Hannah’s face fell. “How dreadful. Crowns are a delightful perk of being a ruler.” A footman poured more wine in her empty glass. She rolled her hand, suggesting he keep pouring, which he did, until it reached the brim, threatening to spill over. Flicking her fingers, she shooed him away. “You said they never wore one, but that doesn’t mean there is no crown. Perhaps there’s something for special occasions and ceremonies sitting in the Stormbourne family’s vaults?”

“Cobwebs?” I said deadpan. “Probably lots of dust.”

Hannah selected a bowl and scooped sliced potatoes onto her plate before passing it to Malita. I preferred suppers to be informal like this. Perhaps Hannah had predicted my preference and was trying to pacify me to gain my trust. Or maybe I was being paranoid.

Snorting, she spooned a mixture of roasted carrots and beets onto her plate. “Are you truly that humble, or are you keeping your secrets close?”

“We don’t have much wealth.” I filled my plate and passed a serving bowl to Brahm. “But there may be a gem or two lingering in our vault. Like you say, for ceremony.” In truth, there was a crown, an ancient, crude thing from the days when the Stormbournes were more elemental than human. Crusted in diamonds, the crown looked like lightning captured and twisted into a ringlet. I had seen it only once—on the day of my father’s funeral. The crown had rested on his chest as his body lay in state, but Gerda, my beloved nurse, had returned it to the vaults for safekeeping before his body was cremated.

Was it still there, or had looters taken it when they raided my home?

Until that moment, I’d never pictured myself wearing a crown, even for a coronation. And as much as I wanted to return to Inselgrau and do whatever it took to ensure my people’s well-being, I still couldn’t see myself sitting upon a lofty throne while some dignitary set a ring of diamonds on my head.

New queen, new rules, Grandfather said. You can rule in the nude if you like.

I giggled, and everyone shot me curious looks. Glancing away, I stuffed a piece of bread in my mouth and studied the patterns in the Schulzes’ elegant carpet.

Conversation subsided, replaced with the clinking of forks and knives and glassware and requests for second helpings. My hands shook from hunger and from the effort of resisting the urge to stuff food into my face. Hannah’s manners were impeccable, and I refused to give her reason to find fault with my own.

When our plates were empty, a footman appeared. He took my plate and cleared the table. Another servant brought dishes of pastry and cream. Glasses of aperitifs and pots of coffee replaced wine and water. I examined the flaky, golden dessert the footman set before me and sniffed, catching a whiff of vanilla and almonds.

I closed my eyes, struggling not to moan with pleasure as pastry and cream melted on my tongue, buttery and crisp, sweet and rich. “If you’re trying to win me over with food, your plan is working. I might sell my soul for a chance to eat this again.”

Hannah chuckled. “Who knew you’d be so easily bought, Evie?”

“In all seriousness, though...” I forked up another bite. “I came here with Brahm not because I was expecting to be solicited for political alliances, but because Gideon sent me a letter telling me his contact in Steinerland had information too sensitive to put in writing.” I leaned forward, my focus intent on Hannah’s blue eyes. “I’m not as cunning as you, I admit. So I’ll put it plainly. I want to know what Gideon’s told you.”

Hannah sipped her aperitif as she seemed to contemplate her response. Would she play games? Make me beg?

I held my breath until she plunked down her emptied glass like a gavel, set her elbows on the table, and tented her fingers together under her chin. “I’m afraid it’s not good news, Evie.”

I glanced at Malita and Niffin. They returned my stare with open looks of curiosity.

“I didn’t expect good news. Otherwise, Gideon would’ve told me plainly in his note. Or told me himself, in person.”

She smiled impishly. “But instead he told me.”

“Quit toying with her, Hannah.” Brahm’s nostrils flared as he rolled his eyes. “Just spit it out already.”

A red flush flared in Hannah’s cheeks. She pushed back from the table and stood then crossed to a side table where more bottles of dessert wines and liquors awaited and selected one greenish bottle and refilled her glass.

“Lush,” Niffin muttered under his breath. If Brahm heard Niffin’s insult, he ignored it.

“Why does everyone want you, Evie?” Hannah waved as if dismissing the idea as too unlikely. “Gideon, I can understand. If not for you and Lord Daeg, he’d be nothing. A street urchin or a workman in some rich man’s stables. You give him a leg up in the world. But Le Poing Fermé...?”

At the mention of my most hated enemy, I shoved my seat back from the table and stood, fists balling at my sides.

An ugly frown marred Hannah’s face, drawing deep lines around her mouth. “Why would the most powerful Magical cabal on the Continent be so eager to have your allegiance?”

