“I am,” Logan says, sounding surprised himself. “Just don’t leave us behind, okay?”

“Never,” I promise. “We’ll come back for you or send word to Prue to get you out of here.”

“The only question is: Who is going to be Princess Scarlet now?” Logan frowns and looks from me to Tara.

“It can’t be me,” Tara insists. “It just can’t.”

“I’ll do it.”

We turn and look at Raina in surprise.

“I know Royal Academy protocol better than any of us,” Raina says. “Plus, I schooled Sasha on her fake backstory and everything going on at school. I know Princess Scarlet better than anyone. I can do it.”

I love Raina, but she’s not the best under pressure. We all know what happened last time she got in front of Olivina.

“Please let me do this,” Raina says as if she can hear my thoughts. I don’t mention the vine that is currently tangled in her tiara. “I know I can do it, and I want to help.” She finds the vine and yanks it out, tilting her tiara.

And somehow I believe her. “I believe you.”

“So do I,” Heath says with a smile. “Although it feels kind of odd to be your escort.”

“Tell me about it.” She takes her brother’s arm.

We can get them the rest of the way to the front of the castle, Devinaria! Ronald neighs. We promised we’d get them to the entrance, and we will. We can even do it on land.

“Thank you,” I tell them and look at the others. “They said they can take Heath and Raina.”

“But now you only have you and Tara to distract Olivina,” Sasha says, her voice weak.

“We will be fine. You just rest,” I say with false cheer and smile at Tara. Royal Academy is visible in the distance. It shouldn’t be too far of a hike. “I guess we should start walking.” I take a step forward and feel my foot slip on something hard. I reach down and pick it up. It’s Tara’s wand.

“I’ll take that,” she says. She drops it into the folds of her skirt again. “Might come in handy.”

“Yes,” I say. “It might.”

I don’t mention the letter O I saw engraved in the silver handle.

Chapter 14

The Master of Disguise

Tara’s wand has an O engraved on it. I only know one person whose name starts with an O: Olivina. I have a million questions. Did Tara steal it? Did Olivina give it to her? Is she secretly working with her? My heart beats wildly. Tara seems deathly afraid of the fairy godmother and has been hiding out in the woods to avoid seeing her. None of this makes any sense.

The two of us walk in silence the entire way to the castle. We arrive around the back and pause near the vegetable patch, hiding by the stables. I take a deep breath and give the signal: a birdcall.

A few seconds later, I hear the same birdcall back.