I have no idea how to fix this, what answers to give them, or how to solve any of it. Someone does need to be in charge, and right now, it appears to be me, which isn’t doing anyone any favors. I drop into my chair at the head of the table and rub my temples, a stabbing pain building behind my eyes. I can’t seem to shake this headache.

My gaze slides to Tyr, who watches with his hands on the armrests, his face expressionless. Then I turn to Hylene, who sits on the sofa with her legs crossed and miles of bronzed flesh exposed by the slit in her dress. Gods, I need to get a grip.

I let everyone argue for another minute as I try to formulate a plan. What do I want? To get them to stop fighting. None of them seem concerned enough that Atlas has run. I haven’t had any luck figuring out how he escaped or who might have helped him. Was it someone in this room, hoping to seize power in a void?

A sharp clap draws my attention, and now Hylene is standing. “Everyone!” she says, her voice threaded with command. “I think that’s quite enough!”

She snaps her fingers, and finally, the arguing dies down. “I think that’s enough . . . ruling for today. Hmm? I’ve arranged drinks and food for everyone in the salon.”

There are several blinks around the table and several wary exchanged glances. No one seems to know what to do.

“Everyone,” Hylene says. “Please. Let’s take a break and remember you all want what’s best for your kingdom. There’s no need for all this fighting, is there?”

She sweeps towards the door, and like they’ve all been enchanted, everyone slowly begins to stand.

“I’ve arranged for some added surprises,” she says with a smile, and her eyes glitter, making it clear what she means. “This is all very stressful, and you all deserve a little relief.”

She greets everyone by name as they exit. I almost pass out when I hear several of them thanking her. When the last one departs, she slams the door and leans against it, wiping her hand across her brow.

“Whew, I thought they would never leave.”

“How did you just do that?” I ask. “I’ve been trying to get them to leave for two hours.”

She shrugs her shoulders and smooths down her hair. “They can keep arguing in circles until they all drop dead, but until the Mirror decides what it wants, there’s nothing we can do. In the meantime, they’ll just have to accept that you’re in charge.”

“Tyr is in charge,” I say, not sure why I’m so determined to cling to this fallacy.

“Of course. You’re in charge as Tyr’s proxy.”

I narrow my eyes, but she presses my hand to her heart.