Dinner was a buffet of breads, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and meat. So much meat. The wine flowed freely, and the servants brought out sweet pastries, candied fruits… It was the kind of meal I’d

dreamed of in my village. I didn’t taste any of it.

The queen’s ladies ignored me. Lisveth attempted to start a conversation a few times, but I was distracted, and she quickly gave up, likely tired of my one-word answers.

When my mind slowed enough, I listened to the ladies’ conversation, mentally taking notes of everything they were saying—even as I felt Lorian’s eyes on me.

The five other ladies had been accompanying the queen for years. Lisveth’s mother had been one of the queen’s close friends, and she’d died from fever shortly after Lisveth was born when the healer hadn’t arrived in time to save her life. Lisveth was the youngest of us all at just sixteen winters, and the queen treated her almost like a daughter at times.

Caraceli was the woman who’d once been in charge of the queen’s fire and was closest to Katina—the woman the queen had found at the market.

The woman I’d arranged to return to her village.

When Katina arrived home, she would find her parents in excellent health. Caraceli seemed to hate me even more than Madinia, likely because I’d taken her friend’s place.

Caraceli and Madinia also hated each other. Madinia seemed to hate everyone, but occasionally when the queen wasn’t looking, she’d call Caraceli fire girl with a smug smile.

There was a reason no one seemed to like Madinia. And it wasn’t just because her father was apparently so close to the king.

Pelopia and Alcandre were sitting at the other end of the table, murmuring quietly to each other. I hadn’t yet learned how they’d come to be in the queen’s employ—likely Auria could tell me later. Both had nodded to me, but other than Alcandre’s comments about Gromalia, they’d stayed quiet. Likely because neither of them wanted to attract Madinia’s ire.

I could still feel Lorian watching me. How exactly had he ended up here? My heart thumped faster at the memory of the fae he’d met with near the Gromalian border. I needed to know what Lorian was planning and how his plans would affect my own.

I risked a glance over my shoulder when the room went quiet. The queen had gotten to her feet. With a few murmured words to the king, she walked toward the door.

“Do we need to follow her?” I asked.

Lisveth shook her head. “The queen likes privacy after one of the king’s dinners. And she especially enjoys being alone after the castle balls. We’re allowed to leave whenever we like.”

I studied the others at the king’s table, ignoring Lorian, who was deep in conversation with King Sabium. “Who are the other people sitting with the king?” I asked quietly.

Lisveth smiled. “They’re the king’s patriarchs. They own huge swaths of land, depending on how much of the king’s favor they’ve courted over the years. Down the end of the table is Patriarch Kofod.” She nodded toward a man with a mournful expression who looked drunk already. “Next to him is Patriarch Farrow—Madinia’s father.”

I studied the man. Madinia’s mother must have been a beauty, because other than their red hair, the two had no other similarities that I could see. I glanced at Madinia. She raised one eyebrow at me.

Patriarch Farrow was sitting next to the king. A powerful man, indeed.

The Gromalian prince sat on his other side. “And next to the…prince?” “Patriarch Thueson.” She smiled. Thueson had wiry white hair that

stood out from his head as if he couldn’t help but run his hands through it. He looked deep in contemplation as he studied his plate. “He’s a nice man,” Lisveth said. “My father was rarely at court when I was young, and Patriarch Thueson always had a piece of honeyed fruit for me.” She leaned close and lowered her voice to a whisper. “He hates court. He’d much rather be managing his lands with his husband, but the king enjoys his company and often insists he stay here. Next to him is Patriarch Greve.” She nodded toward a man with a thin, sharp nose and a sallow complexion. Something like fear darted across her face, and I opened my mouth, but Lisveth turned back to face the table. Clearly, she didn’t want to talk about it.

I waited a few more minutes, but none of the other ladies showed any signs of retiring. Finally, I pushed back my chair.

“I’m tired,” I said.

Lisveth smiled at me. The others ignored me. “Good night.”

