Twirling the burgundy liquid in my cup, I watched my sisters in their element. How they blended in while being resplendent; how they fit into this world better than I ever could.

Tilda was near the balcony doors, screening through girls she wanted to present to me as ladies-in-waiting. She clutched at her red and white polka-dotted gown, her fists tight as she marched around them, observing the way they drank from their goblets, scrutinizing how they held their utensils. Even from afar I could spot her tension. I expected she'd run over to me at any moment to declare how all the women she'd interviewed were useless.

Astrida, as anticipated, loitered near the champagne fountain, filling and refilling her cup, her languorous figure compressed under her sparkly, tight-fitting gown with its high slit that exposed her milky legs. Naturally all eyes were drawn to her low-cut corset, and she fawned under the attention. To my surprise, she'd forgone her usual diamonds, to not outshine me.

And yet her crimson curls were so bouncy and boisterous that it was hard not to notice her. She pouted her peachy lips at the men who surrounded her, but I caught her ogling Teodric on more than one occasion. She was at one point besieged by other women, who were giggling and pushing her towards men. Her heart wasn't in it; though she flirted with a group of soldiers and was clearly beyond drunk.

Should I have been worried? Or was it best to leave her to her antics?

Somehow, I felt that Astrida could handle several men at the same time, if she wished. The notion made me gag, so I steered my gaze away from her and her adventures. I'd tune back in if I caught her getting too close to Teodric.

Luckily, the foreign prince stayed near his fiancé. He molded into the throng of guests without drawing too much attention. As long as he remained with Ysac, he'd be safe from Astrida's attempts at seducing him. I hoped.

As I stared at the couple, both flipped around to me. The wine spiked my blood and brought back thoughts of the day, ideas and conspiracies and things I'd been mulling over.

Things that were eating me on the inside. I needed to share them, but I didn't trust my advisors to listen. In any case, they were too busy testing the potential new Arden.

So I waved Ysac and Teodric over instead, sick of lounging, lonely on my miserable throne as everyone else had fun.

"Majesty," said Ysac, bowing at the bottom of the dais. "How is your evening?"

As he said it, I noticed Teodric wince. He, as a fellow royal, knew exactly how my evening was going.

Dreadful.

"Come up here," I muttered, urging them to join me atop the platform. "I want to talk to you two."

Their anxious gazes grew more flustered as they remained immobile at the base of the dais.

"Fear not," I said, sensing their tension. "It's only to discuss an idea that took root earlier today and it won't stop bothering me."

Ysac hopped up, but Teodric's shoulders slumped as he peeked around, wary.

"Teodric." I snapped at him, and Ysac extended a hand to tug him up. "No one will care that you're up here, trust me. Look at them." I sneered at those dancing, spilling their liquor all over the polished floors, dipping through the patio doors to make out under the moonlight. "No one will ask why. Not that their opinion matters—I'm the queen." I held in a hiccup and slugged down a few swigs of my wine.

Teodric relented and glided to my left, as Ysac stood guard to my right.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" asked the latter, scouting through the populace, his lips barely parting to speak to me.

I wondered if he knew me at all. Had he not seen me stuck up there, drinking my stupor away? Faking my way through smiles to help me survive the night?

"Enjoying myself?" I scoffed. "I have to sit here and sulk while everyone parties. I can't leave until Sir Sym and Lady Ossenna tell me I've done enough. It's humiliating. I'd much rather go to bed, especially since I'm planning to wake early tomorrow."

"Wake early?" Ysac accorded me his full attention, his tamed blond brows rising. "That's not on the agenda. Are you going somewhere? Should I have a carriage prepared? What time?"

"We are going somewhere." I cleared my throat and averted my gaze. "No carriages or crews will be necessary. We're traveling to Spade Island."

"What?" Ysac and Teodric gasped, their eyes wide in shock. "Majesty," added Ysac, moving in front of me, frowning. "We're not going there. You're jesting, yes?"

"I'm not." I sipped from my goblet, feigning indifference. "I'm going to Spade Island, whether or not you want to accompany me, Ysac. I'm officially queen now, no? Can I not leave the kingdom as I please?"

"I suppose," said the former jester, kneeling before me. "But not unaccompanied. I alone am insufficient to provide protection."

I snorted. "We're sneaking out, my friend. No protection needed, as we won't be seen. No one will even know we left; that's why I want to depart early. They'll expect us to sleep in after a night like this, won't they?"

"Why the secrecy?" Ysac scrubbed his face. "Slipping off before the Aces can stop you—that's dangerous, Majesty. I don't know if I approve."

"They'll figure it out," added Teodric, remaining upright, crossing his arms. "Sir Sym and Lady Ossenna will know you left, and they don't want you going out yet."

"First off," I scowled at Ysac, "I don't need your approval. I understand the risks, and I'm fine with taking them. Sneaking out is necessary for this mission." I switched to Teodric. "As for Sir Sym and Lady Ossenna, I don't care if they end up finding out. This isn't their decision to make, it's mine. They're advisors! Not rulers."

I jammed my fists onto the armrests, sending Teodric a few inches backwards in surprise. He caught himself before he fell off the platform, and Ysac snagged his breeches to draw him back to us.

