Malita and I strolled the perimeter of the pond and talked about our respective homes, describing our old routines and the people we missed most. By the time we returned to the house, the sun had dipped toward the tree line, casting long shadows and muting colors.

Hannah greeted us in the foyer, arms crossed over her chest. Her blond hair ringed her head like a braided crown, and the azure beads in her ears matched the pattern in her day dress. “You two seem to be enjoying yourselves.”

“We are.” I tightened my grip on Malita’s arm. “You have a lovely home.”

“Of course I do. My brother and I work hard to keep it that way.”

“We thank you for sharing it with us.” I curtsied. Malita pulled my elbow, leading us toward the stairs.

“I’ve invited Brigette to dine with us this evening.”

I paused, one foot on the first step. “Oh?”

“It’ll be an ideal opportunity for you to approach her again.”

Brahm had likely shared his intelligence about Brigette with his sister, and I couldn’t blame him. Family loyalty was a sacred thing. “I’ll try my best to convince her, but she won’t be manipulated.”

“She will if you do it right.”

I narrowed my eyes. “We can’t all be like you.”

“Or course not,” she said imperiously. “I’m one of a kind.”

“Has Niffin come back?”

“The Fantazike boy?” Hannah shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t believe he has.”

Malita climbed another step, and I followed.

“We’ll see you at dinner, Hannah.”

She grinned mischievously, and a cold tingle crawled down my neck. “I’ve had a gown delivered to your room, Evie. We have a special guest visiting tonight. Try to look your best, will you?”

Hannah strode away with a dismissive chuckle, as if she considered it unlikely I could look presentable enough for her approval. I was tempted to show up in my day attire, dusty boots, horse hair clinging to my split skirts, hair sprawling loose from my braid.

“Come, Evie.” Malita took my hand. “Do not let her win.”

Malita was right. I wouldn’t let Hannah get to me. If she wanted me polished and shined up for supper, I would turn myself into a glittering gem. Whoever her guest was would know I was a queen without asking.

Ooh, Grandfather said. This should be fun.

***

After leaving Malita in her own quarters to await Niffin’s return, I found a maid tending to Brigette in my room. “Your things have been moved to another room,” the maid said. “If you don’t mind waiting a moment, I’ll show you the way and call for someone to assist you.”

Brigette sat before the vanity mirror in a blue dressing gown. She had bathed, and her dark hair hung in damp ringlets to her shoulders. I caught her reflection’s gaze and smiled at her. “You’re looking more rested.”

She thinned her lips. “For now.”

“Do you need anything? Can I get you something?”

“Don’t be obsequious, Evie. Hannah has already lent me a maid. I don’t need another.”

Flinching, I backed out into the doorway. “Just point me in the right direction. I’ll find my room myself.”

The maid’s cheeks flushed. “Down the hall, third door on your right. It’s the white room.”

I counted doorways until I found the one reassigned to me and stepped into a bright space decorated in gauzy drapes and pristine white linens. It looked as though it had been designed for the swans rather than me, and I felt grubby standing on the thick white rug. On the bed, someone had laid out sheer undergarments, gloves, hose, and a bloodred silk gown. It reminded me of the gown Daeg had made me wear the night he tried to sacrifice me to his son.

Stepping closer to the bed, I fingered the dress’s soft skirt. I gathered the gown against me and studied my reflection in a full-length mirror positioned in the corner of the room. The last time I’d worn such finery was in Prigha Castle. Gideon had been my escort, and he’d looked magnificent in his formal attire—handsome and lethal in black leather and red velvet. Thinking of him brought an ache to my mechanical heart, a yearning I usually tried to ignore because it pained me too much.

Once I started missing Gideon, it was hard to make myself stop.

Indulging in a moment of pining, I slumped on the bed and let myself feel exactly how much I longed for him, even his sullen tempers and overprotective impulses. I missed his loyalty, devotion, and confidence. I closed my eyes and pictured him, his strong jaw, long nose, and granite-colored eyes. His broad shoulders and big, capable hands. The uncanny softness of his lips when he kissed me.

A knock startled me from my daydreaming. My door creaked open, and a maid poked her head in. “M’lady, I’m here to help you get dressed, but oh...” She stepped inside and shut the door. Frowning, she looked me over. “You haven’t bathed yet.”

I leaned over and unlaced my boots. “I haven’t had a chance.”

“Well, there’s no rush.” She ushered me toward the bathroom. “We have plenty of time.”

Plenty of time... do I really need that much work?

You’re always beautiful to me, Grandfather said.

You’re family. You have to say that.

He chuckled. I suppose you have a point.

Once the maid had dressed and painted and styled me to her satisfaction, I asked her to find out if Malita and Niffin were still in their room and, if so, to tell them to come get me before they headed downstairs. I left my door open, and when Niffin stepped in, my eyes nearly fell out of my head from shock. Malita stepped in behind him, and I wondered if I’d ever seen a more beautiful couple.

He wore slim black pants, tall black boots, and a long velvet coat that matched the violet tint of his eyes. His red hair had been brushed to a high sheen until it glowed like garnets in sunlight. Malita wore a gold gown of sunlight trapped in satin, and the red scarf intricately twisted around her hair was finer than any crown. Gold hoops dangled from her ears and wrists. I wanted to kiss her but was afraid of smearing the sparkling powder accenting her cheeks.

“My gods...” I swallowed. “You two are like something from an old painting, from the days when the gods and goddesses were creatures of otherworldly beauty.”

Niffin snorted and flicked long fingers at me. “You should speak. Have you seen yourself?”

I glanced at my reflection. The maid had curled my brown hair, piled it high on my head, and studded the coiffure with pearls and swan feathers. More pearls draped from my neck. The blood-colored dress hugged me until I could hardly draw a breath, or maybe that was the corset the maid had forced me into. It pinched and shoved everything to such ridiculous extremes even I appeared to have an ample bosom. The sight of all that pale bare skin made me blush. I fluttered my lace fan, desperate for a cool draft of air. “Who’s this guest?” I wondered aloud. “Someone to be impressed by putting this much flesh on display?”

“I am guessing you are to be bait on a lure,” Niffin said.

“Must be a big fish for Hannah to go through this much trouble.”

Niffin offered me his arm. I took it, and he led us out. “Two queens on either arm,” he said. “I am a lucky man.”

“You only need the one.” I pointed at Malita. “One is all you can handle.”

Malita snorted. “More than he can handle.”