I practically ran from the dining hall. I hadn’t seen Rythos or the rest of the group, but if Lorian was here, I had little doubt they were around somewhere.

Someone took my arm, and I stumbled. Then I was being swept into an empty room.

Lorian glowered down at me. My stupid body wanted to arch against him. Clearly, all the stress was impacting my mind.

“You were supposed to get on a ship,” he growled.

I took a deep breath, and his enticing scent wound toward me. He smelled wild, like the forest, and it reminded me of sleeping outdoors beneath the stars. “I’m going nowhere until Asinia is safe.”

He went still in that strange way he so often did. “You’re risking everything for a woman who is probably dead already?”

I sniffed. “I don’t know how to explain friendship and loyalty to you.

You either know what those things are, or you don’t.”

The ghost of a smile crossed his face. We both knew he was intensely loyal to his friends. “Tell me.”

“It’s simple. She’s my best friend. More like a sister than a friend. And I know, without a doubt, that if I were the one who’d been taken, she’d do the

same for me.”

“Yet neither of you knew the other had power.”

Something I’d avoided thinking about until I could talk to Asinia.

“Our friendship had secrets. But none of that matters now. The question is, what the hell are you doing here?” I hissed.

He just raised one dark brow. “How about you tell me how a villager gets a position as one of the queen’s ladies?”

“As soon as you tell me how a mercenary has a seat at the king’s table.” He gave me a slow smile. “I never said I was a mercenary.”

Of all the— “You’re not from Gromalia either!”

“According to whom?” He had the audacity to look affronted. “The idea of you being a prince is ludicrous.”

“Almost as ludicrous as a villager being a queen’s lady?” I sneered at him.

“Although, for a savage villager, you certainly manage to outshine the other ladies,” he purred.

“Don’t try to distract me.”

He grinned down at me. “But you make it so easy.” He reached a hand up to play with the curl that had been left free over my forehead. “I like your real hair better. And I miss those strange eyes.”

“Strange?” “Strangely beautiful.”

Something had sparked in Lorian since I’d seen him last. He was almost…charming. Was it because he was close to getting whatever it was he’d come here for?

His hand slid to my chin. “I missed the rest of you too. The way you scowl at me when I say something you disagree with. And that face you make when you’re wondering what I’d look like naked.”

My heart thundered, an entirely unwelcome awareness flooding my body. “I don’t wonder what you’d look like naked!”

“Ah, you wouldn’t need to wonder, would you? Because you watched me bathing at the inn, you wicked thing.”

My cheeks blazed. I thought back to the way he’d stretched, as if on display. Because he had been. This man was a predator at his core. Had I really thought he hadn’t felt my eyes on him?

This conversation had quickly slipped out of my control.

Lorian shifted closer to me, leaning down to sniff at my neck. I pulled my head back and planted my hands on my hips. “Whatever you’re doing here, stay out of my way.”

His expression turned serious. “Only if you restrain yourself from spying on me.”

“Fine.”

He stepped back, his eyes still intent in that strange way.

He cursed, and then he was kissing me. His lips caressed mine achingly slowly. As if I’d stopped time for us. Warmth traveled through my body, my limbs strangely languid. One of his hands slid to my ribs, right beneath my breast, and I wanted to arch my body, wanted to writhe until he was touching me higher.

He slowly lifted his head. His expression was cold, but his eyes… blazed. “Unless you want to end up in my bed, stay away from me.”

Of all the—

I shoved against his chest, and he took his time stepping back. “That will never happen,” I hissed, ignoring his low laugh. I stalked out of the room.

Tibris was waiting for me in the servants’ hall near my chambers. “Is everything okay?”

I leaned close, keeping my voice to the barest whisper. “Lorian is here.”

His face twisted into a deep scowl. “The mercenary?” he whispered back. “Did you know about this?”

“Of course not. I don’t know what he’s up to. I swear.”

I could see Tibris mentally calculating what Lorian’s presence meant for our own plans.

“How did he get in here?”

