Later that night, with the Vysanthean moon glowing above me, its silvery surface tinged with the faintest hint of red, I dragged myself away from the training center, with every muscle aching, feeling like the walking dead. Navan had been asked to stay behind for some one-on-one coaching, and I was secretly glad of the time alone.

The training session had been just as tough as I’d feared it would be, with us performing aerial assaults on one another in the darkness. Even with the wing serum, I was at a disadvantage again. The coldbloods could see better in the dark than I could, meaning I’d been battered and thrown in every direction, from all angles. I could see my fellow trainees were relishing it, being able to exact their revenge after the prize I’d been given by the queen. They wanted to take me down a peg or two, which was to be expected. I just wished they could do it in a gentler way.

It had been relentless, with us moving on to flight simulators in some of the small vessel replicas they kept in the huge training hangar. Half of us had been out of the ships, while the other half were in the cockpits. Obviously, I had been outside of the vessels, getting annihilated by the simulated gunfire of the training ships. We were supposed to find a way on board without getting shot out of the sky, but I hadn’t managed it. Everyone else had. That fact stuck in my throat as I made my way back to the palace. So far, I’d managed to keep up with the coldbloods, to some extent. This was the first time I’d felt like an actual failure.

Knowing I needed a pick-me-up, I decided to visit Lauren in the library, to update her on the status of our intel efforts. I’d promised Angie I’d do it before I left for training, but a last-minute nap had eaten up my time. It didn’t matter, though. Lauren would still be nose-deep in books, having forgotten the outside world even existed.

As I followed the familiar route to the library, the unsuccessful excursion to see Yorrek weighed on my mind, with Orion’s name glowing like a neon sign in my head. It was always there, a constant reminder of what he could do if we didn’t get him what he wanted. I thought of Roger and Jean and felt a shiver of dread run through me. No matter what, I couldn’t let anything happen to them.

I knocked on the library door, praying it wouldn’t be Queen Brisha who answered. A minute or so later, the door creaked open, and Lauren’s bespectacled eyes peered out, like she was a mole emerging from its hole for the first time in months. A chuckle rippled from my throat, and a smile spread across Lauren’s face.

“Riley!” She grabbed my hand and pulled me inside, where a blast of stale, fierce heat hit me full in the face. The fire was blazing, but the evening’s training had left me hot and sweaty, to the point where such warmth felt almost unbearable.

“I thought I’d come and give you an update, since we haven’t seen a lot of you lately,” I said, wiping beads of perspiration from my brow.

She shrugged. “What do you expect when you put me in a library like this? There are so many books! I can’t help myself.” I knew exactly what she was like, where books were concerned. If she was buried in an interesting book, the sexiest man in the world could walk past her and she wouldn’t notice.

“Hopefully you’re doing a lot better than the rest of us, then,” I replied. “Which is kind of why I’m here. We’ve had a little hiccup with gathering information from Yorrek. He’s got this insane security system set up because, for some reason, he thinks somebody is following him and wants to squeeze him for information… someone other than us, that is,” I explained, trying to rein in my frustration.

She grimaced. “He’s definitely a bit of a weirdo. I’ve run into him a couple of times at the building site, when I’ve gone to see Angie and Bashrik,” she explained. “If he’s not going to come out of his house, that’s no good at all. Has anyone come up with another way we might get some information about the elixir?”

“Not yet, no, though we’re all working on it. Do you think you could have a look through some of these books, see if there’s anything else we might use? Maybe there’s a book on disarming intricate security systems in one easy move,” I muttered.

“I’ll see what I can find, but, yeah, I don’t think it’ll be that easy,” she said, her eyes already sweeping over the shelves.

“I’m surprised the queen isn’t here,” I said, glancing around, just to be sure.

“Well, she was here, but she left about an hour ago,” Lauren said, grimacing. “She was really upset about something, but I didn’t dare ask her what was up. I’m not really sure what you do with weeping queens, so I thought it best not to say anything. Anyway, she was sobbing by the fire for a while, and I couldn’t just leave her all alone, but when I came over to offer her a cup of tea, she got up and ran off.”

