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"What’s it like now?" I ask For the first time I let ht Grandpa is still there

"How is it different?" I have to know

But Megan just shakes her head, al fro, Ms Chancellor is never around At least, I haven’t seen her I think sheI don’t know And there are waylike crazy I tried to snoop around and figure out what’s up, but they’re using next-gen encryption, and protocols like I’ve never seen I do know that your grandpa brought in a bunch of security experts to revae that opens up into the baseone They put up wire around the walls! Oh, and all the Adrian citizens ork at the eone?" I ask

"I iven jobs at other eets in unless they’re a US citizen who has been through all kinds of CIA background checks and/or is on a very short leash"

Megan takes a deep breath

"The place you left, Grace? The building where your rew up and you spent your suan looks me in the eye "It’s a fortress"

I never had a home Not really Or that’s what I liked to say--liked to think We moved so many times and so often that I never even tried to put down roots But that’s not true, I’ve come to realize My mother’s roots were always on Embassy Row And she planted randfather More even than the secret, ancient heritage of a grands, I didn’t know it until it was gone And Megan’s words make me miss the only home I’ve ever known

I look back out theWhen I speak, lass

"So … so to kill me And Jamie They want--no, they need--us dead We’re a threat And as long as we live … as long as our entire bloodline lives, ill always be a threat"

"But, Grace …" Rosie stumbles over her words, she seems so confused, so lost, as she asks, "Do you want to be a princess?"

That this is a question people now seriously askI can’t quite comprehend

"No, Ro, I most certainly do not want to be a princess"