Genevieve is supposed to meet me in my room and stay here until I return from the dinner with Mazus—she should be here by now. As I pace back and forth across the floor, anxiety courses through me about what might have kept her. She’s never been late before, but she could also just be struggling to sneak away undetected. Did she decide she doesn’t want to come after all? After five more minutes of pacing, I can’t delay any longer and have to leave without our plan fully in place. I leave the door unlocked so she can enter my room when she arrives. If she arrives.

When I approach the doors to Mazus’s private dining room, I’m escorted in by several guards in golden armor. Mazus isn’t here, but servants have already set out food on the table, so I make myself a plate, hoping it irks him when he arrives. I’ve taken my first bite when the Golden King strides in, adorned in cream clothing covered in gold embroidery. I don’t stand at his arrival and a deep sense of satisfaction courses through me when I see how his jaw clenches at the disrespect.

“Nemesia,” he says, splaying his arms wide. “I’m so glad you’ve made yourself so at home here in my palace.” He sits down and servants rush into the room to fill his goblet with wine and serve him food. “I trust you’ve found the books I had delivered useful?”

“Indeed, I have. Thank you,” I say, then take another bite of food, and I can tell it annoys him. I elect to keep up the strategy of saying very little. Let him show his hand first.

“And what have been your most exciting discoveries?” He can’t drop the subject, a sure sign these books were sent for a specific purpose. I take another bite of food, chewing slowly, then swallow several gulps of wine before I set my fork down and stare at him.

“Why don’t you just tell me what you’re hoping I found, and we can skip the part where we dance around one another,” I say with an edge in my voice. Mazus laughs, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.

“You remind me of my son. Thorne also has little patience for my schemes. Perhaps that’s why Queen Laurel has grown so close to him. He reminds her of you. Or is it the other way around? Hard to say, when magical bonds are involved.” His eyes swirl with knowing. I keep my expression neutral, not rising to the bait. Let him wonder what conclusions I’ve come to.