Ignoring her petulance, I clenched my teeth. “What. Did. Gideon. Say?”

Hannah held my gaze, a furious flush blazing in her cheeks. She pressed her lips together, locking her mouth tight. Had she said this much only to strike at me like a viper, knowing how it would sting if she refused to reveal the rest? She was a bitter, manipulative girl. I definitely don’t like her, Grandfather. I’m not even sure I could be partners with her.

She’s drunk, he replied.

She’s an ogre.

Brahm sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry, Evie, but Le Poing Fermé has taken Inselgrau. They’re holding it by threat of death. All challenges to their authority have been met with lethal force. They take no prisoners and leave only corpses.”

His words detonated a bomb in my heart. It tore through my chest, shredding muscle, bone, sinew. I sagged, slumping into my chair with a harsh whump, and the room spun around me. Outside, thunder rumbled like the mewl of a distressed kitten. Malita rushed to my side and folded me into her arms. I barely noticed.

“How did you know?” Hannah had balled her fists at her sides. Anger raged in red splotches in her cheeks. Her eyes shot daggers at Brahm. “My solicitor and I were the only ones—”

Brahm sliced his hand through the air, a gesture demanding silence. “You take too much for granted, sister. You’re not the only one in this house who has spies and connections.” He gave me a piteous look. “I’m sorry to have held out on you, Evie, but the least I could do was not torture you with the news.”

Hannah scoffed and poured another drink. “It’ll be cruel and unusual punishment if you don’t tell her the rest.”

Brahm wanted people to think he was simple and brutish, a fighter and little more, but a crafty intelligence glinted in his eyes. Before we’d left the train, he’d told me only his sister and her agent knew the full extent of Gideon’s message. His words had been more a lie of omission than blatant falsehood, and it was why I’d believed him, or at least believed him enough to accompany him to Steinerland. “The rest?” I asked.

“They’re willing to give you back your throne. On one condition.”

My stomach cramped. I bent over as bile rose up my throat. “I can guess what it is,” I croaked.

“Le Poing Fermé has tried negotiating with the Council of Magic for the release of Jonathan Faercourt.” Brahm’s voice was full of apology. “The Council has declined and threatens severe retribution against anyone who interferes with their authority in the matter. Le Poing Fermé wishes to keep their hands clean and to appear to be respecting the Council’s mandate. Therefore, they want you to find a way to free Faercourt without raising the Council’s suspicions about Le Poing Fermé’s involvement. You’re to bring Faercourt back to Inselgrau, and—”

“Marry him.” I swallowed, fighting the urge to vomit my dinner over the Schulzes’ fine carpet. “That’s the crux of it, right? Free him and marry him, and we’ll rule Inselgrau together.” Except it wouldn’t be together. They’d turn me into their puppet. Pull my strings, and I’d fling lightning and thunder at whichever target they pointed me toward. I was stronger now, but I couldn’t stand against the whole cabal.

Brahm bit his lip and said nothing. He didn’t have to.

“Rule Inselgrau and then maybe the world.” Hannah’s lip quivered in a silent snarl of disgust. “Together you’ll be unstoppable. Worse than anything Daeg ever dreamed of. Worse than anything Brahm and I could’ve feared.”

Her vitriol cured my nausea. On shaking knees, I stood. Thunder rumbled again, harsher this time. Hannah flinched.

“You don’t know a thing about me, Lady Schulze. Make your assumptions. Draw your foregone conclusions. I have nothing to prove to you.”

I walked out without a backward glance. Malita and Niffin followed me, and our footsteps pounded the manor’s marble floors, echoing the beat of the tempest brewing outside. It wouldn’t be much of a storm, though, not until I’d had a good night’s rest. Briefly, I considered asking Niffin and Malita to walk out the front door with me and leave the Schulzes behind, but exhaustion and sympathy overruled that temptation.

The three of us were a banked campfire whose last embers were dying. Until we could sleep, recuperate, and gather our strength, storming out of the Schulzes’ home would only put us back in the heart of the danger we’d been so desperate to escape. Here, we were safe, or so I hoped.

But in the morning, we’d pack our things and leave. Allying with Hannah would mean selling my soul, and I simply wasn’t that desperate yet.

Yet being the operative word.

Nobody asked you, Grandfather.

Malita caught my wrist and tugged. “Evie, please. Talk to us.”

Relenting, I slowed my pace, and Niffin flanked my other side. He didn’t touch me, but his presence was steadying. Calming. How could I ever let them go? “They’ve taken my country hostage,” I said. “But I can’t do it. I won’t marry him.”