I scanned the head table several times, thinking maybe she was sitting somewhere new and I’d missed it. Then I searched the room, hoping she was out making rounds. Neither was true.

“Where is she?” Etan whispered. “Do you suppose Quinten got ahold of the note?”

My eyes went to the king, but he wasn’t watching us. He was talking across his son to his new soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

“I don’t think so. If he did, it was vague and unsigned, so we should be free from danger. I don’t know where Valentina might be, though. . . .”

“I apologize,” he said quietly. “For misjudging her. I had no idea she was in such an impossible situation.”

“How could you have? He keeps her isolated, and she puts on a good face. I think she fears for her life if anyone guesses how unhappy they are.”

Etan sighed. “So, she doesn’t care for him? At all?”

I shook my head. “I think she fell into the likes of girls who see the crown far clearer than they ever see the man. I can’t blame her.”

My eyes stayed focused on the room, but I could feel Etan studying me, perhaps wondering where I fell in that description. I thought I’d seen it all clearly at the time, but I couldn’t say for sure now. For as much as I missed it, I wondered if it was best if I stopped looking back at Keresken altogether.

“Etan! There you are!” A girl with a sharp nose and high cheekbones approached, dragging another girl behind her. “Have you met my cousin, Valayah? This is her first trip to court, and she was positively thrilled by your performance today.”

“Who wasn’t?” Etan joked, standing to talk with them.

I rolled my eyes, but no one was looking. I searched the room again; still no Valentina.

“We do hope you’ll be spending more time at court,” Valayah gushed. “Raisa and I are counting on it.”

Almost as if on cue, another young lady popped up over Raisa’s shoulder, batting her lashes at Etan. “Are we making sure dear Etan stays at the castle this time? I have to say, it simply hasn’t been the same without you.”

Where were these ladies yesterday? Where were they before the whispers started and the lances fell? I supposed it didn’t matter.

For all his protests, if Etan loved his family at all, he’d get married eventually for the sake of keeping the name. Even if we never proved anything against Quinten, upholding just a single line of the family would be a small victory. And if he was going to do that with anyone, it would need to be an Isolten girl. She’d have to have blood that went back as far as his, and she’d have to be unwavering. And pretty. And intelligent. And able to keep him in line, because goodness knows what would happen to us all if she couldn’t.

Two more ladies showed up, and neither of them was Valentina. It was suddenly far too hot in the Great Room. I wordlessly stood and made my way to the hall.