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“Sloan,her face, then running his eyes over her body searching for an injury Sloan only wished her injury were physical She wiped her eyes and nose on her shirt and atte her move one bit as he crushed her to him Sloan steeled her heart He didn’t want her here any before he tried to set her up as a mistress or, worse, asked her to leave No, she needed to do this now before he could ask

“Xan, please let et up off Xan’s lap

“Sloan, please tell me what has happened Was it about your trip?” Xan said, holding her fast on his lap

“Xan, please, I need to stand,” Sloan said, and Xan reluctantly released Sloan fro his arms and helped her stand Sloan dreay from his hold as soon as she could

“There, I’?”

Sloan paced, and the weight of her ring in her pocket felt heavier than ever She had taken it off while working on one of the internal syste with the work she was doing Putting it back on noas an impossibility Sloan reached into her pocket and withdrew it

“Why are you not wearing your ring?” Xan said, quietly He stared at her, his brown knitted with concern, but she knew she had to push forward Who was she kidding? Even if he truly cared about her, it was only a matter of time before he realized she was unfit to be his queen—hell anyone’s queen

“I ca out in her palm

“Sloan, I don’t understand What do youher to stumble back He reached out to her, but she steadied herself andin her palm

“I can’t be your queen, Xan,” Sloan said, trying her best to remain stone-faced This wouldn’t work if she allowed herself to break down Xan stared at her as if she’d shot hih the stomach with a blaster “I came back only to return this to you I should be out there with ive that up to be your queen I don’t belong here You need someone who you can have at your side ill help you as a ruler As we’ve seen, I’m not that woman”

“Sloan, I don’t care about any of that I want you bythis together We can continue to learn together,” he implored His eyes held so much confusion and hurt, it took her breath away Her heart raced pain slicing through her

“I can’t stay here I can’t stay here with you,” Sloan said, her voice breaking She squeezed her eyes shut When she opened the back

His eyes ide filled with emotion and he stood frozen in place She couldn’t take it back She stayed strong He would realize this was for the best in due time

“I can’t be with you anymore, Xan I’m sorry”

Xan stood frozen, completely unable toon the settee in the clothes roo toward the door She felt her heart break at that ain