention away from the plants

Ranon looked over his shoulder and sighed Reyhana and Janos The young Queen had been out to look at this garden as ned hihouse

Then he stiffened and tapped Gray’s ar to his feet “More company”

Gray sprang to his feet Ranon grabbed one ar toward Lady Karla—especially because Aaron stepped out of the house and leaned against the wall, clearly not interfering and just as clearly standing watch over the Gray-Jeweled Queen alked with a nity and everything to do with needing the support of a cane

Whatever rong with her body, there was nothing wrong with her mind—or her power

Grizelle had been like this,Ranon thoughtLia had been like this

He’d grown up on stories of Grizelle and, especially, Lia Had grown up fantasizing about what it would be like to be in the presence of a Gray-Jeweled Queen He’d always thought of Grizelle and Lia as protectors of Dena Nehele—and they had been—but it hadn’t occurred to him that the power that protected the land also erous witches Not until Karla had stepped out of the Coach that had brought her to Eyota

“Prince Gray,” Karla said when she reached the to Reyhana and Janos

Janos hesitated, still not certain of how to respond to a Queen asn’t from the Shalador reserves Reyhana, on the other hand, took the greeting as an invitation to join the adults

“Cassidy is awake,” Karla said, looking at Gray “She’ll be fine She needs to stay quiet for the rest of today”

“Can I see her?” Gray asked “I won’t yell at her yet I just want to see her”

Karla’s lips curved in a wicked sain its balance and, quite frankly, the girl smells a bit ripe Until she has a chance to bathe and clean her teeth, you’re the last person she’s going to want to see”