“We may not have a choice,” Lady Kerova said. “I may not have been privy to the secrets of crow hatching, but I believe it is something only the royal family can do. Why else would we bring all the eggs to the royal rookery, where often the current king or queen is the only one present when they hatch?”

Jittery anticipation filled my veins. This sounded like what I’d read about magic lines in that dusty journal. If only the royal family could hatch the crows, then it had to be me or Caliza.

My hope dwindled. “So then the egg stays with Caliza.”

Caliza snorted. “I wouldn’t know the first thing to do with it, let alone if I actually managed to hatch it. It’s a risk sending the egg with you, but if only one of us can hatch it, we have a much better chance if the one trying is you.”

The others nodded, and relief swept through me. “And what if I figure it out? I’ll need a way out of Illucia.”

“Part of this plan relies on you finding a way to obtain some level of autonomy,” Caliza replied. “If you can’t, there will be no meeting with Ambriellan rebels or even much room for working on the egg. But if you can get it, we can get a ship into Port Maranock just outside Sordell to bring you home.”

And if I couldn’t, then I might be stuck in Illucia permanently. For a moment, I let the implication settle. Drawing a deep breath, I said, “If the other kingdoms ally with us and I can’t escape, Razel will use me against you.”

Kiva stiffened, her hand going to her sword as if to battle the words. She would fight with me if that happened, and the thought eased the twinge of uncertainty in my chest. We would fight together, as we always did.

I locked eyes with Caliza, steel meeting steel. “If that happens, I want you to do it anyway.”

My words settled across the room like feathers drifting down from the sky. What had started as my selfish desire not to marry Ericen had turned into a volcano waiting to explode into all-out war.

Caliza nodded. “I understand.”

Either the remaining kingdoms banded together against the empire, or we all crumbled beneath it.

Nine

I waited on the patio for dinner that night, my mind so packed with the day’s revelations, I almost missed the harsh whispers coming from the hall. Recognizing Ericen’s voice, I rose and slipped to the door, pressing against the wall to listen.

“I don’t really give a damn what you think,” Ericen growled.

A shiver prickled at the back of my neck at the low, primal danger lurking in his voice.

“You have orders,” replied a voice laced with disgust. “Even you wouldn’t disobey your queen and Valix.”

“Watch yourself, soldier.”