“You’re… You’re sure she was crying?” I asked.

Lauren nodded, a sad look on her face. “It was that big, ugly crying you do when you’re really upset, you know?”

I did know, but I also knew there were only two reasons for tears like that: death and love. With the odds narrowed down, I had a feeling I knew precisely what—or rather, who—was responsible for Brisha’s tears, and if we were going to stay on her good side, it struck me that this might be an excellent opportunity. After all, she was just a young woman, like the rest of us, trying to make her way in the world.

“Do you mind if I head out for a while?” I asked, flashing Lauren an apologetic look. Even though we were all so busy, I felt as though I’d been neglecting her. “I promise I’ll come back to chat some more, and we can talk about things other than doom and gloom, but there’s something I have to do first.”

“No problem.” She shrugged, though I could tell she was a tad disappointed. “Got plenty of books to keep me company.”

“You’ll have me to keep you company later, I promise,” I assured her, before heading to the door and stepping out into the hallway.

I hurried toward the main hall, knowing there would be someone there who could take me to the queen. Her private chambers were top secret, undoubtedly hidden away in some far corner of the beautiful palace, but I was determined to track her down.

“Could you escort me to Queen Brisha, please?” I asked, striding up to one of the guards on duty.

He shot me a dirty look. “Not a chance.”

“She’ll want to see me,” I insisted. “And, if you don’t take me, I’ll let her know precisely who it was who kept her personal aide from her,” I added, pursing my lips.

“You’re that Kryptonian girl, aren’t you?” he asked, his features darkening. “The one the queen’s so fond of?”

“That’s me.”

“Well then, I wouldn’t want to keep her pet away from her, now, would I?” he said coldly. I wanted to smack him for calling me that, but knew it would get me nowhere. In Vysanthe, I had to play along.

“No, you wouldn’t,” I remarked sweetly.

“Fine, come with me.” He sighed bitterly, then marched up the main hall, where he disappeared through a side door. I followed, running to keep up with his stride, through a network of hallways and corridors, until I was completely disoriented. Only the mountain ranges, visible through the windows, gave me some idea of how high up we were.

At the end of a narrow passageway, he paused, bundling me into an open elevator. He passed his bracelet—which resembled the ones we’d been given at the training center—over a sensor. The doors slid closed, and the elevator shot upward. It opened onto a wide foyer, where a pleasant-faced young coldblood male sat behind a desk, his eyes going wide in surprise as I appeared, creeping nervously out of the elevator doors.

“Can I help you?” the coldblood asked, arching an eyebrow.

I smiled. “I’m looking for the queen. I think she might be in need of some assistance,” I said in a low voice, flashing him a conspiratorial look.

He nodded in understanding. “Ah, yes, I believe she may need some help,” he replied solemnly, gesturing toward the large silver double doors behind him. They were two of the grandest doors I’d ever seen, embellished with glittering diamond patterns and rose-gold filigree. “She’s in the bathroom. If you go through those doors, past the sitting area, and down the corridor up the black steps, you can’t miss it,” he instructed, though it sounded pretty complex to me.

“Thank you,” I murmured, before skirting around the desk and pushing on through the elegant doors.

I was met by an apartment that made my jaw drop. The left and right walls housed giant windows that seemed to be forged from one-way glass. They had to be, because no such windows were visible from the outside. From here, I could see all of Nessun stretching away toward the mountains. A sunken seating area lay in front of me, with plush sofas and loveseats arranged around a stone fireplace.

I walked across the vast sitting area, past bookshelves filled to the brim with tomes, and made my way toward a small set of black marble steps that led into a wide hallway. I heard something echo from a room at the end of the corridor. It sounded like soft snuffling, as though a hedgehog were rustling through leaves, only more human than that. Well, more coldblood, anyway.

Tentatively, I knocked on the door of the last room.

