“My apologies.” Jewel’s laughter ended in a smile. She bit her thumbnail, holding it between her teeth. “Your videos have been good so far. I’m almost impressed.”

“Almost doesn’t count,” Stella said. “You owe me secrets.”

“Not for free I don’t.”

“Stella Says Episode Two has almost reached fifteen thousand views. You do the math.”

“No, thanks. I’ll give you until Ethan and Olive come back. We have a schedule to keep.”

Stella considered her options. Her plan had entailed getting information about The Cruelest Jewel without anyone realizing it and cashing in the views on her next video for some alone time with Jewel, both of which had panned out. But that was as far as she’d gotten.

Now, she needed a reason. Something for herself. She knew what she wanted—and knew enough about herself to realize she probably shouldn’t. She asked, “Why are you really doing this? I’ve heard a version of an explanation from Olive, from Luna, Harlow, Francis—even Nicole shot a theory into the ether. But not you. You’ve never said why. Why does The Cruelest Jewel exist?”

Jewel side-eyed Stella with a smile. “Didn’t you already ask that?”

“So, you were watching?”

“I monitor everything. It’s my game.”

Stella let the silence stretch to a count of ten. “That wasn’t an answer.”

“Because the answer solves the recipe and I’m not giving you that.”

“That’s fair. Moving on,” Stella said. “You don’t trust them, do you? Ethan and Olive.”

“What are you talking about?”

“They’re running the game with you, right? It’s like there’s certain things they don’t know. Why is that?”

“You tell me. You’re the one playing,” Jewel said. “I thought you wanted to talk about me.”

“I did. And then you buried Harlow alive.”

“That bothered you,” Jewel guessed.

“I wouldn’t say that. Bothered is an ugly word,” Stella said. “You just didn’t strike me as a sadist. I’m wondering how I was wrong.”

“You called me Sauron.”

“That was a joke. I had no idea I was right on the money.”

“I don’t enjoy inflicting pain on people, but I do like to test them. Find what makes them tick. See what they’re really made of when their greatest fears come knocking. See how they change because of it.” Jewel’s wicked grin crawled right under Stella’s skin. “You’re in my house now, Red Queen. Watch yourself. It’s been fun getting to know you, truly, but it’s time for you to understand who’s in charge here.”