“I remember someone saying I would never be Isolten.”

He shrugged. “It was easier than admitting you already were.”

We stayed there a moment, horses shifting beneath us, watching each other’s eyes.

“I’m going whether you like it or not. In the same way you have been both Coroan and Isolten, so was my uncle, so were my cousins. Killing one’s own subjects is evil, and Jameson ought to be held responsible.”

I swallowed. “We may not walk out alive.”

“If that’s the case, then I’ll fall beside you. And Scarlet will be queen. And I will be happier in my death than I ever thought I could be.”

I let out a shaky breath.

“Good luck keeping up. This horse is fast.” I pulled the reins and started moving.

“That’s because he’s mine!” he protested, lifting his hand to move the army.

We rode wordlessly, Etan right beside me and his army not far behind. I didn’t mind that we said nothing; there was a great comfort in being silent with Etan. It allowed my mind room to wander, to test out courses of action. I kept thinking of how I needed to address Jameson. If he was as desperate to see me as Quinten claimed, then he’d surely take me somewhere alone, away from the eyes of court to greet me properly. I could ask him about the attack then, maybe even lie and say I was flattered he’d do something so grand for my sake. If I could just get him to confess to me, that was enough to bring a case against him. As a fellow monarch, Etan could do that.

I just had to get that far.

But the first hitch in my plan showed up at the border: a Coroan patrol, with wide barricades that stretched down into the tree lines, making it impossible to pass through unseen.

“I have an idea,” I said to Etan. He merely nodded as we pulled up to a halt.

One of the men crossed in front of the barricade, his flat palm telling me to stop, though I already had.

“What’s the meaning of this?” he demanded, motioning to the wave of people behind us.

“Sir, my name is Hollis East—”

“Lady Hollis?” he asked. “How . . . why were you in Isolte?”

“I had an urgent matter to attend to, and I return on one equally important. King Quinten has been relieved of his crown. His relative, King Etan, has taken his place only this morning. Knowing the relationship with Coroa to be of the utmost importance, he’s come to meet with King Jameson immediately. We request passage right away.”

The guard looked between me and Etan, pausing to take in the circle of gold upon his head.

“He will want to see him,” I insisted.

The guard grumbled to himself a bit. “He can pass, but not that lot.” He pointed to the army behind us.

“For His Majesty’s safety, he must be allowed some men. You know as well as I that Isoltens are not always taken to kindly. And it’s still quite the journey to Keresken Castle.”