It took the full two days the coachmen had predicted to reach the capital. Eventually the city appeared on the horizon, and not long afterwards we acquired two silent outriders. I could only assume they were Cole’s men, sent to ensure I entered alone and proceeded straight to him. Their presence destroyed several of the tentative plans we had made.

The capital was the largest I had ever seen, dwarfed only by the city-state of Marin. Even the buildings were built on a grander scale, with elegant arches and fountains every few streets. I could see why people in Marin talked about the magnificence of Palinar before the curse.

But now it felt eerie, the streets unnaturally deserted. To make the sensation worse, I kept thinking I saw flashes of movement down alleys and behind windows. But whenever I focused on it, I could see nothing. It reminded me of my first few days in the castle and the terrifying whispers that had followed me around. But for all I strained, making myself as receptive as possible, the only conversation I could hear came from the two coachmen.

Still, I couldn’t deny the prickling at the back of my neck. And the memory of the terror, loneliness, and insecurity that had accompanied my first encounters with the whispers came flooding back. But I realized I had grown stronger in the last few months. The threat I faced now was even greater, but I successfully resisted the helplessness and the fear. I was here with a purpose, and I didn’t have time for doubt to slow me down.

It helped that if ever it became too much, Lily was there, her comforting presence a mere thought away. Surprisingly I found myself glad of the time apart—it had allowed me to find my individual strength. But I also rejoiced at being reunited now; we had always been stronger together. And we would need all our combined strength to defeat this threat, just as it had taken our combined strength to defeat the Tourney.

When we entered the city, our outriders pulled in front of us, and I leaned my head out the window to instruct the coachmen to follow them. I didn’t want to cause trouble yet. Thankfully, it soon became apparent they were heading for the palace. I breathed a sigh of relief. Lily had told me they were being held in one of the rooms there.

When we pulled through the great castle gates and into the courtyard, I alighted from the carriage and spoke quickly to the coachmen, keeping my voice low, unsure how much time I had. “Tell me, can you see people here, in the capital?”

Certainly, Your Highness. Although none here in the palace grounds. I suspect no one lives here now. We will have to find a stable for the horses elsewhere.

If they could see and hear the locals, and I could hear them, could they act as a go-between for us? I briefly considered the plan, but I could hear someone beginning to unbolt the palace doors, and too many obstacles stood in the way of the plan. Perhaps if I could speak to them as I did to Lily…but I had only ever been able to speak aloud to the servants because they were not truly communicating in their minds. From their perspective, they both spoke and heard like normal. I had long ago concluded it was the reason I couldn’t feel their emotions or connect privately with any one individual, like I did with Lily.

Another thought occurred to me, and my words tumbled out in a rush. “Never mind a stable. You must return immediately to the castle. Let everyone know that if they hear word of a new king, or if your curse lifts, you all need to get out of there. At least for a while. It might not be safe.”

A new king? But, Princess Sophie, His Highness is still back at the castle.

The palace doors opened, revealing Cole, flanked by several armed men.

“Just go!” I snapped in such a sharp voice that they obeyed. As the carriage started to move, I thought for a moment that I could see a vague outline of the two men, but then I blinked and it had disappeared.

I fixed my eyes on Cole, listening to the carriage turning in the courtyard without breaking my gaze. I didn’t want to draw his attention to it, hopeful that his men would let the magical driverless carriage leave unobstructed. From what he had said in the castle, he seemed unnerved by all the objects that moved on their own, so I didn’t think he’d want to interfere with one that was attempting to remove itself from his vicinity.

I allowed myself a tiny sigh of relief as I heard the wheels clatter away over the cobblestones.

Is he there? asked Lily, and for an unthinking moment I thought she meant Dominic. A sharp pang shot through me at his absence.

Ugh. I could run him through myself. Her anger made it clear she meant Cole.

Be quiet for a minute. I need to focus.

“Ah, my bride.” Cole spread his arms wide. “How lovely to see you. And all alone as instructed. I think we’re getting off to an excellent start.”

I glared at him, but he merely laughed back. “Please,” he stepped back and gestured toward the entrance hall, “come inside.”

I stuck my chin in the air and mounted the stairs, sweeping disdainfully past him. Halfway inside, I realized my bags were in the disappearing coach, and I had to work to maintain a neutral expression. I supposed it didn’t really matter. In a few days, I would either be queen, or free to leave here and fetch them. And the most important item I still had, tucked into my dress—the rose, which had somehow survived the journey in full bloom.

