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“Let me guess,” I said. “King Oberon sent that for me to wear to the ball.”

After the enraging experience with Queen Hannah, Morgan had taken me through my itinerary for the next month, the lead-up to the wedding and coronation.

There were to be a series of lavish balls, the first of which was tonight. This one was intended to “introduce me to the court” as King Oberon’s newest betrothed. The future Mortal Queen, the fifth to take the title. King Oberon would parade me around with the expectation that I remain silent and subservient.

“If you do anything at all, Tessa, he will retaliate. I know this is hard for you, but I want to make sure that you understand this is not a threat. It’s the reality of your situation,” Morgan had whispered fiercely to me before she’d left me alone to stew in my thoughts for the rest of the day.

But as I looked at the gem-covered gown now, rage threatened to burn away the logic of her words. If they wanted to make me their queen, they were going to have to kill me.

“Is something wrong?” Raven asked, her eyes widening.

I blinked, forcing my dark thoughts away. “No, it’s beautiful. I just...well, I thought the king was particular about his gemstones.”

She nodded. “He honors his future queen by allowing you to wear them.”

Honor? It was a far cry from that. Raven must not have heard what I’d done.

“It’s not that. He caught me stealing from the chasm.”

Her eyes nearly popped out of her head, and then her gaze swept across me. “Oh. I see. And so he chose you. That makes a lot of sense.”

What a strange thing to say. “It does?”

“Yes.” She nodded vigorously. “I did think that you don’t suit him. What he likes, I mean—someone more like Queen Hannah. I wasn’t alive for the others, of course, but I’ve seen portraits. Well, I’m sure you have, too. Or do you not have books in Teine?”

“We have books, but I haven’t seen the portraits. I just…I would think he’d want a bride who was more amenable than someone who stole from him. He has to spend the next seventy-five years with me.”

Raven cast her eyes to the floor. “Well, it isn’t as though your agreeableness will matter after the—”

“Maidservant,” Morgan cut in from the open doorway. “The Eversun Ball has already begun, and King Oberon is waiting for his betrothed. He would not be happy to find out the reason why she is late.”

I frowned out at Morgan, whose frosty eyes avoided meeting mine. “Don’t threaten Raven. It was my fault. I was asking her questions.”

Morgan arched a brow, her gaze finally meeting mine. “Raven?”

“Isn’t it about time she had a name?”

Raven stood up a little straighter, but then she deflated again when she saw the look of pure venom on Morgan’s face.

“Absolutely not. Maidservant, leave us now. Our future queen will dress herself.”

Raven passed the dress to Morgan and rushed out of the door, her hands flying to her cheeks. I fisted my hands, watching as Morgan quietly closed the door behind her.

“You cannot do things like that,” she hissed, shoving the gown into my hands. “And you cannot ask so many questions. Get dressed. And do it quickly. King Oberon is waiting, and he is not pleased.”

“We spoke for a few moments at most,” I argued back. “And what’s the harm in calling her something other than Maidservant, especially in the privacy of this room, where you told me I could speak freely?”

Morgan heaved out a sigh and rolled her eyes up at the ceiling. “She could tell someone. Then you’ll bear the brunt of his wrath, and so will she.”

Chills engulfed my entire body. “For just giving her a name?”

“He is an Albyrian light fae, Tessa. They are cruel and wicked and do not look upon humans as actual living beings with independent thought. You are the same as cattle.”

“Youare a light fae,” I whispered back. “And even cattle are named.”

She chuckled and shook her head. “You humans might name your cattle, but we certainly do not.”

“You’re all just monsters, aren’t you?”