The crowd watching her expected her to jump. There was no true escape from her duties. To jump was to declare herself the rightful ruler of the kingdo..., to turn away would not strip her of her title, but it would turn the people against her. Her every move would be questioned, scorned and broken down. Her orders would fall upon sluggish ears and even those closest to her would surely begin to turn. To walk away from the cliff was to tell her people that she cared not for their traditions. That. “So, I know that you two are getting closer. And I know this fun situation won’t be around too long. But before we get to that point, can we go out with a bang?”I looked back and forth at the two of them, smiling slightly at the play on words. I didn’t know if Danielle was going to be happy at her sister’s understanding, or if she was going to be upset that she was still going at it. “Go on,” Danielle said. “Well, I mean, our parents don’t go away that much,“ Hailey said. “We’ve got a few more. He finally opened a door and led me into ahuge bedroom. I stiffened and said, "I don't know what they told you I washere for, but-" Shut up. Take this, and look at the picture."He handed me a page that had apparently been torn out of a magazine. It hada picture of Carmen Electra on it, barely wearing a semi-translucentone-piece bathing suit. I didn't have a whole lot of trouble staring longand hard at it.The man said, "Verden," and suddenly the room swirled around me. I felt likeI'd drunk a lot. "The two of them talked for a few minutes before being joined by anolder woman with grey hair. "Welcome back," she said to Ivy. Shesmiled at Holly, but didn't seem bothered by her one way or another.Known as a very stern lady, Kandice Wegner was known as one of thebest thoracic surgeons in the region.Today's meeting was scheduled as a way to hand off some cases and geta feel for how things had been going while she'd been out. While shehadn't stayed completely out of the loop, she hadn't.