Then the words tumbled from her mouth. “The king’s alliance is not in good faith. I hope you are not foolish enough to trust him.” I snorted, and she nodded, satisfied. “I am assuming you know where the Cantradian heir is, then. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have agreed. Don’t assume Erias doesn’t know this.”

I figured as much, but what could he do about it? He agreed to cede control if Thad returned.

“He has already reached a deal with the rebels that Kali will be betrothed to Thad if he does surface. That means—”

“Erias will be in control regardless,” I spit out, my hands tightening around her in reflex. “Does Spike know about this?”

Golden hair tumbled around her shoulders as she shook her head. “The rebels do not trust him since he is an Aldurian.”

“Color me shocked,” I grumbled. At what point would the stubbornness of the Cantradians be their downfall? “But they trust Erias? That makes no sense! Spike has fought with them, bled with them.”

“They are desperate for leadership.” Her light blue eyes caught mine in a challenge. I grimaced.

“Oh no, don’t even suggest—”

“A draken represents hope.” She twirled gracefully away as part of the dance, and I tugged her back more roughly than necessary.

“If they can’t create their own hope, then what am I supposed to do?”

Her smile was the most genuine I had seen yet. “Pretend. It’s not so hard.”

The dance ended, and she gave another small bob to me. I nodded back, and she reached out her hand. I took it carefully between my claws and bowed over her fingertips.

She moved in close one last time. “No matter what happens tonight, look after my daughter. She is destined to be queen of Aldur, and no one else.”

I blinked, struggling not to gape at her. I studied her pristine face, a little too pristine. Nian blushed under my scrutiny and turned away, and that’s when I saw it; a faded, carefully covered bruise wrapping under her jawline. She is destined to be queen. I wondered what kind of queen Nian could have been if no man had stood in her way. I bowed as the dance ended. Nian did the same and retreated back towards the dais to sit back down on her throne. I swallowed heavily and looked around for the princess. I couldn’t see her.

“We need to leave. Now.”

I jumped and nearly ran Astrid through with a dagger, but her quick hands were expecting me, the air around us frozen to stop my knife. Her face was white in terror, her silver hair is disarray around her shoulders. I pulled away, and the air relaxed.

“Why? What—”

Astrid was soaking wet, something I only noticed as I released my grip on her. She wrung out the hem of her dress, scowling. “Do you want the good news or the bad news first?”

“The bad,” I gritted out, my teeth grinding together in annoyance and anxiety.