“I require an escort to my chambers, if the princess would be so kind.” Zara stood proud and tall, looking down her nose at Erias, an impressive feat when the king was taller than her and sat on a raised dais.

Erias went a strange shade of puce, before nodding tersely. He couldn’t refuse such a request after having Kali serve that purpose all week for me, and he knew it. “Very well.”

Astrid was at my side as we left the room, leaning over to whisper in my ear. “Kali is the key to a backup plan if Thad doesn’t return.”

I nodded tersely. That was the whole reason I had risked bringing in Zara, wasn’t it?

Hours later, Kali sat across from all of us, sprawled elegantly in her chair like a cat who had just caught a particularly fat mouse. She draped pergansa fruit over her mouth, and a spike of pain hit me. Gods, I missed Wren.

“Has my father given you a final answer?” she asked innocently, drawing a finger into her mouth and sucking off the juice indecently.

“I think you are well aware of our lack of progress,” I said haltingly, concentrating only on the wine in front of me. Kali smirked and popped another fruit in her mouth. I tried not to grit my teeth or otherwise outwardly show my frustration. Spike and Zara sat across from her, and Astrid sat next to me.

“Did Zara find her chambers acceptable?” I asked nonchalantly.

Kali choked, spitting out her pergansa seeds and shoving the bowl away from her, her face tinged red.

I asked, “I wonder if you plan to entertain her with the same enthusiasm you had for me?”

Spike’s head jerked to the side, his eyes silently demanding I stop baiting her. Astrid was tense next to me but didn’t interfere. This was part of the plan.

“It is my duty as princess to entertain our guests.” The circlet from Astrid gleamed from its space nestled within Kali’s hair.

“Shall we dispense with the games and make negotiations of our own?” Astrid pushed.

Kali’s eyes shot to mine, a lascivious grin curling at the corners of her mouth. The sapphire circlet glowed, and I eyed it warily. Underneath the table I slid out a claw and slit a cut in my side. My blood magicks glowed under my skin, a comforting presence against the predatory gleam in her eyes. I tossed a small knife in the air, easily catching it.

Kali cast a derisive look at all of us. “I suppose all I have to do to earn my freedom is to join your cause? Do exactly what you say?”

Astrid huffed.

I rolled my eyes. “Look, I know how you feel. For a large part of my life, I was told exactly who I would have to marry and produce children with. I didn’t have a choice in it either because the literal survival of my species depended on it.”