184 THE STORY BEHIND YULE’S TEARS

"NE-NE, don't say things that you don't mean."

"And when did I do that?" Neoma asked Yule while looking at the god's pretty, galaxy-like eyes. "I'm arrogant because I have the skills to back it up. Thus, I don't say things I don't mean, Lord Yule."

  Yule looked surprised by her declaration. Then, his already sparkly eyes sparkled even more. "Do you want to be the first empress of the Great Moonasterion Empire now?"

"I don't 'want' to be the empress," she corrected him. "I need to."

"Interesting," the god said, then he snapped his fingers.

The next thing she knew, she was already seated on the floating chair across from Yule. She even had a cup of tea in one hand, and a coaster in the other.