“Who is it?” Queen Brisha asked, in a muffled voice.

“It’s Riley, Your Highness. I wanted to come and see how you were doing. I swung by the library, but Lauren said you weren’t there,” I explained, hoping she didn’t blame Lauren for spilling the beans about her tears.

“Come in,” the queen said, her tone surprised.

I almost froze at the threshold when I saw the bird’s nest piled high on top of Brisha’s head, with flower-encrusted barrettes shoved in at random. Her beautiful pale copper hair had been backcombed to within an inch of its life, and there were bright blue streaks in it that did nothing for her coloring or her appearance. It looked like a child had been at her with a magic marker, playing a prank while she was asleep.

“What do you think of it?” she asked, looking at me through the huge looking glass of her vanity. “Tell me the truth,” she added, her face twisting into an uncertain grimace. It was a look I knew myself, from my many teenage faux pas: the crimper, cornrows with glittery butterflies in them, pigtails past the age of six, thick streaks of blond—there had been too many to list.

I walked across the enormous bathroom, in which everything seemed carved directly from slabs of exquisite marble, and sat down on a chair beside her. It was a bold move, but I had a feeling that what she needed was a confidante, a friend she could be herself with. In a position like hers, I doubted she had anyone she could trust, which almost made me feel worse, since she couldn’t trust me either.

“It’s not a great look, Your Highness,” I said reluctantly. “I would lie to you, but I know that’s not what you want. And, I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but you’re such a beautiful woman, and this does nothing for you.” I gestured toward the mess, hoping she didn’t send for her guards and have me executed for my impertinence.

She smiled as she took out the flowery barrettes, one by one. “I appreciate your candor, Riley. Most people would have stood in this room and lied to my face, allowing me to look like a fool in front of everyone. Tomorrow, you’d have seen this hairstyle in the streets, even though everyone would know it looked idiotic,” she murmured, with a tight chuckle.

“It’s not the hair that’s upsetting you, though, is it, Your Highness?” I pressed, emboldened. “We could sit here and pretend everything is okay, but the truth is, I heard something was wrong and wanted to check on you. I don’t like to hear of anyone being sad, least of all a woman as fierce and strong as you.”

Queen Brisha looked as though she were about to cry again, her eyes glittering, her hand clutching at a handkerchief that lay out on the vanity surface. And then, to my surprise, she seemed to rally, her gaze fixed on mine through the mirror. “Riley, do you believe love to be a force stronger than any species in the universe? Do you think it might be the one unifying thing that ties us all together—a supernatural wonder that nobody can explain?” she asked, her face almost childlike in its uncertainty.

I sat in silence for a moment, not knowing what to say to something like that. Queen Brisha definitely wasn’t the person I thought I’d ever have a discussion like this with, either. To me, love had always seemed like some intangible, powerful thing, just out of my grasp. Even with Navan, there was no certainty of our love. I could look down and see the flashing light of the climpet I wore above my heart, but did that explain the connection between us? No, that was something else entirely—something that no gemstone could ever represent or encompass.

“I think love is inexplicable. It makes no sense, and yet it can be the sincerest thing in the world,” I replied, trying to feel out an answer. “It makes fools and heroes of us all, Your Highness.”

She smiled. “I like that… It makes fools and heroes of us all,” she repeated.

“It’s just a silly thought that came to me, Your Highness, though I think it’s probably true,” I said, trying really hard not to look at her ridiculous hairstyle. In this scenario, love had definitely made a fool out of her.

“It is very true.” Queen Brisha struggled to brush out the backcombed knots in her hair. “Tell me, Riley, how would you go about seeking love, if you desired someone? How did you and Navan end up together? Your romance is so heartwarming. One can see how extraordinary it is, simply from the way you look at one another. If I found somebody who made me feel like that, do you think the same could happen? Do you think love could blossom?” Her expression was both anxious and earnest.

“I think love can only blossom if it’s reciprocated, Your Highness,” I replied, knowing she was speaking about Bashrik. She was clearly besotted with him, but it would do her no good. She needed to move on before it crossed the line into a true, worrisome obsession.

