‘Where are you going? Anastacia’s said as Lottie stood up. ‘We’re supposed to be meeting Ellie to go and study.’

‘I have to return a book,’ Lottie said on autopilot.

Trying not to let the sweat forming on her brow reveal her anxiety, Lottie reached into her bag in a leap of faith, and, sure enough, her fingers met something that definitely hadn’t been there before. She pulled the book out, the perfect alibi.

‘See!’ Lottie held out the black notebook marked with an Ivy emblem, lines of text declaring it was maths notes belonging to an Ivy student. ‘Louisa in the year above let me borrow her revision plan from last year to copy.’ The lie flowed easily.

This is for Ellie and Jamie, she told herself. This is a Portman’s duty. ‘I’ll catch you all later.’

Without giving Anastacia a chance to probe her, Lottie left the dining hall, trying not to run and give away her anticipation. By the time she reached Ivy Wood she was panting but not from exhaustion. She was used to running; this was entirely different. She was desperate for answers.

When she got into the hot laundry room at the back of the dorm, her fingers and cheeks stung with the sudden temperature change, and her eyes instantly locked on to the person sitting on top of one of the drying machines.

‘I got your note.’ Lottie walked over to Max, who stared down at her from their laundry throne, the metallic hum from the wall behind them making it look like the world was shaking.

‘As you requested.’ The sultry voice came from behind Lottie, and the door slammed shut, revealing Stephanie herself, who tossed Lottie the box so suddenly that the wood hit her in the chest hard enough to make her wince. ‘You’ll need the key if you plan to open it.’

‘What?’ Immediately Lottie began grappling with the box, turning it over to see for herself. It was plain, a simple wooden box with a discoloured but perfectly sturdy lock. ‘So I can’t even get inside?’

‘All you requested was the box, Princess Mayfutt.’

Lottie froze, turning to Max who grinned at her like a shark, waiting to lure her into their jaws.

No one had ever called her that, and it sent tingles along the crown of her head, as if something deep within her was calling out, willing her to put on her tiara and claim that hidden part of herself once and for all.

Shaking it off, Lottie shoved the feelings down into the back of her mind again, and turned on Stephanie. ‘Neither of you can call me that.’

Stephanie rolled her eyes at Max, patting Lottie on the head like she might a yapping puppy. ‘Play nice, Max. We need to respect other people’s secrets.’ She gave Lottie a once-over, smirking to herself. ‘Even if the secret seems counterproductive, little missing princess?’