I helped Caylus clean the kitchen before returning to the castle. Apparently, everyone just thought the weather a freak storm, despite the sky being almost clear of clouds. With sunlight streaming down to illuminate the dark stone streets and deep green foliage, Sordell almost looked peaceful.

Even its buildings wore masks.

Despite the sunny day outside, the castle corridors still prickled with cold. A breeze brushed my skin. I looked up for the source, slowing as I approached Kiva and my chambers. Tension crept up my shoulders. Something was wrong. The door hung open at an awkward angle, and I glimpsed an overturned chair.

I shot forward, silently cursing myself for not carrying my bow and arrows.

The room was empty, and it was a mess. Chairs overturned, plants knocked askew, slices deep into the couches. One window had been broken, letting in the cool breeze.

“Kiva!” I moved deeper into the room, checking her room, then mine. Nothing. I sprinted back into the hallway and almost ran straight into a servant. “Have you seen my friend?” I demanded.

The girl stiffened. “She was escorted to see Her Majesty this afternoon.”

My heart stopped as I sprang past her, darting out into the hallway and down to the great hall. Razel wasn’t there. She wasn’t in her rooms either. By the time I reached the throne room, my throat was raw.

The two guards outside the doors didn’t stop me from bolting through. Razel stood on the dais, arguing in heated whispers with Ericen. Shearen stood at the foot of the dais, smirking. He had a growing bruise around his eye, and his left forearm had been bandaged. Beside him stood Auma, her face impassive as ever, head bowed. Bruises peeked out from the edges of her clothing and darkened her face.

My footsteps echoed like thunder in the high-ceilinged room, and all four sets of eyes snapped to me.

“Where’s Kiva?” I halted at the base of the dais, ignoring Shearen’s growing grin.

Ericen started to answer, but Razel cut across him, her eyes flashing. “This again, Thia dear? I thought we understood each other. Propriety would have you wait to be announced and to bow before addressing me.”

“What did you do to her?”

Razel raised a single golden eyebrow, expectant. Her lips pulled into a thin smile. She waited.

Who knew what she’d done to Kiva, what she was doing to her right now? I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction, but I had no choice. My nails dug into the palms of my clenched fists, and against every fiber of my being, I bowed.

Shearen snickered quietly. I drew a short breath and straightened, meeting the queen’s cold gaze.

“Kiva,” I repeated through clenched teeth.

Razel stepped back and dropped gracefully into her throne, lounging like a satisfied jungle cat. “Your friend is in the castle dungeons—”

“Why—”