“Darling!” said her father, continuing to move toward her. “What can you mean by that? Aren’t you glad to see me?”

“We found the eggs!” she said.

He laughed. “Eggs, darling?”

“We found Katu!”

“Ah,” he said, pausing in his advance, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. Then he stepped toward her again, so that Lovisa began to step back.

“Your mother is dead, Lovisa,” he said. “Her tyranny is over. I can finally start to make amends.”

“Amends!” cried Lovisa, alarm shifting into confusion. “What amends?”

“I’m so sorry,” he said. “I never wanted any of this. You understand how it is to be under your mother’s power, don’t you? I came here to release Katu, now that your mother is dead. She can’t hurt us anymore.”

Lovisa wanted to believe the words he was saying. But she’d heard them fighting. She’d heard her mother accuse her father of doing something to Katu. She’d seen him carrying Pari’s body.

Her back came up against the railing that made the roof’s perimeter. “You’re trying to trick me,” she said.

“I can’t believe you would think that of your father,” he said, stepping forward and reaching for her arm.

A voice came sharply behind him. “Lovisa!”

Benni spun around.

“Lovisa?” said the Queen of Monsea, climbing through the trapdoor and starting toward them in Ferla’s coat. Tiny, swaying, wincing at the wind. “What are you doing up here? Who is that?”

“It’s my father,” said Lovisa in utter confusion. “Don’t you recognize him?”

“We never had the pleasure, not while I was conscious, anyway. Why aren’t you in jail?” said Bitterblue, marching right up to Benni with no fear in her big, intoxicated eyes.

“Bitterblue,” cried Lovisa. “Don’t trust him.”

“Of course I don’t trust him,” she said. “You’re on the run, aren’t you, Benni Cavenda? You came to see Katu killed, and to collect your weapons.”

“Queen Bitterblue!” said Benni. “We finally meet!”

“Are you kidding me?” said Bitterblue.

“I’m here to make amends for the wrongs of my wife!” he said.

“Oh, please,” said Bitterblue, rolling her eyes. “You know, I’ve had just about enough today. Lovisa, go downstairs. I’ll deal with this kitten-head.”

“Lovisa?” said Benni. “Is this really the Queen of Monsea? She seems a bit unhinged.”

“I am unhinged!” said Bitterblue. “You took my hinges!”

Then Benni grabbed at Bitterblue and everything happened at once. The queen whipped a knife out of nowhere and stabbed Benni right through the hand he was grabbing her with. As Benni howled, the queen kneed him in the crotch, once, twice. As Benni began to fold, behind them, Giddon emerged through the trapdoor, Davvi behind him. “Bitterblue?” Giddon said, glancing around, squinting. “Where did you go?”