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“Why does it matter, Riven? Have something to tell me?” If she was locked in the chapel, she wouldn’t have had a mirror, unless she took one with her. And she had no reason to suspect she would need it.

Just like I had no reason to suspect my sister of being a mastermind liberator.

“What’s going on here?” someone cries out before I have to answer.

“This is all a charade; she wants the blood all for herself!” another yells.

“Please, nothing is amiss. I just came from escorting our guest of honor back to her room for the evening. It appears all the excitement of the faerie wine got to her.”

This earns a few laughs and some cheers, but not everyone is convinced.

My eyes look over her shoulder to see people moving closer, ignoring my guards’ commands to stay back. The energy is shifting.

The queen has no choice but to drop it since spectators are surrounding us, and if she wants to be the reigning queen over all of Haeream, she can’t show any sign of weakness. Gods forbid she can’t control her own castle, because if she can’t control Winter Haven, how can she rule the entire realm?

“Dance,” I whisper under my breath.

Understanding dawns in her icy-blue eyes, pushing the panic out.

“Music,” she shouts, and the musicians resume in the blink of an eye.

The Twelve have been just waiting for a reason to revolt, people in this very kingdom. And certainly, in this very room tonight. All for the chance to see her. The Fairest. The one whose blood holds the key to their power. It’s going to take more than faerie wine or venison and cheese platters to distract the true hunger of the Twelve.

The air is still brewing with threat while I lead the wicked woman around the room in an angry waltz. She feels all wrong in my arms after dancing with Adelaide.

The princess is a delicate force, both sensual and innocent. But the queen is poised rage, all hard edges and jaded jealousy.

She keeps her chin upturned, watching everyone watching us. With each pass we make, I feel the anger rolling off her in waves.

The queen doesn’t like to be kept waiting, but to rush away now would tip her hand more than she already has. This dance isn’t about her. I’m not doing this to help her. I’m doing this because my sister is in a room full of people out for blood, and the one holding the dagger is in my arms, and the one I’m destined to hunt is alone in a dark forest.

She made a huge mistake showing her cards, letting her emotions get the best of her.

She’s not the only one.

And now I’m not the only one hunting Adelaide.

* * *

After a fair amount of time has passed, long enough to avoid raising more suspicion, she leads Birdy and me away back behind the throne.

“I’m still not convinced you didn’t set this in motion.” She looks at Birdy.

“Queen, I would never—” Her pleading is silenced.

“You’re going to go out there, and you’re going to do what you do best, what you’ve spent your whole life training to do.”

I silently nod.

“You’re going to hunt her.”

Her eyes burn into me, waiting for me to react. I don’t.

“Shouldn’t be too hard, considering you’re covered in her scent.” She looks at me with disgust. “And don’t you dare think about betraying me like your coward of a father! You know what happened to him. Remember, she’s the reason you and your sister are orphans. Betrayal cost your father his head.”

“Yes, Queen.” I dip my head, and Birdy watches me with tears in her eyes.

“For the ceremony to work, the blood must be fresh, a wounded heart never to be healed.”