These two acted as a shield, keeping me concealed. Not that anyone gave a damn—they were still traipsing about with their plates of pastries and their cups of wine.

"And as your advisors, they've counseled you to wait. We need more intelligence before you can set out to exact your vengeance." Ysac's chin lowered, and his fingers dug deep into my knee.

"I'm not exacting my vengeance yet," I said, narrowing my gaze on him. "This is strictly a reconnaissance mission."

"Is it?" Ysac studied me, shaking his head. "You have revenge in your eyes, Majesty. And must I remind you that Otho is your mortal enemy? He will assassinate you on sight. So will Luned, and Jack. Who knows how powerful they all grow, wherever they're lurking. Who knows what they plan."

"Yes, and I agree to all this, but ultimately, I'm not after Otho. I know better than to pursue him." I clicked my tongue. "The advisors can handle him; it's Luned I want. Luned that I'm hunting. She is the scum in all this. The one who knew Otho and Jack plotted Father's death and did nothing to stop it. The one who seeks to dethrone me, to destroy our family."

"You said reconnaissance—" started Ysac, as I lifted my hand to hush him.

"Yes, to snuff out her location. I don't plan on attacking her yet, but if she's in the vicinity while we are..."

Ysac huffed. "I still don't like it."

Teodric sucked in a breath, setting a hand on Ysac's arm, squeezing. They exchanged a glance, then the foreign prince squinted at me. "We don't disagree, Majesty. It's a risk, but it's your choice. So we'll go with you, then? Is that why you're telling us this?"

"You won't come." I tipped closer to him. "I'd rather not expose you to any unnecessary perils. If one day your dimension has a need for you, I don't want to have to tell them you died here. An interdimensional war? Let's avoid that. You'll remain here, because it's essential for someone to know where we are in case something happens."

"Majesty." Ysac stepped in front of his fiancé. "I do agree that Luned is a priority as she's pulling everyone's strings, but Sym and Ossenna will be furious when they notice we're gone. They can't waste their precious powers on such emotions, you're aware of that."

"Yes, and I'm also aware that I can't sit here and listen to this dreadfully dapper music any longer!" I spoke so loudly, my voice so strained, that several men nearby spun to us.

Ysac shooed them off with a flick of his wrist, his other hand touching the hilt of his sword in warning.

"Majesty." Teodric crouched in his spot. "This lockdown; it's temporary. It's for your safety. Once the Aces reinforce their powers and add an Arden to their roster—"

"I don't care." I slammed my spine into the throne cushions. The ribbon unfastened from the top, floating above me before spiraling over my nose. Blowing it off, I shrugged. "She's my sister, and I need to stop her now. Not next week. It'll be too late! I have to put an end to her behavior, for the sake of my family name, my legacy, my home. That's what a real queen would do. And she's in Spade Island, with those mer-folk, I'm certain of it. Sir Sym and Lady Ossenna and the new Arden can handle Otho, they're equipped for it. I only ask to deal with Luned. I insist on it."

Ysac squatted by Teodric. "Deal with her later, right? Again, this mission is only to figure out where exactly she's hiding, correct?"

I shifted in my seat. "Correct."

Again, the two lovers exchanged a glance, as if communicating amongst themselves, coming up with a way to placate me, to make me change my mind.

But the former jester sighed and bowed his head as he straightened up. "Fine, I'll go with you. I don't like this scheme, but I imagine you'll force me, reminding me my punishment is to serve you and guard you, yes?"

"Your duty is to do that regardless of punishments, Ysac." Taking Teodric's trembling hand, I swallowed. "Astrida will be my regent while I'm gone. I hope to not be gone too long, but she's the only one I'd trust on the throne in my stead." He rolled his eyes and shuddered, and I squeezed his hand. "I promise I'll find some poor soul for her to marry when I return. Someone she can chew on instead of drooling all over you."

Ysac snorted, and Teodric broke free from me to descend from the dais, grumbling under his breath.

"Ysac." I seized his chin and tilted it up. "You're sworn to me, not the Aces. You worked for them in secret for years, but that ends now, understood? For me to trust you again, you must prove yourself to me and promise you won't divulge this confidential mission to them. That you'll stand by your queen."

"I swear it, but like Teo said, they're bound to find out. They always do." He bit his lip and tried to lower his chin, but I refused to let him disconnect from my gaze.

He needed to see how serious I was. Despite my earlier frailness, despite my initial fears of taking on my role, I wouldn't cower anymore. I couldn't.

"But by the time they do, we'll be halfway there. They won't send riders out after us. That would scare the people."

I couldn't admit to him that I wasn't one hundred percent sure of this. I couldn't predict my advisor's moves as they could predict mine. Though I was learning to count on them, I doubted I'd ever be clear on their intentions.

But did I have a choice? Was it wiser for me to remain glued to my throne and grit my teeth at the dancers below when I only yearned to confront my sister and terminate her schemes before she carried them out? Was it smarter for me to be dormant and obedient and quiet?

No. I was Queen of Acewood Kingdom, a monarch of Efura. And though I hated the notion of coercing Ysac into more lies he'd have to cover up, I had to do this. To investigate my monstrous mermaid sister, before she unleashed a deadly tidal wave all over my territory.

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