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Everyone was in the study, waiting for Maeve and Ian to join them There was a heavy silence, as if no one knehat to say Selena looked at the faces around her and felt a rush of love for each of them Her family

She smiled "You all look so worried Except you, Johann" She crossed the roo with each step "You knew, did you not?"

Johann's grin matched hers "I knew So?"

The queen slaave a breathy harrudom"

Selena couldn't help herself She started to laugh Meht a flush to her cheeks "It onderful," she whispered to Johann

"And were you ayou know?"

"God damn it," the queen hissed "Was she a you-knohat?" She marched up to Johann and rapped him on the side of his head with her closed fan

"It is no secret, Your Highness," Selena answered "Johann wants to know if I was a virgin"

This time the queen smacked Johann with her open hand 'That's no question for a man to ask a lady" Then she turned to Selena "Were you?"

"I was," Selena said with a huge grin "But I arand"

The queen sighed mistily "It certainly is "

"Selena!" Ian's voice booh the ro

om, and

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everyone spun to face hi about?"