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I folded my arms over my chest and gave her a serene smile. “You only say that because you don’t know me.”

“The Angel of Chaos, Goddess and Demon of Telepathy…” She made a derisive noise. “Is all that supposed to impress me?”

“I don’t waste my time trying to impress people like you, Lavinia,” I countered, still smiling.

“PrincessLavinia,” she said with an acidic smile. “Since we’re naming titles.”

“Very well, then,PrincessLavinia.” I grabbed a champagne glass off a passing server, then lifted it in the air. “Cheers. And may the best princess win.”

“Don’t worry,” she simpered, looking overly fond of herself. “I will.”

I glanced at Aspen. “I see what you mean about her. Good thing she’ll never be Queen.”

“I heard about what happened at the notary,” Lavinia hissed. “But Aspen having her paperwork in order won’t help her. She missed the deadline. The Committee members have already convened. They’ve already selected the candidates for the Court. So everything you’ve done to help Aspen—everything you’ve done to meddle in our affairs, outsider—is for nought.”

For nought? Did people actually talk like that nowadays? Apparently so, on Planet Royal.

I smiled back at Princess Unpleasant. “We’ll see.”

Lavinia humphed, then pivoted away, her skirts swirling after her.

Angel was back, and she looked pretty tempted to attack those skirts.

“Best not,” I warned her. “You might get cooties if you touch her.”

Angel sat back down on her hind legs, sulking.

“Snacks?” Sierra asked, holding up a plate.

“What did you find?” I asked her, taking a closer look.

“Chocolate.” Sierra showed me her teeth. They were coated in melted chocolate.

“Good idea. We need to keep our energy up.” I took the chocolate ball she offered me. “It is going to be a long night.”

CHAPTER 8

SPECTACLE

The evening progressed with more fine dining and music. I was on my fifth prepackaged piece of pretentious chocolate when a scream sliced through the ballroom. The orchestra stopped playing. Everyone stopped to stare. They were staring at Lavinia. She was the one who’d screamed.

“Guards!” the princess shouted, her eyes wide with terror. “Kill them!”

Two nearby guards exchanged confused looks.

“Don’t just stand there and do nothing!” she shouted at them. “Kill the spiders!”

The guards scanned the ballroom. They blinked.

“What spiders?” one of them asked.

“Thosespiders!” Lavinia said, pointing in front of her.

The other guard looked, then declared, “There’s nothing there.”

“What are you talking about?” Lavinia growled. “There are four enormous black spiders right there. And they’re coming right toward me. Get them! Kill them!” She ducked behind the guards.

The two men looked at each other again.