“Get me a map!” I bellow. Silene and Fionn scramble, opening up our hidden compartment in Silene’s dresser to pull out the map of Thayaria Laurel lent us. Fionn spreads it out along the dining table, keeping his distance from the cat who still lurks along the edges of the room. I close my eyes again, and Laurel’s energy is easier to find this time. It guides me to an area due north of Arberly. There’s a vastness around Laurel, and when I spot caves identified on the map, I immediately know she’s in them. “There.”

“You’re sure?” Silene asks.

“As sure as I can be,” I tell her and shrug.

“Works for me,” she chirps back. “Now we just need to get into Laurel’s rooms.”

We bundle ourselves up for the foray outside, then sneak out of our apartment and start the endless trek up to Laurel’s room. I can’t believe I’ve done this twice today. Laurel’s cat stalks alongside us, hurrying us along every time we slow. When we finally reach the top, I bend the surrounding light to hide us. As we approach Laurel’s door, I stiffen. Carex stands there, knocking.

“Laurel, please let me in. I want to apologize for the Solstice dinner,” he says to the empty room beyond. The cat pads up behind him and he jumps when he notices her. She growls, low in her throat. Not loudly, but enough to warn him away. “What are you doing out here, Lunaria?” he asks, trying to pet her head, but she pulls away, hissing. A pang of jealousy zings through me at his knowledge of the cat’s name. It represents history with Laurel, an openness between them I long for. Before I know what I’m doing, I let out my own growl.

Carex’s eyes widen and immediately search the hallway. He draws a sword, and ivy vines curl toward us. “I know you’re there, Prince,” he spits. The vines inch closer, about to reveal our hiding place.

“We’re here to meet with Her Majesty,” I tell him casually after I release the magic cloaking us. It takes every ounce of court training I possess to keep the intensity and deep-seated need out of my voice. “She requested we come to her rooms.”

“Is that so?” he asks, his expression pulled into one of hate. “If that’s the case, then why hide yourself with your magic? Last I checked, you’re free to roam this palace, and if Her Majesty summoned you, there should be even less need to remain unseen.”

He’s going to make this difficult, and I don’t have time for that. “Force of habit.” I try to say the words casually, but they come out imposing and sneering.