“You’ll love this. He’s pretending to be the Gromalian prince.”

Tibris let out a choked laugh. When he realized I was serious, he sighed. “Stay away from him, Pris.”

“Oh, I will.”

“The dungeon guards are already drunk. It seems they took advantage of the distraction in the castle. We should go see Asinia now.”

Shame stabbed into my gut. I’d been busy kissing Lorian, while Asinia and Demos were waiting for us. “I need to get some food for her and Demos.”

He held up a sack. “The cook likes me.”

“Why am I not surprised?”

“You look good, Pris. Royal.”

While I hated the thought of looking royal, it was exactly what we needed. “Thank Vicer for me. I need to check on Wila.” If she would even be willing to speak to me. “She’s the reason the plan worked.”

Tibris was right. Both guards were slumped against the wall, one of them with his eyes at half-mast. It was difficult to pull the thread of my magic to me today, maybe because my mind was circling through so much information. But I managed to pause time long enough for us to sneak past the guards and make our way down the stone steps.

After experiencing a royal dinner, the dungeon seemed even worse. The scent of excrement and hopelessness was heavy in the air.

“Setella,” a voice whispered, and I whirled. Wila was in one of the cells closest to the stairs. She had a black eye and a split lip.

“Go work on Asinia,” I told Tibris. His gaze flicked between Wila and me, and I just nodded at him. “It’s okay. Go.”

Fury burned through me as I knelt outside her cage. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“My real name is Prisca,” I whispered. It was the least I could give her.

Wila studied me. Her eyes were strangely clear, and she seemed older than her years. “Prisca. I like it. Vicer may not have told me who you were, but I figured it out. I hated you at first, you know.”

“I know.”

“I thought you were just another girl playing at being a rebel. We’ve been fighting back for years, and you thought you could stroll in here and change the world. It made me want to hit you.”

I smiled. “I can’t blame you.”

Wila smiled too. It must have hurt her lip. “But I was watching every move you made. You know, all this time, none of us ever tried to get that close to the queen?” She waved her hand over my new dress. “You’ve been here mere days, and today, we could have killed her if we’d wanted.”

“I wanted to.” It was terrifying how much I wanted to. I’d changed so much since I’d left my village, I barely recognized myself.

“I know. So did I. I would have listened to her screams and laughed and laughed.” Wila smirked. “But you’re thinking bigger. And that’s why I agreed to do this. Because you’re going to make them pay.”

Her confidence both strengthened and terrified me. Gods, I hoped I could be the person she thought I was.

“I will. How long did the queen say you have to stay down here?” “I’m not getting out.”

“What?”

She just ran a hand over her face.

Fury blazed through me. “I’ll get you out of here with the others.”

She slowly shook her head. “No, you won’t. The king intervened. He wasn’t pleased with his beloved coming so close to harm. I’ve been sentenced to die two days from today.”

The dungeon did one slow spin around me. Wila was still talking, but all I could hear was my blood rushing in my ears.

“Then I’m getting you out tonight,” I said through numb lips. “Now.”

“You know you can’t.” Tears glistened in her eyes now. “It’s okay. I’ve been in this castle for over a year, and I haven’t done anything greater than passing on information to Vicer. And not one scrap of information has saved a single life. This was something I could do that mattered.”

I clutched the bars between us, staring at her. “You can’t give up.”

Tears dripped down her cheeks. “They took my brother,” she told me. “We were born minutes apart. I was away from the village that day, and I ran. By the time I got to the city, he’d already burned. I never got to say goodbye. Never got to thank him for being the best brother I could have hoped for. The king took him from me without a thought. Because if his people found out just how many of us have magic, and why, all his lies would begin to fall apart. You have a brother.” Her gaze drifted behind me in the direction Tibris had gone.

“I do. And my brother wouldn’t want me to throw your life away.

Neither would yours.”

“I’m not. You’re going to free them, I know it. Promise me, Prisca. Promise me you’ll free them. And one day, you’ll come back and burn this fucking place to the ground.”

