“How?” she spat. “Even if I become your puppet liaison and the queen reinstates me, it means nothing. It’s not acceptance, and it’s certainly not love.”

His expression darkened. “You’re so determined to make things painful for yourself.”

“No. In case it’s not obvious to you, this is over.” Wren reached out and grabbed the key around his neck, pulling the chain taut. “I know what you’ve done. I know you’re the one who kidnapped those soldiers. As soon as I find what you’re hiding in that passage, as soon as I know why, I will see you pay for it.”

Wren wanted to savor his dread, but the man was like quicksilver, deadly and changeful. His fear was gone before she could blink. In its place was smug resignation. “You still haven’t met my guest of honor.” He carefully enunciated each word as they began to slur together.

“What guest?” she hissed. “What do you mean?”

Before she could demand any other answers of him, Lowry slumped over.

Wren swore. It didn’t matter. He was only trying to daunt her.

From beneath his eyelashes, she could see the whites of his eyes like slick, wet moons. In another life, one where Vesria hadn’t killed his father, what would he be like? He could have used all that charm and intelligence for something good. But the world only had a part in shaping him. All of them had suffered from this war. It was his choice to succumb to the pain it had caused. His choice to meet hatred with hatred. If she didn’t prevent the war, it would only create more monsters like him.

Wren lifted the key from around his neck. Clenched in her fist, it felt like a weapon.

She found Hal where she left him, arms crossed uncomfortably, lurking by the buffet table. With the adrenaline coursing wild within her, it was a challenge not to abandon her poise and run to him.

Look at ease, she reminded herself.

After Lowry’s mysterious bout of illness, attention would already be on her. They needed to act discreetly. No small feat when a cluster of people lingered by the east wing, the tapestry billowing in the draft. Wren worried her lip. Anything unusual or unexplainable was cause for talk. So how were they going to sneak in without drawing suspicion?

And then, the perfect plan came to her.

Hal didn’t notice her until she slid her arm into his. She warmed under the relieved, heavy weight of his gaze on her. “Will you honor me with the next dance?”

He recoiled. “Why?”