Stella considered her options. There’d be plenty of time to ask questions about Jewel’s life—her second video was racking up views and she still had the third one scheduled. She needed to start small. Something simple. Something that appeared to be innocuous. Jewel probably wouldn’t answer any questions about The Cruelest Jewel … unless she didn’t know she was answering about the game.

Stella had a good, long memory. Her mental notes were practically etched in stone. She asked, “What’s with all the cameras in the house? Really? According to the internet, you don’t live here full-time. Doesn’t it get super uncomfortable knowing you’re constantly being watched? I’ve been here less than a day, and I think about the cameras all the time.”

“I see you, Stella At All Times,” Jewel said with an amused laugh. “The house cameras are a necessary evil. You’re right, I don’t live here, but everyone knows this place is my home. Safety has been an issue in the past. People getting in, hiding out, waiting for me to show up, threatening my family and the staff. It’s better to see everything than to let anything be hidden.”

“And being watched doesn’t bother you?”

Jewel shrugged. “It’s better to be seen than to be forgotten.”

A CONVERSATION ABOUT CAKE

FRIDAY, 1:03 P.M.

Nicole had been absolutely wrong about Luna.

The SilentStar of Golden Rule talked a lot. Luna began recapping her entire game she played with Jewel the moment she sat. The whole thing. Not a single detail skimped or skipped.

Francis lasted thirty seconds before he dramatically gave up on life. He cleared the space in front of him and put his head down on the table, closing his eyes. Before that, every so often, he’d catch Nicole’s eye. He’d give her a forced, tight smile before looking away to stare at the forest in the distance. She still couldn’t get over Everlasting Firelight. Knowing herself, she’d never get over it, honestly. He didn’t feel shy, but it was like he suddenly couldn’t talk to her.

Or wouldn’t.

Nicole tried her hardest to focus on Luna, but her attention inevitably wandered to the croquet game.

Empty. Mallets discarded. Where did Stella and Jewel go?

No one else seemed to notice—Harlow, Luna, and Alex were still talking about croquet.

She sat up straighter as if that would help her see farther down the field—it didn’t—before giving up. Not interested in the conversation (and with Francis ignoring her? Lying down was certainly a choice when she was right there?), she busied herself with experimenting. The food wasn’t nearly as decadent as breakfast had been. A good spread, nothing outrageous, but the tea.

The tea.