There was only one thing I could say. “I promise.”

A scuff sounded to my left.

My hand instantly went to my dagger, and I turned. Prisca stood in my room, her face pale.

“Using your power to sneak into my rooms, wildcat? How very

scandalous.”

“I don’t have time to play.”

Her eyes met mine, and I experienced another jolt at the color. I loathed the change. But more importantly, those eyes were desperate. Desperate in a way that filled me with a strange disquiet.

“What is it?”

“You asked how I ended up as one of the queen’s ladies. I worked with a woman named Wila. She dropped a lamp on the queen’s dress. A lamp with fae fire. I froze time long enough for it to catch and for the queen to assume the people surrounding her did nothing.”

Her face had gone even paler, as if admitting to her deeds was sucking the life from her.

“And then you put the fire out, drawing the queen’s attention for your bravery and fast instincts.”

“Yes.”

I studied her. She’d glanced away with that word, shifting on her feet. “You’re not telling me all of it. From what I’ve learned of the queen, she usually keeps no more than six ladies at any one time.”

She stuck her chin out in that stubborn way she had, and I raised one eyebrow.

“You arranged for one of those ladies to disappear, didn’t you, wildcat?” “I didn’t kill her,” she said quickly. “She’s traveling back to her

village.”

“You’re a better schemer than I’d anticipated. Congratulations. That doesn’t explain why you’ve come to me so distraught, directly after we agreed to pretend the other doesn’t exist.”

“Wila…I’d thought she would be embarrassed. Maybe demoted. But they took her to the dungeon.” Her voice broke, and something in my chest wrenched.

I sighed. “They’re putting her to death, and you want me to intervene.” “The king heard what happened and decided to use it as proof of his

love,” she spat. “He sentenced Wila to death. She dies at sunrise, two days from now.”

“What exactly is it you think I can do?”

“Anything. Please, Lorian. I’m begging you. If I take her now, they’ll start an investigation and increase security. Then I won’t be able to get Asinia out. She’s still too weak to travel.”

My jaw clenched. She was asking for my help. Begging. And I couldn’t give her what she wanted. What she needed. A strange kind of powerlessness punched into me. “I can’t.”

“Lorian—”

I held up a hand. At some point in the past few weeks, dulling the hope in Prisca’s eyes had turned from an absolute necessity to a living hell.

“Let me tell you how executions happen here. The prisoner is led out the back entrance of the castle while blindfolded. Denied even the sight of one last sunrise. They’re surrounded by guards at all times, dragged to one of the many squares in the city that were designed exactly for this purpose. Even if I could create a big enough distraction to get her free, the city gates would immediately be shut. Every man, woman, and child who attempted to leave would be searched. The violence would become inescapable until she was found. Many other innocent people would die.”

I knew all about the prisoners in this castle. Knew what happened to them. Every excruciating detail. And at some point, this vexing woman had become too important to me. Important enough that the thought of her going ahead with such plans—and taking that long, lonely walk to her execution…

I would do whatever it took to make sure that didn’t happen. Even if it meant I had to tie her up and hide her in a closet.

Prisca swayed on her feet. Her face had turned ashen. I took a step toward her, attempting to steady her. She flinched.

I forced my hands back to my sides. “Coming here was a mistake,” I said. “You’re not the only one with people you need to protect. I can’t help you.”

She stumbled back toward the door. Her eyes met mine, and for a single moment, the amber shone through whatever charm she had in place.

“Of course you can’t. You’ve proven you have no concerns about leaving women to die. I don’t know why I expected anything more of you.” She turned and stalked out.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and let out a low laugh.

Because despite everything I’d just said, I was going to try to get the maid out.

My door opened shortly after sunrise the next morning. Daselis swept in, throwing open the curtains.

“The queen expects her ladies to eat breakfast with her this morning,” she said.

“I can get myself ready.” My voice was hoarse. After I’d begged Lorian for help, I’d cried myself to sleep.