She frowned. “And if I wasn’t sure of their feelings?”

“Your Highness, if somebody loves you the way you deserve to be loved, then they will let you know,” I explained kindly. “If you’re not sure, chances are there is nothing there to seek out. Don’t settle for mediocre, Your Highness. Find someone you can be extraordinary with,” I encouraged, hoping she caught my drift. The last thing I wanted her doing was slipping Bashrik another love potion.

“That’s it!” she cried, a grin spreading across her face. “I need to make my love known! How else can he be sure of my affections, if I keep it to myself like this?”

“Wait, Your Highness, that’s not—” I tried to cut in, but she was on a roll.

Giggling in delight, she turned to me and grasped my face in her hands. “Thank you, Riley! This is the most wondrous advice you could have given me. With the seasons about to change, it’s the perfect time. I’ll announce a national holiday and open up the gardens to everyone I know. Oh, and I’ll invite the public along too, and insist upon street parties and a carnival to celebrate. There, I will reveal my feelings to my beloved. Then, he can’t possibly fail to realize what I’m trying to say. I see it now, where I have failed. Of course, he would never think that I loved him, given our positions. Oh, Riley, how can I ever thank you?” she squealed, planting a kiss on my forehead.

“Really, Your Highness, I wasn’t—” I tried to insist, but she had stopped listening to me a long time ago. Her thoughts were entirely on the garden party and how she might woo poor Bashrik.

“Perhaps I could even propose marriage?” she muttered to herself, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “Tell me, Riley, do you know if Bashrik is in love with anyone else? You seem to spend a great deal of time with him, so if anyone is going to know, it’ll be you,” she reasoned, looking me dead in the eyes.

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. The queen had left me speechless. I didn’t know what had brought on this infatuation she had with Bashrik so quickly, but all I could think was, what had I done? Angie liked Bashrik, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Bashrik was secretly harboring feelings for her, too. If I let the queen do this, then that fledgling romance was doomed. Bashrik’s happiness was probably doomed, too. And yet, no matter how much I wanted to dissuade the queen from making any kind of advance toward Bashrik, I couldn’t help thinking that it might just be the opportunity we were looking for. If she opened up the gardens for a party and invited everyone she knew, then Yorrek would be on that list. He was one of her best alchemists, and he certainly wouldn’t be able to ignore an invitation from the queen, regardless of his fears. I already knew how sensitive Queen Brisha could be about that kind of slight, after the debacle with the wing serum.

Angie, Bashrik, please forgive me, I begged silently. This might be the only way we can get our hands on Yorrek.

“I don’t think he’s shown any interest in anyone, Your Highness,” I replied, the half-truth coming out stiffly. Bashrik hadn’t made his interest known, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t interested in Angie. I had a sixth sense about those kinds of things.

“Oh, thank Rask for that!” Queen Brisha cried. “I think my heart would have broken if you’d told me he liked someone else.”

I tried not to grimace, comforting myself with the knowledge that it was all part of a bigger picture. “Would you be inviting all nearby members of the queendom to attend, Your Highness, or would it just be the elite, who live in the city?”

“Oh, everyone! I would have all my most treasured individuals there. I think the people could do with cheering up, after that battle with my sister,” she said with a bright smile.

“The alchemists, for sure, Your Highness,” I chimed in subtly. “They are very downcast after the wreckage of their lab.”

She laughed delightedly. “You have an excellent mind, dear Riley! I would not have thought of it if you had not been here to suggest it. Of course, the carnival shall be in celebration of the new laboratory, and the work of the alchemists!”

It was all falling into place, slotting together like pieces of a puzzle. Queen Brisha was too wrapped up in her love for Bashrik to realize she was being manipulated. And, while I felt bad about playing with her feelings, there was more at stake than a broken heart… or two. My planet was counting on me, and I wouldn’t let them down, even if it meant breaking a few regal eggs.