Godmother Althea wet her lips and put a hand on my arm.

My mouth worked, but it was a long moment before I could form words. “And if something happens to me? What then?” I passed a hand through my hair. “And why now?”

Godmother swallowed. “She’s having a baby, Selah. Her hopes for the future may have changed lately.”

I thought of Alessandra’s hands pressed to her stomach, palms protective and eyes threatening, and something in my chest went still.

“Daddy’s still young,” I finally said, scraping at a cuticle. “She’s playing a long game, if you’re right.”

My voice told us both how much I really believed that.

“She may be.” Godmother Althea paused. “On the other hand, sweet girl, you don’t need me to tell you what people are saying about your father.”

I met her steady gaze, and my heart faltered.

Godmother’s theory was so improbable. Even Alessandra didn’t hate me quite so much as to actually expel me from my home.

Or did she?

My father was ill. He might even be dying.

I knew it. Everyone did. It was why he’d grown so thin, why Dr. Gold hounded him about his habits. I wondered what treatment they’d begun.

I prayed it worked quickly.

Godmother Althea shook her head. “I knew she was up to something. But we’d hoped it wouldn’t come to this.”

“We?”

One corner of her mouth lifted. “Do you think Alessandra is the only one watching and listening? The only one with friends and allies?”

Watching? Listening? Allies? I stared at my godmother, wondering what else she hadn’t told me.

“Do I have to go? Could you—hide me somewhere?” My fingernails drove themselves into my palms. The question was cowardly, and I knew it.

But there was no judgment in her eyes. “I would, but your disappearing would only make matters worse with the Council. And ten to one, Alessandra would only speed up her plan, whatever it is,” she added. “If you go, she won’t get suspicious, or feel pressed for time. And I’ll have some space to figure out what she’s up to.”

Neither of us spoke for a moment. In the silence, I added up the cost of a ship and a crew and food for all of us, and tried not to imagine how many more public fields would lie fallow to cover the cost.

“Am I really supposed to marry a boy I don’t know?” I asked in a whisper. “Is that what I’m going to have to do?”

Althea sighed. “If I knew who your suitors were, I could help, but that’s a secret half the Council doesn’t even know.” I raised an eyebrow at this, but my godmother just smiled archly.

I didn’t know who my allies were. But secret allies were better than enemies on every side.