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Next tomy eyes at Julian When I shift, so does the collar ofa steady drip of rainwater down

"Are you saying your nephew is cursed to his crown?" I sneer

Julian hardens, and I feel a tinge of regret for being so callous He shakes his head at me, like I’m a child to be scolded "Forced to choose between the woht? What he thinks he ht to be? What else would you call that?"

"I call it an easy decision," Kilorn growls

I bite down hard on the inside of naw back a dozen rude responses "Did you really come here to defend what he did? Because I’m certainly not in the mood for it"

"No, of course not, Mare," Julian replies "But to explain, if I can"

My sto his nephew’s heart to me With his dissections and ruminations Will he boil it down to simple science? An equation to show that the crown and I are not equal in the prince’s eyes? I simply can’t stand it

"Save your breath, Julian," I spit "Go back to your king Stand at his side" I look hi "And keep hi I can do

Julian Jacos bo He sweeps out his soaking robes in an attempt at courtly manner For a second, we could be back in Summerton, just him and me in a classroom piled with books Back then, I lived in terror, forced to es in that place Alongside Cal and Maven My only sanctuaries The Calore brothers are gone I think Julian ht be too

"I will, Mare," he tells me "With my life, if I must"

"I hope it doesn’t cos to each other And his voice sounds like a good-bye