Cole led me to the throne room. Sprawling himself across the largest throne, he smiled at me. “I admit I had my doubts. I thought I might have to send out a squad to skewer that prince of yours. But it seems you have successfully shaken him free.”

I stood as straight as my short height allowed. “I don’t know what you mean.”

He laughed. “I am not an idiot. I would have thought that much was apparent.” He gestured at the throne behind him. “I have studied all the emotions, or I could not simulate them so well.” He laughed again. “Not that it took much expertise to see that monster’s jealousy.” He regarded me dispassionately. “You are beautiful enough, I suppose. Although Dominic was always a proud one—the only heir to the great kingdom of Palinar.” He sneered. “But he has been brought low now. Perhaps after his years of exile as a beast, it was inevitable that he would fall in love with the first girl to cross his path.”

I stared at him. Jealous? In love? Dominic had been protective of me, certainly, but he had been the one to pull away from our kiss. Cole must be wrong. Why would Dominic dissolve our betrothal if he loved me?

Because if he truly loved you, he would free you, whispered a small voice in the back of my mind that for once didn’t come from my sister. And if he truly loved you, he wouldn’t take advantage of the situation to kiss you.

Terror washed over me, making it hard to breathe. If Dominic loved me, then he was in terrible danger. Because when he realized Cole had escaped, and when his coachmen returned with my message, he would easily put the two together. Nothing would stop him coming after me. And then he would die.

“I’m glad to see you looking sufficiently horrified,” said Cole. “I was a little afraid at that castle that you might actually have feelings for him back.”

But I wasn’t listening. I was grappling with a second terrible realization, made far too late. I loved Dominic back. He was more than an intelligent companion, whose company I enjoyed. He stimulated my mind and awakened my emotions in a way I had never experienced before.

When I had first arrived at his castle, I had seen only his inconsiderate pride. But in the months since then, the care he showed to Spitfire had extended first to me, and then to his servants. I had seen his passion, previously warped by his anger, transform into something else—a protective instinct that complemented the good governance he had previously dispensed with so little feeling. No one was better equipped to rule Palinar.

And I could imagine no one else so consuming my heart. I loved him and would do so even if he remained bound by the curse, trapped in his beastly shape forever. The thought of his inevitable death cut through me with a pain so deep I could barely breathe. My fear of finding myself married to Cole paled beside it.

“Now,” Cole continued. “Did you manage to find out when the old king died?” He eyed me sharply and added a warning. “If you lie to me, I’ll know, and your sister will be the one to feel my wrath.”

“It’s been three years, three months, three weeks and two days,” I blurted out, my mind still distracted by my amazing and despair-filled revelation. I immediately wanted to shake myself. Since Cole and I couldn’t be safely married until Dominic was no longer the heir, I could have lied and given Lily and me a couple more days at least.

A smile spread over his face. “Excellent news, indeed! And that lines up exactly with when the curse fell over Palinar, so I’m even inclined to believe you. I can’t imagine you want to be bringing down curses on your head any more than I do. Which means we don’t have long to wait.”

I eyed him coldly. “I would like to be shown to my room.”

“Your room?” He raised both eyebrows.

“I assume you do not intend for us to stand around here for hours and hours. And I am to be queen, am I not? I assume the queen has a suite of chambers somewhere in this palace.”

I waited to see if he would explode with anger, but he laughed at me instead. “Regal and demanding. I like it.” He jumped to his feet and stepped down to stand beside me. Leaning forward he whispered in my ear. “It looks good on you.”

I suppressed a shiver with difficulty, forcing my voice to remain steady. “My chambers?”

He waved over two of the men and directed them to take me to the queen’s chambers. He eyed me. “They will remain outside your door…an honor guard as any queen should have.”

I glared at him but said nothing. It would have been too much to hope that he would leave me unguarded. And even with their presence, the first step in one of our more outrageous plans had just succeeded.

The two men led me silently through the palace, and I couldn’t help looking around curiously. It was magnificent, yes, but also a little cold. I found myself adding some warmer touches in my mind, as I had once found myself doing for the prince’s castle.

I shook my head at my foolishness. If I ended up queen of this castle, I would have other things to think about than redecorating. I would have to expend all my energy to keep the people safe from Cole’s selfish whims. But still, I examined the rooms as closely as I could, walking as slowly as the guards would allow.

Eventually they stopped, and one of them opened a door, gesturing for me to go inside with a grunt. I hurried through and pulled it shut behind me. For a moment I leaned against it, catching my breath, and then I looked around.

