She gave Matt a quick kiss before leaving. Duncan came over and crouched down in front of me. His dark eyes were sympathetic, but I saw a fierce determination in them too.

“What do you need me to do, Princess?” Duncan asked.

“Duncan, not now,” Matt said sternly. “Wendy just lost her mother. She’s not in the right frame of mind.”

“I don’t have time to get in the right frame of mind,” I said. “We have three days before I’m Queen. If we’re lucky, we have four or five days until Oren comes to claim his prize. I’ve already taken too much time crying over Elora’s death. When this is al over with, I can mourn her. But now, I need to work.”

“I should tel Thomas,” Tove said. “He needs to have the trackers ready.”

“Yes,” I nodded. “When Wila gets back, she needs to talk to the refugees from Oslinna. I’m sure some of them wil want to fight against the Vittra that kiled their families and destroyed their town.”

“What are you going to do?” Tove asked.

“I stil have to find a way to stop the King,” I said, and I looked up at Duncan. “And Duncan’s going to help me.” Matt tried to protest. He thought I needed to process what was happening, and maybe he was right. But I didn’t have the time.

Duncan took my hand and helped me to my feet. Tove opened the bedroom door to leave, but he stepped aside, letting Finn come into the room.

“Princess,” Finn said, his dark eyes on me. “I came to see if you were alright.”

“Yes.” I smoothed out my black dress, wrinkled from me sitting on the floor for so long.

“I’m going to talk to Thomas,” Tove said.

“I’l wait outside for you,” Duncan offered. He gave me a smal smile before hurrying out after Tove.

Matt, however, stood next to me. His arms were crossed firmly over his chest, and his blue eyes were like ice as he stared at Finn. I was actualy grateful for Matt’s distrust. It used to be that I would kil to get a moment alone with Finn, but now I had no idea what to say to him anymore.

“I’m sorry to hear about your mother,” Finn said simply.

“Thank you.” I wiped at my eyes again. I’d stopped crying a while ago, but my cheeks were stil sticky and damp from tears.

“She was a great Queen,” Finn said, his words carefuly measured. “As you wil be.”

“We have yet to see what kind of Queen I wil be.” I ran a hand through my curls and gave him a thin smile. “I have much to do before I am to be Queen, and I’m sorry, but I realy must get to it now.”