Daselis just stalked into the bathing room. Water began running directly after, and I forced myself to get out of bed.

“Are you okay?” Erea whispered. “Your eyes are all swollen, your face blotchy.”

“It must be difficult landing such a coveted position,” Daselis said, stepping back into the room, her voice heavy with sarcasm. “Bathe.”

I didn’t have it in me to argue. I made my way to the bathing room, stripped, and slipped into the bath, my mind whirling.

I hated that Lorian had sounded so assured. That every word he’d said had made perfect sense. I’d known since I’d seen Asinia in the dungeon that I’d need a better strategy than “use my power to freeze time and sneak her

out of the castle.” But the thought of Wila dying because of my stupid plan…

I couldn’t let her lose her life that way. I wouldn’t.

Someone knocked on the bedroom door. Either Erea or Daselis must have opened it, because I heard murmuring. Erea poked her head into the bathing room.

“That was a messenger. Instead of eating in the queen’s rooms, you’ll be eating at a formal breakfast with the king. He has an announcement.”

A headache had begun to pound behind my right eye. But I nodded, stepping out of the bath.

“You need to hurry,” Daselis said.

I was barely present as they helped me dress. My mind returned to Wila in that cell again and again. The bruises on her face. The freezing air. And the thought of her being taken from that cell, only to die. There had to be a way to get her out. If Lorian wouldn’t help, I’d try something else.

I just needed a big enough distraction that I could buy Wila a day or two.

“Time to go,” Daselis said grimly.

Erea’s hands fluttered from where she’d been fixing my hair. “It looks perfect,” I told her.

Getting to my feet, I made my way down to the royal dining hall. The last people I wanted to see were the king and queen. Although today, the thought of seeing Lorian was just as distasteful. The other ladies were already waiting, the same seat empty. I sat in it and glanced at Lisveth.

“Is this something that happens often?”

She shook her head. “Usually, the king doesn’t rise for another few hours.”

Obviously being an evil bastard took it out of him. “Do you know what’s going on?”

“Nope. Want some breakfast?”

My stomach was churning too much to eat. I shook my head, and she sighed. “You barely ate anything last night either. Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine. I just don’t like big meals in the morning.” A man I didn’t recognize was sitting at the king’s table. A man with sharp features and cold gray eyes. “Who is that?”

“Rothnic Boria. He’s the one who used his magic to create the horseless carriages. He’s one of the king’s favorites, and everyone at court is desperate to see what he does next with his magic and genius mind.”

“And the man beside him?”

“His son Davis. He’s obsessed with Madinia, but she has been ignoring him for years.”

Davis was handsome, although he had a weak jaw. But his eyes were even colder than his father’s, and something about him made me shiver. Maybe he was the perfect match for Madinia. Although I wouldn’t wish someone with eyes that lifeless on anyone, even her.

We all stood as the king and queen walked in together. Behind them, Lorian strolled, his lithe movements making him seem less of the giant brute I knew him to be and more…elegant. He’d disappointed me. Not only because he’d refused to help, but because I’d gone to him when I should have known better.

Lorian was surrounded by men dressed in Gromalian green. His gaze slid to mine, and a muscle twitched in his cheek. His eyes were empty, his expression…apologetic.

Dread swept through my body in a wave.

The king stayed on his feet, so everyone else did too.

“You’re probably wondering why we’re eating together this morning. Some of you may be aware that my queen was almost gravely injured yesterday. I’m pleased to announce that the woman responsible was executed this morning.”

My vision narrowed. I clutched at the top of my chair. No. No, no, no, no, no.

Lorian was staring intently at me. I knew that look. It was the same look he’d given me every time he was about to berate me, about to order me to hold it together. I sucked in a deep breath, the backs of my eyes burning.

Don’t fall apart here.

“While she was put to death, she screamed a name that one of my guards recognized.”

The thought of Wila screaming as she died… My knees went weak, and I was instantly covered in a greasy sweat.

