I returned to the throne room just as my mother announced that it was time for the feast to begin. The crowd slowly made their way to the dining hall, where I was expected to sit at my father’s side.

I searched through the mass of demons for the one who might be able to help me right now. I was sure most of the King’s Guard was here tonight.

When I finally found him, Ezrah was standing near the head table, guarding the council members who had already been seated.

“I need to talk to you,” I whispered.

“Good evening, Princess,” he said. He smiled, but behind his eyes was a warning.

I completely ignored it.

“Midnight,” I said. “I don’t care what you have to do to get away, but I need you to meet me in the south garden.”

“Of course your safety is our priority, Princess,” he said loudly as he nodded at a couple walking by. When they were out of ear-shot, he gave me a look of pure frustration. “You’re asking this tonight of all nights?”

“Tonight is the best night,” I said. “With everything going on, I’m not being guarded by my watchdogs. I can disappear for a while and not be missed.”

“Lea—”

“I’m begging you, Ezrah,” I said, holding his gaze with my own.

Finally, he gave a subtle nod and looked away.

My shoulders loosened, and I took a deep breath. My mother caught my eye as I turned and waved me over to the table.

“Where have you been, sweetheart?” she asked. “I was looking for you everywhere.”

“It seems everyone wants to talk to the long-lost princess tonight,” I said with a laugh, ignoring the angry expression on her face. “What’s for dinner?”

I sat down at my father’s side and for the next several hours, I played the role of the returned and faithful princess. As the hours of eating and dancing ticked by, though, I kept my eyes open, watching the patterns of my parents’ movements. I watched Kael make his rounds, talking to everyone. I noticed when he was watching me and when he wasn’t.

I noticed every guard who seemed to always be around when I turned to check. I wasn’t dumb enough to believe I had freedom tonight just because the handmaidens had not been allowed to attend the opening of the festival. I was certain either Kael or my parents had asked specific guards and servants to keep an eye on me.

And I couldn’t have anyone finding out where I disappeared to when the time came.

Shortly before midnight, I saw my opportunity.

Father had fallen asleep on his throne, and Mother was deep in conversation with several ladies I recognized from my childhood. Kael had his back turned to me at the moment, and I knew that wouldn’t last long. His eyes seemed to seek me out every few minutes lately.

The guards assigned to watch me would be the hardest to trick, but at this late hour, there was only one guard I had noticed following me. He pretended to look away any time my eyes fell on him, but he was always there, just a few steps away.

A demon stood next to him with a full glass of winterberry wine. I moved closer to the woman, and just as she stepped forward to greet another of her friends, I slipped my foot right in front of hers and stepped away so fast, no one noticed me in the chaos that followed.

The woman’s glass flew out of her hands, the crystal shattering on the pure obsidian floors of the main throne room. Wine went everywhere, splashing onto the fine dresses and suits of every demon in a small radius.

The guard turned to help the demon to her feet, and with a quick glance to make sure none of the other players in my secret game of chess had moved, I ran.

As soon as I was out of sight, I shifted and flew through the hallways as fast as I could. There were no guards patrolling the main parts of the castle tonight. The crowd had been contained to the dining room and the throne room, so all of the castle’s guards had been stationed there for the evening.

By the time I stepped into the garden, it was a few minutes after midnight. At first, I saw no sign of Ezrah, and my heart beat faster. What if he couldn’t get away? What if he refused to take the risk?

Impatient, I tapped the heel of my shoe against the stones at the base of the fountain. I pressed my lips together, trying to keep my nerves under control, and when footsteps sounded at the garden’s entrance, I tensed with a mixture of hope and terror.

Ezrah stepped into the light of the spring moons and shook his head.

“I can’t believe you’re really here,” he said. “Do you understand how dangerous this is? What’s this about?”

“I understand exactly how dangerous this is, Ezrah,” I said. “But I’m finished with playing it safe.”

His eyes flashed with concern.

“Why do I have a feeling you’re about to ask me to do something even more dangerous than I could have imagined?”

“Because I am,” I said, excitement and hope building inside me. “I need you to take me to see Aerden.”