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“Saga, can your mother force others to do things with her mind?” I asked, feeling sick.

“What! No!”

She sounded so distraught that my eyebrows pinched together. “Why do you say it like that?”

“Yes, it’s just . . . do you not know that the power to influence others like you’re suggesting is illegal?” Saga glanced behind us. “It’s called whispering, and a fae can be put to death for using that magic.”

I hadn’t known. Fae had such varied powers, and often more than one that they were strong in. It was difficult to keep up.

“I’ve never heard of that. How does it work?”

The princess looked away.

Something more was afoot.

“Saga, I’m sorry that I made you uncomfortable. I don’t mean to.”

She sighed. “I know you don’t. You’re truehearted and naïve to the point that you don’t know about my family. I should be pleased but . . .” She chewed on her bottom lip, as if struggling to speak.

“Please don’t speak of whispering and my mother in the same sentence. Mother is already a bit of an outcast, for a queen.” The princess swallowed. “Her magic is so well known that she walks a fine line, and very few are willing to get close to her. She doesn’t even have ladies-in-waiting for that reason. I don’t want her hurt.”

“I won’t speak a word,” I assured her. “I promise that I didn’t know.”

And really, the horror of whispering aside, having Queen Inga be able to read my mind was bad enough. A fresh wave of dread rolled through me. Why wouldn’t Roar have told me about this? It seemed a rather large thing to omit. I needed to speak with him. “Saga, I’m not feeling well. Do you mind if I return to my chambers so that I might rest for tonight?”

Saga nodded, her shoulders relaxing finally. “Of course. But first, I was wondering, do you wish to get ready for the ball with me? Sayyida and Marit will be there. It’s a tradition that we have, and we’d love for you to join.”

That took me by surprise and warmed my heart too. The tension in my body faded.

“It sounds marvelous, but I should talk to my lord before I commit.” Roar and I might have to go over last-minute details before the ball.

“Very well. Do you need my help to find your room?”

“No, thank you.” I’d paid attention on the way here, determined to learn my way around the palace so I’d always be able to escape if anyone chased me again.

We parted, and I rushed through the hallways, hoping that the queen had excused Roar too, and he had already arrived in our chambers. Then he’d be able to reassure me.

When I reached our wing, I increased my pace and barreled into our room, chest heaving. Just as I’d wished, he was present, pacing the middle of the sitting area. Clemencia was there too, watching him, her eyebrows drawn together with worry.

“Clem, can you give us a moment?” I asked.

Right away, she rose and left the room.

“What happened?” Roar gritted out the moment my bedroom door closed, leaving us with privacy.

“I’ll tell you, but first, you must answer my question.” I met his gaze firmly.

Roar snorted. “Must I?”

“The queen tried to get into my head.” I’d expected his face to pale, for him to take a seat and despair, for him to worry as I did.

Instead, he shrugged. “She isn’t supposed to use that power on the families of the Sacred Eight, her own children aside, of course. However, I suppose you do not qualify yet. It is a good thing that I have dosed your wine against her power on many occasions.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Excuse me?”

Roar glared at me. “You really expected me to let you loose at court without taking precautions? The queen has the strongest mind magic in the kingdom. Of course she would be interested in you, and though you can presently lie, you cannot hide your thoughts from her. Not without the potion I gave you.”

“You could have asked me. In fact, you should have.” My fists balled up tightly.