The king was sweeping his gaze over the entire room. “That name belonged to her brother. One of the corrupt.” His voice lowered to a hiss. “The corrupt had infiltrated this castle.”

Murmurs sounded as the nobles processed this news.

I stayed very still, ignoring the instinct to make myself as small as possible. That would only draw attention.

“Due to this event, my assessor will be examining every servant in this castle and the grounds.”

Lisveth leaned close. “I’m glad we don’t count as servants. The king’s assessor is scary.”

I gave her a nod. Tibris would be okay. He wasn’t a hybrid. But he needed to get a message to Vicer. He still had another rebel in the castle, and they needed to get out.

The king was still talking, his cold gaze moving to our table. Lisveth straightened.

“Thankfully, another maid was nearby and saved my queen,” he boomed. “One loyal to the crown. I have learned she has been rewarded with a temporary position as one of the queen’s ladies.”

The king’s eyes met mine.

Smile like your life depends on it. Because it does.

I beamed, lowering my head in a bow. I could feel the court’s eyes on me. All of them judging, weighing.

“Now, eat,” the king said. “And let us celebrate the burning of yet another of the corrupt.”

“Promise me, Prisca. Promise me you’ll free them. And one day, you’ll come back and burn this fucking place to the ground.”

I looked over my shoulder at the king, who was smiling at Lorian.

Burn this fucking place to the ground.

I sucked in a steadying breath. Just a few minutes, and I could fall apart. “I don’t feel well,” I murmured to Lisveth. “I’ll meet you in the queen’s

quarters.”

Pelopia’s eyes widened. “The queen won’t like that.”

“She won’t like it if I disgrace myself here either.” I smiled to soften my words, and after a moment, she smiled back.

I could feel eyes on me as I walked out of the hall. I made it as far as the closest storage room before I fell apart.

Slumping to my knees, I stuffed my fist in my mouth, sobs choking me.

My fault. I’d thought I could do this. Thought I could stroll into this castle and free the king’s prisoners. Instead, I’d gotten a good woman killed.

Strong arms surrounded me, and I lashed out. The guards— But I recognized that scent. I stilled, and then I swung my fist. “You’ll have to do better than that, wildcat.”

How dare he? “Don’t fucking touch me.”

“I’m sorry, Prisca.” His voice was grim. “Would you believe me if I told you I tried?”

“No.”

I was fighting him, rage burning through me as I hit and clawed. I made contact, and he cursed, catching my hands in his.

“Let go,” he growled. “Just fucking let go.” I bowed my head.

Lorian pulled me close. I lashed out at him again, and he ignored it, his arms tightening around me. I sobbed, great big gulping sobs that choked me until I could barely breathe. Lorian was silent, but one of his hands gently stroked my back.

This place was worse than I could have ever imagined.

Lorian began humming, his hand still slowly stroking my back. I kept crying.

Eventually, I wore myself out. Sniffling, I wiped my face on his shirt. He let that go.

The song was a tune I’d never heard before. Something strange and different. I finally lifted my head to find him gazing at the ceiling. His eyes met mine, and they blazed with barely suppressed wrath as he peeled me off him as if I were a kitten, his hand on the back of my neck. A tiny white line had appeared on his cheek. He was clenching his jaw. Lorian wasn’t unaffected at all. He was just as furious as I was.

“I tried,” he said. “The king’s spies learned that I had asked about the woman who’d tripped near the queen, and they reported back to him. If anything, I hastened her death.”

Fresh tears flooded my eyes, and Lorian sighed. “I’d tell you not to blame yourself, but both of us know it wouldn’t help. If you want to blame anyone, blame me.”

A group of women walked past the door, laughing and gossiping. How could they act like nothing had happened when an innocent woman had lost her life?

Because she was corrupt. Just like me. “Why are you really here, Lorian?”

His face closed off. In a swift movement, he clutched me to him once more so he could stand, dragging me to my feet. “Because the king took everything from my family. And now I’m going to take everything from him.”