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Knowing Xan’s mother did not want her by his side was certainly a blow It also ly uncomfortable when it came to events in the palace Their interactions had stopped Sloan couldn’t tell who rateful for it

Sloan was slowly getting used to the idea that she would be Xan’s queen It was a hard decision, not because of her feelings for Xan but because Sloan felt like she had no idea what a queen wasshea captain, she could handle There weren’t many rules, and the ones she had were mainly ones she’d made herself If the situation called for it, she could i protocols and there are expectations beyond keeping people safe and paid, the weight of that was a lot more to handle

They’d had one diplo It had been an un, but it felt like everywhere To begin with, the attire she’d as apparently the enemy colors for the ambassador and his family

The silence that had hit the rooone wrong Red Everyone was in red Sloan had spent a lot of ti that would fit well and would be appropriate The pale-purple pant suit that accented and flattered her figure was the choice she’d made

Xan crossed to her, perhaps feeling her unease as she walked in

“It’s fine, it’s okay,” he htly to him

“Why didn’t you tell me not to wear purple?”

“It slipped e and didn’t think to tell you I am sorry” He took her hand and led her into the roo her heels in

“Let h that only Xan would hear

“No, it’s fine I’ll save her a wink And he did Xan worked his ain relaxed and enjoying their tiether Then it came time to eat, and plates were put in front of them Sloan knew not to take her first bite before Xan and Venu They kept the pre-dinner conversation to atheir first bites quickly

Sloan followed suit, breathing in the delicious aroma of the soup, she’d drearoup again Apparently, this specific ambassador was to take the second bite; only then was the rest of the party to follow suit Again, Xan was required to s over, and Sloan felt like an idiot She wasmistake after mistake She didn’t miss the smirk on Venu’s face as the dinner continued

Sloan had requested some help with protocol and other items that needed to be taken into account She asked Yaris, who said she would request sonored She hadn’t wanted to bother Xan with those requests and let him know

“Xan, can I have sos like that?” She sat on the edge of the bed, re her heels

“Of course! I thought ed that I was there when Yaris said yousurprised

“I did ask, but so far I haven’t heard anything Hence the ” She put her head in her hands “I hate feeling like I’ you and your family” She took off her jacket and top