The tracker got to his feet. “I shall relieve you of my presence for the night,” he said and bowed. “I look forward to our training sessions.”

I let him go without question, suddenly feeling very tired. I left the hall for my room and lay down in my bed, exhaustion settling heavily into my bones. I stared at the ceiling, though my eyes felt gritty and tired. It was cold in my room, and it made me hyperaware that I was alone, that Adrian was not asleep beside me, and that he had secrets he preferred to keep. I hated that it hurt so much.

***

I woke even before the sun began to redden the sky.

My room was cold, my hearth unlit, and while I could summon Violeta for the task, I wanted to be alone, so I pulled a blanket from my bed and wrapped it around me, choosing to sit at my desk. Nadia’s letter remained folded, unanswered near my well of ink and quill. She had written long before my father had arrived for my coronation, long before I’d learned what he truly prized.

I considered responding to her. It would be an opportunity to lie, to tell her that my father was well and that we were enjoying our time together, but I did not think I could read her words again. It was bad enough that I could recall most of them on my own.

Think often of us, especially your father. He is lost without you.

Her words made my stomach churn, but I knew she believed what she wrote.

I also knew she believed I had a plan to kill Adrian.

Nadia had been the first to suggest it. She had put the blade in my hand, and while I had tried to carry out her wish, it had been impossible.

I had fallen in love with him, long before I even knew what was happening.

The body knows before the mind.

I wondered if news had spread across the courts, about how the former princess of Lara loved the Blood King, and I wondered if Nadia scolded anyone who dared speak such blasphemy about her sweet Issi.

But I had never been sweet.

And that had always been Nadia’s greatest fault—refusing to see the princess she truly cared for.

“They will kill you,” said a voice.

I turned to find Ana in my room, but it was not the Ana I knew—this one belonged to Yesenia’s time. She looked just as beautiful, the only difference being her hair. Not a hint of silver showed in her golden tresses.

“I am going to die anyway,” I said, and as I spoke, I carefully inked words onto the thick pages of a book.

“That is not funny, Yesenia.”

I paused and met Ana’s gaze. “Was I laughing?”

Ana paled. “So you plan to die and leave these spells behind. For whom?”