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“Yeah, it does” But was the rivalry between Queens or woht, which is what he should do to soothe his Queen, Theran would blame Cassidy for Kerrow to an ani more than a physical attraction between Theran and Kermilla, it could burn itself out in a few days anyway, and he would have widened the rift already present in the court for nothing

“What should we do?” Powell asked

“We wait—and atch,” Talon repliedAnd hope I’ Theran take the lead on this and have the tiirl

CHAPTER 9

TERREILLE

Cassidy slowly made her way up to her suite Her head ached and her stomach burned Not an unusual co “Oh,la ” for the pain to start

Shira had a tonic that could soothe the stomach and o to the Healer Not again The first time, Shira had perfor it happened, those dark eyes held a sharp reminder that Shira was a Black Widoell as a Healer, and poisoning a “guest” would be a si to do

She had to write her report to Prince Sadi, and she didn’t knohat to say Didn’t knohat shedared to say

It was happening again She had failed Again

Kermilla shone She dazzled Just like the last tiown every evening that had theout, and hinted that she was on the priuest lists of the most influential aristos in Dharo

Which may or may not be true, but there was no way to call Ker churlish

Maybe she shouldn’t have been surprised, but it had been a shock to have Theran come up to her suite that first day and inforuest, and he expected her to act her age instead of behaving like a pouting adolescent

That state from a man whose pants tented every tiht have been funny in a dark, painful way if the rest of the court hadn’t started acting just like her old court had done They looked at Ker fault Seeing her and Kermilla in the same roohbred, Jhorma had once said when he had escorted her and Kermilla to a small party He’d said it in a tone of voice that was supposed to , but everyone in the room had known hethe draft horse when he lusted for the thoroughbred

Everyone but her

Even when he said things like that—and justified saying things like that—she hadn’t understood his enthusias to do with a commitment to take care of his Queen

Did he enjoy taking care of Kermilla?

She couldn’t think about that She did her best to ignore the other Queen by spending ti with Powell to send outQueens in Dena Nehele