Page 52

Kahn-Der grabbed her by her Lyro coat.

Shayne burst into the room. “What are you doing?” he demanded as Kahn-Der dragged Panola across the dining room. Panola only laughed.

“Don’t stop him, Brother!” she called to Shayne. “He doesn’t have what it takes to be an heir, and he doesn’t have what it takes to destroy me, either.” She was yanked into the side entrance stairwell that led up to the pagoda roof.

Shayne decided to let them go. He shook his head as the sounds of her laughter echoed down the stairs. He turned to head back to his room, grabbing a handful of squish fruits on his way. He shoved them into his mouth and chewed them the whole walk back through the maze.

Panola was just trying to rile Kahn-Der up. Shayne had never been more sure of anything. He decided not to be worried about his sister’s claims—about the idea that their father would hand the role of heir to Shayne.

That was, until the next morning when Shayne learned Panola was dead.

Word spread through the House, making the lesser fairy servants stir and putting the hunter fairies on edge. Hans-Der stormed through the spaces, a menacing sight for all to behold. Fairies were questioned; investigators searched rooms. Shayne stayed back and watched as his room was torn apart by hired officials in blue robes.

A trial was held. Hans-Der placed every suspect into a line before his High Lords’ seat. Shayne was among them. So was Kahn-Der, Jethwire, and Massie.

Shayne peered over at Massie. The youngest Lyro appeared far too delighted at the sight of all the chaos. Jethwire, too, had reasons to hate Panola. She’d recently ousted him for betting with other young lords and collecting rare, magical items, some of which were banned in the North Corner of Ever.

But though Panola had shouted through the House, only Shayne hadseenwhat had happened the day before. And as Kahn-Der leaned forward and glanced down the line, he locked gazes with Shayne. The oldest Lyro brother’s icy eyes held a reminder. It was of Panola’s voice, saying,“Let’s die together then. Tonight.”

Shayne had stayed quiet throughout the trial. He had not given his testimony. He did not point Kahn-Der’s way. He wondered all the while if their father suspected Kahn-Der anyway.

Because the next day, Hans-Der sent an announcement through the House on crimson parchment. It arrived at Shayne’s door in the hand of a lesser fairy. The scroll read:

THE HEIR HAS BEEN SELECTED.

SHAYNE LYRO SHALL INHERIT THE HIGHEST CHAIR IN THE HOUSE.

That marked the day Shayne made a very important discovery.

Panola had never truly been naturally loud or crazy or insolent. She’d been brilliant.

Even as a childling she’d set herself up to avoid the one thing she didn’t want. She made sure she’d be free of the chair and the chains that came with it. Panola Lyro would have gotten away with it, too, if she’d just kept her mouth shut one more week.

Shayne dropped his crimson notice in disbelief.

It wasn’t too late. He was still young. Eight years was a long time, time enough to convince every watching eye that he was not the quiet, calculated being they knew him to be. It was more than enough time to walk the halls of the House without composure. To shout, and meddle, and attack, and toss tables. And laugh…

Oh, how Shayne wanted to laugh. To be free, like Panola. To be loud, just like her.

“Well done, Sister,” he whispered into his dark, ripped-apart bedroom.

And he laughed.

He laughed until his stomach hurt. And then he laughed some more.

The sound of his laughter lifted across his room, through the hall of the maze, filled every nook of the ballroom and the dining room and the basement and the balconies, making heads turn and servants go still.

Perhaps it was because they thought they heard a ghost.

20

Lily Baker and the Promise

Lily’s braids were soaked with rain the day she ran into the hospital lobby. She nearly slipped over the floors from the water on her running shoes. She flew against the reception desk, and the lady there looked her over.

“I’m here for Katherine and Jessica Lewis,” she stated. She yanked her hands back when she realized she’d flung droplets of water onto the desk. “They were in a car accident a few hours ago.”

The receptionist made a face. “You look too young to be here by yourself. Did you come here with a parent?”