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“All that from some chicken? Sheesh.” I try to joke but earn myself a kick in the shins instead.

I groan, this isn’t going to go down well. “What color are the king's eyes to you?”

“Brown,” she says, as if I’m stupid. “Brown like the Erdu earth. Why?”

“Okay. What does he look like?”

She raises her hands in the air in an exasperated half-shrug. “Tall. Dark brown hair kept short on the sides with a—” She gestures at the top of her head. “—floopy bit up here. Roundish face, large and wide nose, no facial hair. What in the Divine, Mika?”

She’s describing the king, except for his eyes. I see those violet eyes, and she doesn’t.

I open my mouth to say it, but I can’t. Maybe I didn’t see his eyes properly. It’s not like I really looked at them.

Tovi flicks a pea at me. “Tell me,” she demands, pointing at me with the chicken then taking another bite.

Taking a deep breath, I hold it for a few seconds, then let everything out in a rush. “I see his eyes as violet like a Gifted Patron of the Divine but I see him as everything else you describe except his eyes and maybe I didn’t see them properly but I’m pretty sure I did and what if I just found out my Gift is that I can see through glamors or something and there’s someone masquerading as the King Oferdu?” I finish with a squeak and then take a deep breath. “Tovi, am I insane?”

Eyes and mouth wide open, she stares at me, her eyes flicking off to the side periodically. Swallowing her mouthful of chicken and squeezing her eyes shut. “What? Repeat that again, slowly.”

When I’m finished, she looks no different than when I said it the first time.

“Tovi!” I whine when she still hasn’t said anything.

“I’m thinking!” she hisses back. “No one has said anything about him having violet eyes before.”

“I know.”

“Not even a whisper of a rumor.”

“I know.”

“We—Riley, Beans, Bitty, and I—have been here so many times and none of them have ever said anything either. They would have if they saw it too…”

“I know!”

“No wonder the chicken felt anxious.”

I growl and push her with my foot, digging my toes into the side of her thigh until she slaps at me.

“You should ask the prince when you see him. Surely if dear old daddy Erdu is acting differently, he would be the one to know?”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

We sleep most of the day away, not waking for breakfast. Someone is clearing our untouched breakfast plates and leaving lunch when we finally wake. Again, we gorge ourselves on the food. A giant tray of fresh fruit, spiced yogurt, and a jar of honey. Plus, some kind of hot drink that I haven’t had before that’s darker than tea, with a bitter yet slightly fruity flavor.

Tovi and I are stretching on the ground together after dinner, coming up with wild reasons why I can see violet eyes on the king when a maid enters.

“Mika, Prince Eryn has requested your services tonight in one hour. Please prepare yourself and get changed into these.” Without waiting for a response, the woman places a pile of fabric on a side table and quickly leaves, her short brown hair the only thing I actually remember about her.

“Interesting,” Tovi says as she examines the pile. “You’re sure the prince isn’t trying to fuck you, Mika?” she chuckles with slight concern crinkled around her eyes.

Tovi holds up a tiny nightdress that shimmers a dark green shade, and a small bit of beige-colored lace in the other.

“What is that?” I hiss.

“Your outfit, apparently. At least there’s a large, black cloak to go with it.”

I groan as I snatch the clothing and head for the washroom.