“Okay, now IknowI’m hallucinating.” I blink, taking a seat on the porch. “Why exactly areyou here?”
“I believe I just said.”
“Um, maybe try me one more time.”
“I am sorry, Heather.” She tightly crosses her arms. “I thought once you had left, things would finally go back to normal.”
“Yeah, I got that impression,” I grumble, copying her stiff posture. “So, didn’t go how youexpected?”
“No, Sprout made sure of that. I had to clean the pawprints that led all the way up the tower beforeI left.”
In response, Sprout happily thumps his tail on the wooden floor. Holly’s plan may not have worked out, but his did.
“I would have found her regardless!” Moth shouts from insidethe house.
“I am speaking withHeather!”
Oh my god, the sibling energy is off the charts. Holly turns back to me, letting her stiff shoulders drop.
“He is right though. He would have torn through the whole kingdom to find you,” she huffs. “I hate to admit it, but you arehis home.”
“I tried to tell you,” I say, surprised at the gentleness of my own voice.
“Yes, well—I am not always the bestlistener.”
Tell meabout it.
“Mother was not the only one who lost themselves on the day Father died and Moth disappeared,” she begins. “While she sat in the garden in silence, I dedicated myself to finding my brother. Nothing else mattered—not suitors, not old hobbies. Finding him was my wholepurpose.”
I nod, trying to understand. I’m the wrench in her lifelong mission; of course, she’d do anything she could to getrid of me.
“You may have already guessed, but I did not really kill Uncle Atlas…” She gulps, shaking her head. “He could be hiding anywhere on the outskirts of the winged courts or here in the mortal realm.”
Lord, let’shope not.
“Why did you let me think you murdered him?” I gasp, fighting the urge to throw a pillow at her.
“Fun… mostly.” She shrugs, her mouth quirking into a sideways grin. “The look on your face was priceless.”
“Right. So, I think you were supposed to be apologizing,” I remind her with a sigh. Well, at least one person in Moth’s family isn’t amurderer.
“Uncle Atlas… he had taken the place of my father and brother in one night. He should have never been king, especially if he was going to be so …fickle.”
“So, why didn’t you take the throne for yourself? Why spend so much time looking for yourbrother?”
“Me?” She blinks as if the thought never occurred to her.
“Uh yeah, you don’t think your mom is the best choice. You’ve made that clear, and you’re probably old enough to rule by now, right?”
“I have never been meant for the throne. Father taught Death—Moth,I apologize.” She shakes the old name away before continuing. “He taught him how to lead, to be ruthless and fearsome, but fair. All I know is how to stitch a sampler and swinga sword.”
“You are underselling yourself so much.” I cross my arms. “Who figured out the logistics of inviting everyone in the kingdom? Who planned out all the schedules and took on my whole to-do list?”
“I suppose I had a good deal to dowith it.”
“Holly, you dideverything.”
“It was you and my brother’s idea—”
