“That’s not true,” Raisa hissed, stung. “I did not run away to be with Amon Byrne.”

“Really?” Mellony raised her eyebrow. “Are you calling Mother a liar?”

Raisa pressed her lips together to keep any more words from spilling out. She didn’t want to speak ill of the dead. And yet she wanted to honor Mellony with the truth. She was tired of lies, tired of the awkwardness and suspicion between them.

“You never seemed interested in getting married anyway,” Mellony persisted. “You always said you wanted to kiss a lot of boys before you narrowed down to one.”

Well, yes. Raisa had said that.

“I’m not saying Mother was a liar,” Raisa said diplomatically. “I’m saying she did not tell you all of the truth. Yes, I left when she insisted I marry someone else. Do you know who that someone was?”

“It doesn’t matter now,” Mellony said, facing forward as if she somehow knew that she wouldn’t want to hear what Raisa had to say. “You left, and Mother died.” She slammed her heels into her pony’s sides, meaning to ride forward and away, but Raisa caught hold of her horse’s bridle.

“It was Micah Bayar,” Raisa said. “She wanted me to marry Micah Bayar.”

Mellony shook her head, slinging water all around. “No,” she said. “That’s not possible.”

“It is possible because it’s true,” Raisa said.

“No,” Mellony repeated. “Micah would never—”

“Micah was willing,” Raisa said. “I was not.”

Mellony stared at her, tears pooling in her blue eyes. “I don’t believe you,” she said, and wrenched her horse away, spurring him forward until she was beyond the range of easy conversation.

Well, Raisa thought, so much for clearing the air.

Someone must have sent a bird to Fellsmarch, or maybe riders with fresh horses had outpaced them to the capital, wanting to be the first to announce the news of Raisa’s return. Or maybe Cat Tyburn had arranged this reception, too. However it happened, the news had preceded them, so that when they entered the capital, the Way of the Queens was lined with people on both sides, cheering and waving scarves and kerchiefs.

Although the Way was broad, the crowds surged in close, reaching out to touch their returning princess. The Guard tightened its perimeter, and Amon and Han took up positions on either side of Raisa, using their horses to keep anyone from coming too close while the Queen’s Guard forced a path forward toward the castle close.

To Raisa’s embarrassment, some in the mob of people cursed and jostled the Demonai, calling them copperheads, baby stealers, and worse. They weren’t used to seeing clan in numbers in the city.

Sweet Lady in chains, Raisa thought. Somehow I have to bring all my peoples together—wizards, Valefolk, clans. We spend too much energy fighting with each other. It makes us vulnerable.