I take a sip of my tea, wishing the hot liquid were more comforting. “You’re right. Despite my aunt’s hatred for Jag, she had a huge heart. I can’t imagine she would have risked that without a very good reason.”

“Precisely my point,” Layla says, sitting back in her chair with perfect posture. “Which begs the question…what is actually going on here?”

“Point taken,” I say, now not sure myself. I look over at Matteo. “Is that why your Family is in London, because of Aunt Jo?”

Matteo hesitates. “My Family is here because something important is clearly happening and the appointment of a new Regent has far-reaching political ramifications. Beyond that, it’s none of your concern.”

“Look, I get it. You don’t like me. I probably wouldn’t like me if I were you, either, but if things are as serious as you say, then I need to know everything I can. This whole thing is hard enough as it is,” I say.

“Tell me,” Matteo says. “Are you here to save your father or to dismantle the Lions and restore balance to Strategia?”

“Both,” I say, meeting his intense look.

“And if you had to choose between the two?” he asks, and my stomach sinks—I don’t need to think about it because I would choose my dad ten out of ten times.

Matteo doesn’t wait for my answer. “That’s what I thought. And that’s the problem. The consequences of the Regent’s death are already in motion. It doesn’t actually matter whether it was Aunt Jo or your father who killed him; there is an opportunity here that hasn’t existed in decades, one that’s shaken the confidence in Jag’s previously untouchable power. But you don’t understand that because you weren’t raised like we were. And even after you saw the damage Dr. Conner inflicted at the Academy, your goals remain self-serving. So why should I give you information when it will only go to help you do what’s best for you, not for Strategia?”

For a second I’m stunned into silence. First Aarya yelled at me last night and now Matteo, and the weirdest part is that they agree. My cheeks go hot. I want to answer him, but defending myself right now would only reinforce his opinion of me. Not that I should care. So why do I feel this strange need to prove myself to him?

“The masquerade ball,” Layla says, changing the topic. “I’m certain that information was not acquired easily. I understand why it’s important to the larger political picture, but what role does it play in your finding your father?”