Footsteps echoed along the corridor leading to the training yard seconds before the queen appeared. Helena’s mother smiled when she saw her children. Every bit of hardness in their father was countered with love from their mother.

Her long purple gown swept along the ground, giving her the appearance she was floating. She looked every bit the regal queen, but Helena knew where each knife was hidden among the folds of her dress.

“Quinn.” The queen stopped in front of him and touched his cheek. “It’s good to have you home.”

The twins might not be hers, but the queen tried to be a mother to them.

“I’m glad to be here.” Quinn smiled back at her.

Cole got to his feet and lifted Kassander onto his shoulders. The boy shrieked as they trotted toward the queen.

“Mother.” Kassander giggled as Cole slid him down.

“Looks like someone is having a good time.” She turned her eyes on Cole, the same sadness in them as every other time she looked at him.

“Your Majesty.” Cole’s joy seeped out of him.

He’d never accepted Chloe Rhodipus as his mother. Helena wondered if it was out of loyalty to his long-dead mother or something else.

Quinn put a hand on Cole’s shoulder. “Come, brother. We should go see father about our duties preparing for the ball.” He gave the queen an apologetic smile and led his twin away.

The queen’s shoulders only dropped for a moment before she pasted on a cheery smile and turned to her other two children.

“Come. You two must prepare. We’re to greet a ship from Gaule.”

Helena froze. “I am to go?” They had never allowed her into the city even wearing her masks. She longed to see the ships that fed the kingdom’s economy but had yet to make it that far in her disguise.

Her mother put a hand on her back to lead her forward. “The people must see you before the ball and this is the perfect chance.”

“Who is coming on that ship?”

She smiled slyly. “Your brother’s betrothed.”

Helena nearly choked. How could the Gaulean princess be arriving and the palace not be abuzz? Where were the preparations? Feasts?

As if reading her mind, the queen explained. “The princess made certain demands of us. No public spectacles. We may greet her at the ship but then must whisk her to the privacy of the palace. She’s only here for a short time and we don’t want word getting out. She made the crossing because she demanded to meet your brother before agreeing to marry him.”

“Will she be staying until the ball?”

“Yes, dear. That’s the plan. We’re announcing the betrothal at your ball.”

They followed their mother back into the palace where Sophia was waiting with a special kind of torture for Helena. A corseted dress.