“Please pass the hen.” My mother lifted her hand to Koraline, and dishes began to be spread around.
I took each one as it came to me, loading my plate with helpings from all of them, but before I could pick up my fork to begin eating, my mother’s hand clasped my wrist. “Not so fast.”
Embarrassment filled me that perhaps I’d missed a social cue, but instead of reprimanding me for whatever etiquette I’d blundered, she picked up a very small vial hidden beneath the floral arrangement and uncorked the lid.
It was identical to the vial Betsee had pulled from her pocket and dumped over my breakfast tray that morning.
“We had this potion specially crafted for you. From now on, you mustalwaysuse it right before you eat or drink anything.” My mother tipped the vial on its side, and a fog rolled out of it, like a cloud drifting over the land.
The substance coated my food and drink entirely until I couldn’t see anything beneath it. A second later, the fog shifted to a green color and then dissipated entirely, as though it’d never existed.
My anxiety again spiked within me, but a quick check of my Shield confirmed that I hadn’t lost hold of it while watching my mother. The anxiety pummeling through me was entirely mine.
Lillith and Koraline glanced at one another, then dipped their heads to whisper.
The queen corked the now-empty vial and set it down, hiding it beneath the floral arrangement once more. “This potion will detect any magical substances that may have been put in your food.” She frowned heavily. “We learned this evening that it’s been confirmed that Verin was trying to make you ingest whatever that potion was that made Timith sick. We’d suspected she may be at Gwen and Timith’s residence for ulterior motives, so one of the safeguards we’d been working on was to work with our spellcasters to ensure you couldn’t be poisoned, and it’s a good thing we did.” She inclined her head toward the hidden vial. “Our spellcasters came up with what’s in that vial. At each meal, you’ll have a vial made available for you, and as long as you use thisevery timeyou eat or drink, and that cloud turns green before disappearing, you can rest assured that you’re not being poisoned, and your food is safe to consume.”
“And if Iambeing poisoned? What color would it be then?”
“Pink.” My mother’s lips downturned. “If you ever see that color, tell Kole immediately.” She patted my hand, her fingers trembling, then she returned to her meal.
For a moment, I just sat there as everyone else began to eat.
Someone had been trying to poison me and turn me into the creature my uncle had been becoming, and my parents were obviously concerned enough that whoever it was, they could penetrate the palace’s walls and poison me from within.
My stomach dropped.
Across the table, both Lillith and Koraline mouthed forkfuls of food, but they looked anywhere but at me.
Despite feeling like I could vomit, I forced myself to eat, but I barely tasted what I’d plated for myself.
It didn’t help that Koraline and Lillith kept eyeing me and would whisper quietly to one another every few minutes. Of course, the king and queen interrupted them every time they did that, and then our parents did their best to make small talk, asking everyone if they’d read any good books or seen any theatrical performances recently.
But as the meal dragged on, one thing became entirely apparent to me. While the king and queen might have welcomed me into their family with open arms, my sisters certainly hadn’t.
And I had a feeling that once the court and the ten Houses became aware of my return, they likely wouldn’t either.
CHAPTER NINE
By the time the meal ended, I was desperate to leave. I couldn’t recall ever sharing an evening with fae where half of the table was making an effort to exclude me while the other half was trying just as valiantly to make me feel welcome.
It was a war of words. A struggle for power. And I’d never felt so entirely isolated in all of my life.
Plate empty, Koraline pushed her chair back from the table to stand behind it, and Lillith did the same.
Angling herself to address our parents, the crown princess said, “Goodbye, Mother and Father. Enjoy the rest of the evening.”
Lillith dipped her head, her brown curls bobbing on her shoulders. “We’ll see you at lunch tomorrow.”
My mother frowned. “Lunch? You won’t be at breakfast?”
“No, we’re meeting Tinelle for breakfast at the market since we have an appointment with the tailor at nine, so we’ll be leaving early tomorrow.” Lillith eyed me briefly, and for the barest moment, a flash of guilt entered her aura.
“The tailor’s?” The king raised his eyebrows. “We have tailors here. Why would you be going to the market for that?”
Koraline rolled her eyes. “Wemight have an in-house tailor, but Tinelle doesn’t, and we wanted to have our gowns fitted together for my ball.”
“I see.” The king’s attention drifted my way. “Do you think perhaps your sister would also care to join you?”
