“It was you,” Bri whispered, taking a shaking step forward as he retreated toward the door. Her mind raced. “I should have known it was you.”

“What was me? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Tem sheathed his blade and lifted his hands out to her as if trying to hush a skittish horse.

“Why is that flower in your pocket?” Possessed, she stepped forward again as her mind whirred. “It’s the same flower that you gifted Delta when she was recovering. . . .”

“Bri, what are you doing?” Lina rose from her throne, her brows knitting together.

“And what of it?” Tem asked, looking to the others like Bri had lost her mind.

“The flower is called blooming amethyst and is used in violet witch magic. It only grows on the banks of the Crushwold River . . . or at least it used to.” Her voice dropped an octave as she prowled forward. “The soldier we caught had a packet of its seeds on his person.” To sow the seeds of rebellion.

“I don’t know what any of that has to do with me liking a flower,” Tem scoffed.

“Where did you get the flowers?” Bri cocked her head. “I didn’t see them growing in the gardens.” Her eyes dipped down to his neck. “And what about your necklace?”

He narrowed his eyes. “My necklace?”

“Lina thought that soldier had stolen it from you, but it was his own necklace, wasn’t it? Do you all have one? Just in case you need to take your own life?” Bri felt Talhan shift closer to her side. Lina gaped between her and Tem as Bri spoke. “His necklace was so scuffed, I couldn’t make out the symbols as clearly as yours. It’s not a wolf paw at all, is it? It’s a lion paw.” She cocked her head. “The guards at the gate said the royals aren’t the only ones to keep guards. . . . Delta, do any other families in Swifthill have their own guards?”

“Only the Wystrons,” Delta hissed.

Bri kept her eyes glued to Tem’s horrified face. “Why do you have a lion paw necklace, the same as the assassins wear, and bouquets of the same rare flower that was used to murder your Queen?”

Tem held his hands up higher as Bri took another step. “I-I—” He paused, blinking at her as the room hung in frozen silence.

Then he smiled.

Slowly clapping his hands together in mock applause, he said, “Well done, you.” His chuckle was low and sinister, his innocent mask contorting into a crooked grin. “I honestly didn’t think you would figure it out. Too love drunk to see what was right in front of you.”

Darrow stepped toward his son. “Tem, what—”