“Devin?” Olivina asks. “Have you nothing to say about all this? You know I find it rude when princesses are speechless. I’m trying to have a conversation with you! I’m awfully sorry about how things have gone down, dear. I never wanted to banish any of you. You were such promising prospects. With your gift of talking to animals, I knew you could be a tremendous asset to Tara and me when the time came.”

Heath sits up as Lily and Kira near the mirror. I double down on keeping Olivina distracted.

“But we didn’t follow your rules so we had to go, is that right?” I stall.

“Yes,” Olivina says solemnly. “It’s unfortunate. Everyone is upset by it—poor Snow, and all of your parents, of course. I hate creating spectacles like this! It makes people ask questions, and as you might have guessed, I don’t like questions.” Her nostrils flare. “But you just wouldn’t leave well enough alone.”

I quickly glance at Heath. He’s shifted toward the wall so Lily can climb onto his leg. Almost there.

“You wanted us to be mini versions of you,” I say. “You don’t want royals who think for themselves. You want royals who only listen to you.”

Olivina laughs. “Exactly! I wouldn’t have spent so many years courting royals if I didn’t desperately want to be one myself. I think your father realized that. It’s a pity. I like your father, but…at least with Prue and Corden, their families are so uninvolved that there were ways to make them go away. But your lot seems more persistent. If you refuse to fall in line, I might have to arrange an accident.”

Heath plucks the jewel from Kira’s hand and slowly reaches toward the mirror.

“I don’t want you to be angry, Devin,” Olivina says. “When I lost Tara, I thought, who could join me? Who could I cultivate like Snow, Ella, Rapunzel, and Rose and make them think and act just as I do? Of course, the students here all are taught to do that, but they’re not really strong enough to lead the way I want Enchantasia led.”

Heath slips the jewel into the hole on the mirror.

“Are you listening, Devin?” Olivina snaps. “I’m trying to tell you why I’ve worked so hard to keep this school running exactly the way I want it to run—at least until my granddaughter could take over!” Her voice thunders, making the room shake. A vase falls off a shelf and crashes to the floor. “You could at least listen to me!”

Something inside me snaps. Last time I was in this room—actually every time I was in this room—I let Olivina make all the decisions. I let Sasha put together the pieces. I was a passive participant. (At least, I think that’s what Professor Shoeburn, my professor for The Royal Within seminar, called it.) But I don’t want to be a passive participant anymore. Being quiet doesn’t help change things. Making your voice heard does. Professor Pierce taught me that just tonight.