Roa continued on, turning the corner. “Please go back.”
Essie launched herself from Lirabel’s shoulder and soared toward Roa.
Lirabel ran after her.
But this might be Roa’s only chance. If Lirabel wouldn’t do as she said, she would have to let her come along.
The moment she turned the corner, Roa halted.
There was the scarlet door.
It wasn’t a Firgaardian door. The patterns were less geometric, more playful. Roa reached out to touch the looping, arching vines painted on the wood, then grabbed the handle.
Locked.
Roa swallowed a growl. She’d forgotten that draksors loved to lock things.
“Maybe I’d spend less time with Dax,” said Lirabel, coming around the corner now, “if you didn’t shut me out all the time.”
“I shutyouout?”
“Yes,” said Lirabel, thrusting out her chin. “Ever since you became queen, it’s as if I don’t exist. As if you have a thousand better things to do than spend time with me!”
Wasn’t it the opposite?
Roa hushed her, glancing down the hall. “What are you saying? That I think I’m better than you... because I’m queen?”
Lirabel shook her head, her gaze fiery. “You’ve always thought you were better than me.”
Roa stared at her. That wasn’t true at all.
Her shock quickly dissolved into anger.
At least I never slept with a boy you loved,she nearly said, stopping herself just in time. Because it was petty. And nonsensical—Roa didn’t love Dax.
“If anyone is shutting anyone out, it’s you,” said Roa, thinking of the pregnancy Lirabel hadn’t told her about. Thinking about whose bed she’d been sharing as of late. “If anyone thinks you’reless than, Lirabel, it’s you. It always has been.”
Lirabel opened her mouth to argue, but Roa wasn’t finished.
“Ever since my parents took you in, you’ve seen yourself the way youthinkother people see you: as someone to be pitied. That’s not what you are. And even if others see you that way, they’re wrong. Don’t believe them.”
Before Lirabel could respond, a shadow fell across them.
Both friends looked up. Right into the blue eyes of the commandant. She was dressed in dark purple tonight, the color of the midnight sky.
“Safire.” Panic spiked through Roa. “What are you doing here?”
Safire wrinkled her nose, as if she smelled something rotten. “Evading Bekah and her ghastly party.” Her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked from Roa to Lirabel. “And whatever it is you’re doing seems a lot more interesting.” She crossed her arms. “Whatareyou doing?”
Roa looked to Lirabel. As if Lirabel could save her.
“Trying to pick this lock?” Lirabel guessed, catching Roa’s eye.
Safire tilted her head.
“Can you help us?”
Safire opened her mouth to ask another question, when sudden footsteps echoed from down the corridor. Roa and Lirabel straightened. Safire glanced around the corner. “Two servants, heading this way.”
