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Cait lowered her eyebrows. I wanted to give her a reassuring look, but I couldn’t let the queen suspect that I wouldn’t keep my promise. I held my breath, waiting for an answer.
“I couldn’t,” Maeve finally whispered.
A knock echoed through the room.
She flinched but kept her eyes on me.
“One moment,” called Cait.
“Is everything okay in there?”
It was my father.
“Yes,” I managed to squeak out. “I’m coming.” I turned to Maeve, my voice soft. “Do we have an agreement?”
She was quiet.
Cait checked the back of my dress to make sure all the buttons were in place. I was terrified to look back at Maeve. I’d said too much.
Cait and I hurried into the hall, closing the door behind us.
My father smiled. “I never thought you could look so nervous.”
I took him by the arm and led him down the hall, glancing back at the door one last time. Maeve hadn’t come out yet.
* * *
I tookmy seat in an ornately carved high-backed chair in the center of the Academy’s upper balcony. My father sat in the chair to my right, his mouth set in a constant smile.
Cait was hiding in the building with the pistol.
I shielded my eyes from the sun. The crowd filled the square to its full capacity. Beyond the gates, more citizens were gathered, pressed against the fence. My father reached over and held my hand in an uncharacteristic gesture. I didn’t have the heart to push him away.
The Academy bell rang three times, marking the start of the ceremony.
Sir Pearce stood at the podium and recited a traditional speech about Irvine and the Immovables. I toyed with the pearls stitched into my heavy dress, hardly focusing on a word of it. His voice was dry and passionless. This was the last moment he’d hold his precious title.
I glanced to my left. Cael sat beside me with an insufferably proud smile. His mustache was gone, and he wore the laurel-embroidered tailcoat of an Immortal. The sides of his dirty blonde hair were cut short under his black hat.
Past him was Maeve Brennin, flanked by her guards again. I hadn’t noticed when she’d taken her seat. She watched me, her disdain no milder than before, but her eyes glistened faintly under the afternoon sun.
The First Immortal ended his speech and turned toward us, his face grim. “Enforcer Ruskin, please stand.”
Cael stood and stepped forward until he faced Sir Pearce near the edge of the balcony. The older man reached for the golden pin on his own high collar and paused, looking back. First at Maeve, then my father, then me. His frown twitched and his expression darkened. He sighed and unclasped the pin before bringing it to Cael’s chest and securing it to his suit.
“I present—” his voice caught and he tried again, louder but still emotionless. “I present First Immortal Cael Ruskin.”
The crowd applauded politely. Thankfully, I wasn’t expected to clap, because I couldn’t have. The demoted Immortal turned and walked away.
It was Cael’s job to finish the ceremony.
“Lady Mara Stroud,” Cael addressed me, his voice stronger than the older man’s. “Please rise.”
I got to my feet and went to the podium with my heart pounding and my hands trembling.
“Imperatrix Brennin, please join us.”
The color drained from Maeve’s face as she stood and walked toward me. For just a moment, I felt a strange camaraderie. Neither of us wanted to be here.
