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“My Queen …” she started “His fate should not have been determined by the Dark Fae”

Aaibhe put up a hand and halted her fros with Aida and Ete as your guides … do you not care for them?”

“I adore them They are like older, wiser sisters … well, Ete is Aida is just so much fun …”

“And still you do not attend the oing to do with you? You need to mature, Royce You need to take your place on the council”

“The council , and I ahed and studied a work of art across the room

“Duty so but nevertheless necessary” The queen waved off any answer her princessimpatient with her “So, because the Trackers and our Royal Houses are overtaxed rounding up the stray Dark Fae in Ireland and Scotland … and even England …”

“Yes, land, and he went after the to show that she was in fact concerned about the situation

“Indeed, and we are even working with the Milesians, one in particular, Chancemont LeBlanc …” The queen inclined her lovely head “I know that you have heard soic story”

“Yes, Trevor has just leftand capturing Pestale”

“Precisely, my Princess” The queen rose from her seat and took a turn in place Royce watched her with dread Here it coht

“As it happens, Princess Royce, I have decided to make you a part of their teaht find useful”

“Me … my punishment is to teaht, alether Is this what she calls punishment?

The queen’s iridescent eyes narrowed, and one delicate brow rose “Do not think you have gotten aith your rave danger It is tian the business of being who you are—a Seelie Fae princess” She waved off Royce’s objection and silenced her with a glare “This is a mission that you must execute with purpose and determination It is time you wake up and realize your duty to your own kind I need you to open your lovely eyes and recognize what is ihed and then added, “This will not be easy, child Chancemont will not want you to accompany them, and he will not welcome you If you wish to carry out your Queen’s orders, you will have to prove yourself to him, and I expect that you will find a way to do so”

Royce was so relieved that the queen was not relegating her to the et out—she had heard enough stories to worry about this— that she aled Queen Aaibhe However, she checked herself and bowed her head “Yes, my Queen … I will do as you ask”