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“Not you,” she said Sloan’s sto finally appeared to be upon her

“What can I do for you, Venu?” Sloan thought she ht have seen a tick under Venu’s eye at Sloan’s use of her first name

“I wanted to kno long you are going to use e and away from his duties as ruler”

“I don’t knohat you’re talking about I’ve already told Xan that he doesn’t owe et hi to keep him from his duties I’ve tried to support him as best I can and help any way I can”

“You have no idea what he needs as a ruler, and your presence is lect his duties At least twice now, he has ended diplo you require It’s unacceptable” She rounded on Sloan

“I a I can to help Xan,” Sloan said, unsure of how to handle this bombardment from Venu

“He doesn’t need so about space He needs a practiced co” Venu eyed Sloan from head to toe Sloan’s stomach churned as her hair and clothes caain

“My crewThey are seasoned and exeainVenu” Sloan saw the eye tick for sure this time

“So, ill you be departing with your crew, Sloan?”

“I aht now I’e”

“Then, in that case, I don’t think ill have any more problems with each other If you intend to leave once your crew arrives, I think that would be best for everyone”

“I didn’t say that Once my crew is here, ill co as he needs me”

“Trust lided out of the co more than a pleasant conversation about the weather

Chapter 25

Xan woke before the first D’Arian sun and disentangled hiht had been another night of diplos capped off with a dinner Sloan—with the help of Yaris—had dressed the part of a diplomatic envoy with hair tothose first couple of weeks on D’Arian, and having the clothes to fit in seemed to relax her