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Hey, Gin,I said,did you figure out how to turn off Zane’s collar so he can use his magic?

Yes,she replied,but it was very time-consuming. It took me nearly twenty minutes of continuous tinkering to deactivate the blasted thing without setting off the exploding failsafe.

For which I am very grateful,Zane chimed in.

Ok, Gin, see if you can speed up the process and get the collars off Calli and Tessa too,I told her.And if you can, deactivate all the slaves’ collars too.

Do you want a pony with that?Gin laughed.

Na, if I ever decide to get myself a noble steed, it will totally be a unicorn,I decided.Ok, everyone know what to do?

Distract the guards so they don’t notice you and Zane are gone,Tessa said, tapping her lips and popping out her hip.Now how ever am I going to do that?She smirked and slunk off toward the guards.

The Night Prince had just left the room with the Sun Queen. They were headed to his Vault. We all got to work right away. Tessa excelled at being the center of attention. So while all eyes were on her, Zane and I made ourselves invisible from everyone’s senses by using his telepathic cloaking trick. No one could see us or hear us, so we were able to speak freely.

“I wish they would move faster,” I said as the two of us followed the Night Prince and his guest down the corridor. “At this rate, they’ll have to turn around before they even get to the Vault.”

Zane’s eyes were fixed on the Sun Queen. “I’d imagine it’s hard to move in those…shoes.”

“Are you staring at her ass, Zane?”

“No.”

“You totally are,” I told him.

He shrugged. “What can I say? She’s hot.”

“And evil,” I reminded him. “She keeps slaves and forces them to fight for her amusement and profit. Don’t forget that.”

“I’m not going to date her, Leda. I’m just admiring…”

“Better not admire her too hard, lover boy,” I said. “Or Aerilyn will feed you to her pet dragon.”

Zane wasn’t the only one admiring the Queen. The Night Prince couldn’t take his eyes off of her. He was hardly even blinking. Or breathing.

“You light up this dark world, Your Majesty,” the Night Prince cooed. “And my heart.”

Zane and I exchanged glances, rolling our eyes at his cheesy line.

“You are too kind, my dear prince,” the Sun Queen replied coyly. “But let’s not speak of me. Instead, tell me more about this magnificent Vault of yours.”

“My Vault contains the largest collection of ancient treasures anywhere in the Veil,” he boasted, puffing out his chest.

“So I’ve heard.” She wetted her lips. “I’m so excited to see them, in particular the famed Map of the Ancient Lands.”

“Ancient Lands?” I said, looking at Zane.

“No idea,” he replied.

“Yes, that map is the jewel of my collection,” the Night Prince told the Sun Queen, nodding. “It’s the only copy in existence, as far as I know.”

“And the map shows the way toallthe worlds in the Ancient Lands?” she asked eagerly.

“Yes. If one can decipher it. The Immortal cartographer who created the map put everything in code.”

“I should so like to visit those worlds,” said the Sun Queen. “Legend has it they are extraordinarily beautiful.”

“And filled with extraordinary treasures,” the Night Prince added.