Vera clings to the necklace. “This picks up enchantments. Turns red when someone is using one near, or on, me. Most think it’s a simple mood stone.”
“Her pendant,” I whisper, remembering the jewelry during Luna’s wedding. She claimed it was how she kept track of her castle while being away. “Where did you get it?”
She smiles. “The Queen has her ways, and I have mine.”
“She saw you and Iann in the garden last night.” Chana turns her attention to me. “She knows of your feelings for each other and his offer to you.” She stops and watches my eyes dart away as my gaze clings to a dark spot in the hall. “And I’m assuming you didn’t tell her this or anything about the flower, so now she knows you’re a liar too. She is testing you.”
“Tell her,” Vera adds.
Chana takes in a lengthy inhale. “She asked me to watch you. Even forced Sky to have a poison ready in case you decided to be stupid enough to leave with the Prince. She doesn’t trust you or Vera.”
“What did I do to make her not trust me? This is the first time we’ve had a conversation with her since their arrival.” My insides crawl with a sudden rage and I’m about ready to go back in there and have this conversation with the Queen directly.
“She’s been watching you. Between the map Iann found and the potential of you fleeing with him, it’s all a bit too reminiscent for her.”
“We remind her of our mothers,” Vera interjects, reading my confusion. “Your mother was once her greatest Fox—her most trusted confidant. All of that vanished when your parents met and slowly their love, and then marriage, and ultimately their children, became more and more important, and further pushed away the Queen.”
“It’s not like I’m marrying him. If I wanted to be married, I would have stayed in Foxhead and become a Beetlerum,” I shout before a hand clamps over my mouth. I push Vera’s hand away. “Why are you both telling me this? Especially you?”
Vera and Chana pass each other a glance.
“We want out,” Chana answers.
“We figured if we help you, then you can help us,” Vera finishes for her.
I check Vera’s necklace to make sure it’s still yellow. “What do you want me to do?”
“Queen Cayleen has granted Iann permission to explore Farella.” Chana looks at Vera once more and then back to me. “They are departing the morning after the ball. We’ll protect you and help you get Marcel’s blood, as long as you can get us on that ship.”
“Do we have a deal?” Vera edges closer. “The alternative is to give you the poison and let the Queen have her way. Plus, your family owes mine.” Chana nudges her. “What? I’d say this is a pretty fair truce.”
I’ve only been here a brief period of time and I’m already regretting coming. I can’t imagine the torment that has built up for them over the years.
“Deal,” I finally get out. “I’ll help you all.”
“Two drops in his wine should take him out for a few hours,” Sky warns me, shoving the vial of turquoise liquid into my hand. “It will give you more than enough time to get his blood and get out.”
As an extra precaution, Vera gave me her necklace. She told me it is more than likely the Queen will be watching, but at least I will know when. The act of kindness also came with a threat of her destroying every outfit I own if I lose it.
The rest of the day passes at a slowly agonizing pace. I finish the Queen’s dress, leaving minor details for my assistants to finish up with before the ball. It is stunning; I spend much more time on it than I should, considering she has it out for me.
On the rare occasion I see Iann, he pretends not to notice me. Even during dinner, he doesn’t look my way. Marcel tries to get him to engage a few times, but he surrenders no more than two word responses. Eventually people stop trying to speak to him and I feel he prefers it that way.
After dinner I try finding him, in hopes we can speak, but he disappears before I get a single glimpse. I even go to his room, but no one answers the door.
As soon as night falls, my time is up.
The necklace stays yellow as I move about the castle, but I have no doubt the Queen will be watching me soon.
Back in my room I put on my black outfit, the same one I wore the night my mom made me sneak into the Bettelrum house. Only this time my mother is not with me, or Luna, who practically carried me through that situation.
Two knocks rasp at the adjoining door.
“Come in,” I say to Chana.
She too is dressed in black. She is both helping, and acting as a spy for the Queen tonight.
Her eyes fall to the gem of the necklace. “Are you ready?”
