His gaze hit her hard and sharp, pinning her in place. ‘And I seem to remember you promised you wouldn’t tell anyone about my involvement with Leviathan.’

There was not an inch of the sweet, soft mask Lottie had become so accustomed to. This was Haru at his core, simmering and dangerous, and it had Lottie wondering what he and Jamie had talked about to get him so worked up.

‘What are you –’

‘Come now, Princess – let’s not waste time lying.’ He waved away whatever she had been about to say, leaning against the wall, his long limbs blocking her way out. ‘I know you’ve been discussing the letters with your little friend Binah. What I do find curious is that you don’t seem to have told any of your other inner circle about them.’

Lottie felt her knees going weak and a sick feeling in her stomach at the realization of just how much Haru knew. For a nauseating moment she feared he might even know the one thing he must never learn, that Ellie was the real princess.

Haru began tapping his chin, pretending he was thinking. ‘I’ll allow this one, I suppose, if it helps you solve it faster, but let me do a little demonstration for you,’ he declared, his arm shooting out and making Lottie flinch. ‘Watch what happens. This is how I could have all your friends look at you, so let this be a lesson not to tell anyone else, OK?’ He gave her a wink like this was just a fun class, but Lottie recoiled.

The younger student came forward to stand at the Partizan’s side, and like a doting parent Haru beamed down at her. ‘Repeat after me,’ he commanded, and the girl nodded along. Her dead-eyed stare made her look like a mannequin. ‘You hate the princess of Maradova.’

‘I hate the princess of Maradova,’ she spat back with all the venom of real revulsion.

Until now Lottie had only ever seen the effects of the Hamelin Formula from a distance, the awful lingering symptoms, the way it made people sick and confused, but this, up close, was scarier than any nightmare her brain could conjure.

‘She’s mean and scary, and we want her gone,’ Haru went on.

‘She’s mean and scary, and I want her gone.’ Upon repeating this, the girl turned to Lottie and began to shake, taking fearful steps back until she’d planted herself behind Haru for protection.

‘No, this is wrong. Stop!’ Fists balling at her sides, Lottie said the only thing she could think of that might get through to Haru. ‘Stop it or I’ll tell Jamie.’