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He embraces me. “I like the idea of giving him a service too. Anything you need, let me know.” And with that, he leaves.

I look around the room, my heart still heavy but with a little hope now. My mom might actually come back to Valora! She probably won’t stay at the castle, but I doubt she’d want to after everything. Maybe she could get a small house. That would be fun—just the two of us. And we could invite my friends over. It’d be so much fun to do things we never could when my dad was around.

At least things are looking up now. I may not have come into my full powers yet, but that’s fine. I don’t need to be a carbon copy of Queen Sirena. I’m Marra Ayers, and I have plenty that others don’t have.

I go into my closet with a bounce and flip through the dresses, looking for something that isn’t over the top fancy. Something more like the leather outfit I wore under my dress the other night.

Nothing.

Groaning, look again. The last thing I want is to go back to the academy wearing a dress that gives the impression I think I’m better than everyone else.

Still nothing.

I need to see if one of the servants can bring me something casual to wear, so I go back into my room to call for one. One is making my bed. I gasp in surprise.

She turns to me and bows. “I’m sorry to startle you, your highness.”

“Don’t be. Can you bring me something that’s more appropriate for me to wear to the academy? A skirt and a nice shirt, maybe?”

“I think we have something along those lines.” She bows again. “Can I get you anything else while I’m out?”

“No, but thanks.” I work on my hair and makeup while waiting for her to come back.

She holds up an academy uniform. “Look what I found, your majesty.”

“You’re the best!” I leap up, take the outfit, and get dressed in the closet.

When I’m done, she’s tidying the room. “Would you like me to call for a car to drive you?”

“Actually, not yet. I’ve heard rumors about a secret library. Can you take me there?”

Her eyes nearly pop out of her head. “I, uh—I’m not sure.”

“I’m heir to the throne, right?”

She nods. “Yes, my lady.”

“Then if there’s a secret library, shouldn’t I have access?”

“Let me make a call.” She picks up the phone by my bed and whispers into it before turning back to me. “The king has given orders to make sure you’re given anything you ask for.”

“I want to visit the hidden library.”

The servant bows. “Follow me.”

My heart races. Although, I have to wonder at how secret the library actually is if this random servant knows where it is. She leads me through two different wings and stops when we cross paths with a servant who looks older than time itself. She whispers to him.

He bows to me. “I will take you the rest of the way, Princess Marra.”

“Thank you.”

We make our way to a dim and narrow hall that leads down a winding staircase and through an even darker corridor. We go through several rooms and a maze of creepy hallways.

I’m certain I could never find my way back—or out.

We come to a door decorated with carvings of mermen and merwomen. He pushes on the handle and the door opens with a creak. “You may enter.”

My breath hitches. “By myself?”