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“Are you serious?” I exclaim. “That’s what it’s all about?”

He nods. “And now that I think about it, you’re right. You should sit where you have been all along.”

A fire burns in the pit of my stomach. “Now I want to sit with you more than ever.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He kisses me, then nudges me toward Halen, who’s already at the table with our friends.

I take my seat, and answer a slew of questions. All basically the same as I’ve already answered in the hallways. I sit as tall as possible and glance over at Earwig every so often, and each time she’s scowling. For whatever reason, knowing that the whole academy has heard about her defeating me isn’t enough. Maybe she’s actually irritated that I’m here eating, looking like I’m in no pain. Or perhaps she’s jealous—either that I have a trident or about my hair.

I twist some around my hand, not at all used to the new length or the color. Totally in love with it, but not used to it.

Once the meal ends, Halen leans over. “Ready to go to the suite?”

“I feel too good to rest. Do you want to practice sparring with me?”

Her eyes widen. “You do realize that you only feel good because of the medicine, right?”

“May as well take advantage of it.”

“You need to study. Tomorrow is Middlebrooks’s quiz.”

“It seems so insignificant now.”

“Let your body recover. We can see about practicing this afternoon.”

“I’m up for it.”

“Have you seen your wounds?” she exclaims. “I hate to be rude, but they look horrible.”

I straighten my shoulders. “I don’t feel like resting or studying.”

“You really feel like making academy life as hard as possible for yourself, don’t you?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I narrow my eyes.

“It means that you don’t know anything about the quizzes or how classes run. You haven’t even been back for a week. Settle in and take my advice—I know what I’m talking about, and I want the best for you.”

I give her a hug. “And I love you for that, but I need to find my own way. I won’t make a good queen if I just follow all the rules, will I?” I freeze, realizing what I just said. Am I beginning to accept my fate as the future queen?

Halen frowns. “I suppose not. But think about it before you do anything crazy. Even if you don’t go back to the dorm and sleep it off, don’t go back to the trident. Let me go with you later. We’ll read up on it, then practice with your new knowledge. That’s what’s going to give you the advantage over her.”

“I’ll take it easy for now. I promise.”

Bash comes over and wraps his arms around me. “My band is going to jam, but Neva has a family emergency and can’t join us. Do you want to stand in for her?”

“Me? I don’t sing.”

He kisses my cheek. “You’ll be fine.”

Halen arches an eyebrow. “This I have to see.”

“I thought you needed to rest.”

“I can spare another hour.”

“Perfect.” Bash gives a thumbs-up to his friends.

I glance at Halen, who looks giddy. She waves our friends over.

What have I gotten myself into?