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“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Liam curses under his breath. “You set me up, didn’t you?”
“I had to do what was necessary to protect the queen.”
“It’s not your job to protect her!” Liam’s long legs bring him close enough to sneer into Landon’s face. “Responsibility for her lands on all of us. Your manipulations are downright reckless.”
Sebastian laughs darkly. “You want to talk about reckless behavior? You kidnapped Novalee, and now you have the nerve to point fingers? In my book, that makes you a fucking hypocrite.”
“Better a hypocrite than a coward. At least I tried to protect her, and look where it got me.” Liam pushes against Landon’s chest, shoving my brother back by a foot. “You made sure I couldn’t fight for her at the auction.”
“I did what I believed was best for her. I’ve grown to care about her a great deal, and I only want to see her happy.”
Panic mounts as I watch Liam’s stare-off with my brother. He’s seconds away from snapping.
“It would make me happy if you guys would stop talking over my head.” Hoping to hide how badly my hands are shaking, I smooth a hand down my tousled hair. “I’m sitting right here.”
“Of course.” Landon winces. “It’s time we take this to vote, anyway. All in favor?”
“Yay.” Vance starts off the yes chain, with Sebastian coming in with his affirmative vote next to last.
The chancellor is quiet, and I hold his gaze, expecting him to parrot the others. Instead, Liam makes the earth quake under my feet.
“Considering certain revelations, I must vote nay.”
