“Will you?” said the queen, following her. Then she said, in a voice that was certain, and more imposing than the tiny person who spoke it, “Why don’t I believe you?”

Stricken with confusion, Lovisa spun back to her. “Please,” she said, a bit wildly. “Don’t tell my mother I saw you.”

“Your mother!” said the queen. “Who is your mother?”

“I’ll come back,” Lovisa lied, “but don’t tell anyone.”

“Is this a private home?” asked the queen. “Am I in Ledra?”

“I’ll explain everything later.”

“Are you allied with the fox?”

“What? No! Of course not! He’s bonded to my mother!”

“But you’re allied with me?”

“Yes. I’ll come back for you!”

Queen Bitterblue stared into Lovisa’s face fiercely, not believing her. Lovisa knew it, and was ashamed. “Take this,” she said desperately, shoving the letter opener into the queen’s hands, as a sort of bribe. Then she rushed to the door, turned the key, pulled the latch. The queen followed, standing close. On the other side of the door, Pari pushed.

“Wait!” cried Lovisa. “I’m coming out.”

Pari thrust the door so sharply that Lovisa stumbled and almost dropped the lamp. Pari surged into the room with a grunt of frustration. Then he stared wide-eyed at the queen, who stood before him in bare feet and pajamas, brandishing a letter opener.

“Who are you?” he asked in bewilderment.

“No one,” said Lovisa quickly. “A cousin from the north. We’re disturbing her. Let’s go to my bedroom, Pari.”

“She doesn’t look like a northerner,” said Pari, in the same moment footsteps sounded outside the door. A young woman, that guard who hated Lovisa, pushed into the room.

Ferla stepped in behind her.

—

Lovisa’s mind spun frantically.

“Who is that girl, Mother?” she said, in the blankest voice she could muster. “Why is she here?”

Ferla only stared at Pari with an expression more agitated, more crazed than Lovisa could ever remember seeing; and desperate too. And something else. Ferla looked sorry.

“Lovisa, give me that lamp and go wait in your father’s library,” she said.

“Mother?” said Lovisa. “I just came here with Pari Parnin, for some privacy. You said I could sleep with whatever academy student I wanted.”

Ferla’s fox was zipping around the room without pause, like he’d gone haywire. “Give me that lamp, then go to your father’s library, right now, Lovisa,” Ferla said, her voice so strange, almost a cry. Lovisa relinquished the lamp, then spun to the doorway, not understanding the emotion in her mother’s voice. Pari turned to follow her.

“Pari,” Ferla said in that same voice, “you stay here.”

“Mother?” said Lovisa, in sudden anxiety. Then that guard shoved her through the door and slammed it shut behind her. Lovisa was left alone, in darkness.