Her clear, authoritative voice convinced him she wasn’t lying.

“Then why don’t you?”

“I’m a good-hearted woman,” she sneered. “And as much as I hate to say it, you’re valuable. You can be replaced, but not easily. Keep that in mind if you want to run.”

“How would I run?” He was shaking now, hit with the realization that he couldn’t move. “You’ve got me rooted to the ground.”

“Smartass,” she muttered. She glared at him with her blade-colored eyes and felt a scream emerging in her throat. She pushed it back down and leaned her head back, closing her eyes and stumbling briefly. She was dizzy. And very tired.

“So what purpose do I serve?”

“You’ve been in a competition. Everything you’ve been through has been a test of your leadership abilities. You’ve won. You’re the heir to my.. I suppose you could say throne. Don’t let it go to your head. You’ll have a few millenia added onto your life span, enough to rule and pick an heir for yourself, or my Embassy will have a second look at the results. Hear me?”