The girl who died that night was Lady Carissa, the one who'd “accidentally” thrown her fire potion at me instead of the stone board. As I dragged my feet back to my room, my stomach churned with the sick feeling that Lee had scored her lowest because of that. But he wouldn't do that. Would he?

“Ry,” Jules hissed, swinging the door open before my hand even reached the handle. “What took you so long?” She grabbed my wrist and hauled me inside the room, slamming the door shut again before I could even open my mouth to respond.

“There's my girl,” boomed the heavily bearded man who was waiting inside, and I found myself swept up in a massive bear hug.

I let out a squeak of surprise and peeled myself out of the stranger’s grip before squinting up at him. “Master Bloodeye?” He grinned back at me mischievously and whistled. “Impressive disguise. I didn't even recognize your voice, and how the fuck have you hidden your eye?”

Considering I'd always known him to wear an eyepatch, he certainly seemed to have two fully functioning eyes. Had the patch been a ruse this whole time?

“Ah, nothin' but magic, girlie. Cost me a pretty penny too, don't doubt that.” He laughed a throaty chuckle, then stepped aside to let me further into the room, where Mistress Mallard was seated on the chaise lounge.

“Necessary precautions, Anthony,” she scolded him, like this was an argument they'd already had. “Rybet, lovely to see you still in one piece. I'm sorry I haven't been able to give you those lessons I promised. Things have been”—she paused, her mouth tightening— “challenging.”

I waved her off and smiled. “Don't worry about it; I've been surviving. Turns out most of these ladies are painful bitches in their own right, so no one has really noticed my lack of decorum.” There was a tense, somewhat awkward silence for a moment, and my nerves were immediately on edge. “So, what was important enough for one of the kingdom's most wanted criminals to risk sneaking into the palace? Have you found a way to get me out of this insanity?”

“Get you out?” My mentor and father figure roared with laughter, and I frowned at him like he'd just sprung a second head. “Why would we get you out? You have no idea how long I've wanted a true insider in the palace!”

My jaw dropped in shock. “What do you mean? You're not getting me out?” My gaze ran between Bloodeye and Mallard, finally settling on Jules, who was refusing to make eye contact with me. “Do you not understand what is happening here? They're killing us! Ladies aren't being sent home when they fail, they're getting poisoned!”

“We understand,” the disguised crime lord assured me. “Just as you understand that you must do everything possible not to fail.”

For a long moment, I remained speechless. Shocked. Surely he hadn't just said what I thought he had.

“You... you want me to stay?” I could hardly believe what I was saying, and my stomach churned again with bile.

Master Bloodeye grinned at me, a cruel-looking smile that held no warmth. “I don't just want you to stay, little Rybet. I want you to win. If you don't, well, I don't think I need to waste my breath on threats of punishments. The royals will take care of that for me, won't they?”

All the air gusted from my body as his words hit home. “No, that's not... I can't... This is insanity! I thought you'd help me get out of this!”

“Don't be an idiot, girlie,” Bloodeye snapped, his voice like steel. “From the reports I hear, the princes are already taking an interest in you. You stand a good chance of winning, and when you do”—he smirked with greed and ambition— “then you'd be wise to remember who raised you. You owe me your entire life, Rybet. Never forget that.”

My lips moved, but no sounds came out. I had no words to express the hurt I was experiencing. Master Bloodeye's words stabbed through me like daggers, and I very quickly came to the harsh reality of my situation. I wasn't his pseudo-daughter, like everyone had accused me of being. I was his employee, an asset to be used however he saw fit, no different from Juliana and the other whores.

“I expect you to start making an effort with those royal pricks, Rybet. Endear yourself to them and make them love you. No more of this disrespectful backchat or combativeness. Flirt, smile, and charm them. Juliana can coach you in this, I'm sure. But if they want to take that sweet little body for a test ride, you’d better damn well lay it out on a platter for them. Am I clear?” His tone was ice cold and completely foreign from the man I knew. “If you don't, I will know.”

“How?” I choked out, tasting the acid of my bitterness as I spoke. “You just said you don't have any agents on the inside.”

“I said I didn't. Thanks to your quick thinking, now I do.” He smiled at me smugly, and my heart sank.

My gaze lifted from my former mentor to my best friend. “Jules?” I squeaked out, not wanting to hear her answer. Not that she intended to give me one. Her head was bowed so far I couldn't even see her face any more. That traitorous bitch.

“I hope this evens our score, Anthony,” Mistress Mallard commented with a prim tilt to her head. “After this, I owe you nothing more. I told you many years ago that I wouldn't be your mole, and I still mean it.”

Bloodeye gave her a nod of acceptance, and she rose from her seat, giving me a tight nod. “I apologize that you've ended up in this position, Rybet. But for what it's worth, I wish you all the best.”

I didn't bother responding to her; I was still too stunned at the turn of events the night had taken.

“I'll walk out with you, Patricia. I think my message has been received loud and clear here.” He, too, stood and peered down at me. “I look forward to glowing reports of your progress with the princes, Rybet. The next time I see you, you'll be a princess, soon to be queen.” He paused, his smile dropping. “Or you'll be dead.”

With that jewel of a proclamation, he and Mistress Mallard departed my room, and the door slammed with a heavy sound behind them.

For a long time, I just sat there shocked into silence. Until Jules spoke.

“Ry,” she croaked out, raising her guilty face to look at me, but it was too much.

“Get out,” I ordered her in a deathly quiet voice. “I can't stand to look at you, Juliana. Just get out.”

She sucked in a breath to argue, and my temper snapped.

“Get out!” I screamed at her, turning the full extent of my fury—at Bloodeye, at her, at myself—all squarely on Juliana. My so-called best friend.

She hesitated a moment but gave me a small nod and left the room, closing the door softly behind herself.

Alone, I broke.