I had entered a sitting room, although I could see a bed through an open door on the left wall. These rooms had none of the cold feel of the rest of the palace. In fact, the hints of gold leaf and the elegant white marble were largely obscured by the soft fall of warm rose material. The chairs all had cushions scattered across them, and a basket overflowed with embroidery.

I walked over to a well-worn table of soft wood, and ran my hand along the book that lay there, lying askew, as if dropped in haste. Everything here appeared exactly as it must have when Queen Ruby left the room for the last time, just with a thick added layer of dust. Had she known her coming fate? Nothing I could see suggested it.

I sat in a chair and tried to breathe in some of the calm of this room. No large portrait dominated the wall here, but the queen’s presence seemed to linger all the same. She had so clearly made the space her own.

Sophie? Where are you? Are you still with Cole?

I told him I wanted to be shown to the queen’s chambers. I wasn’t sure he would let me out of his sight, but he seemed to find the request amusing.

Ugh. He would. She seemed to be enjoying having some small outlet for her disgust of Cole.

I memorized the route here, though. I relayed it to her. Do you know specifically where you are?

We do, thankfully. Cole never made any attempt to blindfold us. He went on and on about how complacent we all were, but he seemed pretty sure of himself, too.

Do you know how he got out of the prison in Marin? Does he have a godmother object?

Lily sighed. He wouldn’t tell us. But it’s the only thing I can think of. There was no sign of how he did it—the cell was just empty.

I stood. It’s time we were getting out of here.

Past time! She chuckled. You should see the look Jon is giving me. He’s going crazy wanting to know what we’re saying. I’ve whispered as much to him as I dare, but I don’t want the guard to realize something is going on.

It’s just the one guard, right? I asked, nerves hitting me. Is Jon sure he can deal with him? The plan we had decided on if we ended up in this situation required Jon to be able to take the guard out on his own.

Yes, there’s only ever one. We would have overpowered him before now, except that there wasn’t any point. He’s only here to make sure we can’t plot anything. There are three more outside the door at all times. And the locked door itself, of course. Naturally he doesn’t have a key on him.

Remind me what you’re wearing again? I walked through into the queen’s dressing room.

Lily described her clothes, and I looked through the largest wardrobe I had ever seen for a match. I found one that seemed close enough and pulled it out. Slipping it on, I discovered that the late queen had been taller than me, but thankfully not smaller. If anything, it was a little baggy, but not so much as to look ridiculous.

Is your hair up or down?

It was up originally, but it’s mostly come down now.

I looked around the room while we went over the plan one last time. Crossing over to one of the curtains, I ripped off a braided pull cord. It was gold, but I hoped that it would pass for rope at a hurried glance. I looped it awkwardly over my wrists, twisting it around several times to ensure it wouldn’t fall off while keeping it loose enough that I could pull my hands out quickly if I needed them. It didn’t look convincing close up, but I didn’t need it to.

I slipped my hands out, and stashed the makeshift rope inside my dress. Pulling my cloak over the new dress, I straightened my shoulders and opened the door. The two guards were standing on the far side of the corridor, and they both stepped forward at my appearance.

I ignored them and turned down the corridor. In my peripheral vision, I saw an arm reach out to grab me, and I froze. Wheeling around, I stared at the stretched-out hand with as much regal disdain as I could muster. The guard let it drop and exchanged an uneasy glance with his companion. I arched an eyebrow at them both.

“Well? Aren’t you coming? I wish to go for a walk, and Cole said you are to be my honor guard.” I looked them up and down disdainfully. “As disappointingly inferior as you are, I suppose you’re better than nothing.”

The two men exchanged another look, and then the one who had tried to stop me gestured awkwardly for me to continue. They fell into step behind me, and I suppressed a grin. It had been a significant gamble, but my haughty disdain had thrown them off too much to protest. Especially after Cole had been so supportive of my demanding the rights of a queen. They were off-balance, unsure to what extent they were supposed to be treating me as a prisoner.

I strode quickly down the corridor, heading back the way we had come, looking for a particular room. When I saw the open door to the small, intimate dining room, I paused briefly in the doorway. I scanned the walls, holding my breath until I saw what I had been hoping to find.

Without hesitation, I sprinted for the far side of the room. One of the guards gave a shout, but they were as slow to respond as I had hoped they would be. Partially due to surprise, I was sure, and probably also due to the mistaken belief that I had dashed into a room with no other exit.

I flung myself into the small wooden box nestled into the wall, only just fitting inside. I gripped the brake with both hands, pulling it loose. As I began to sink down, faster than I had expected, I saw the astonished faces of the two guards disappear from view.