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The servants delivered a well-proportioned plate of lobster, roasted potatoes, and fresh greens to the table. Naia’s appetite was nonexistent, squandered down by an awful feeling knotting in her chest. Every muscle in her body was tense as she overheard Astrid’s cackle on the far end of the table.

Among the sea of narrow tables lining the great hall, Solaris and his attendants were seated in the front. Every so often, her eyes caught his, and he smiled.

“Solaris,” Astrid’s mink-like voice called out, “did you enjoy your gift?”

Solaris took a swig of his wine before positioning his body to regard her. “I am not sure what gift you are referring to.”

Naia’s heartbeat snagged.

“You did not receive it then?” Vex asked.

Solaris’s gaze flashed between Astrid and Vex with uncertainty. “I suppose I did not.”

“The gift was a canister of your favorite pastries.” Astrid turned to Mira. Her bottom lip jutted out in a pout. “Mother.”

“Did anyone perhaps notice the canister around the palace grounds?” Mira spoke loud across the hall.

Everyone fell quiet.

“I did.” Malik rose from the table, seated four spots down from Naia. He turned and pointed his finger at her. “It was Sister. The canister was in her possession when I last saw it.”

Blood rushed to Naia’s head. Betrayal and disappointment stung tears in her eyes. Gods, I knew it.

Naia could feel Mira’s frigid glare nipping at her cheek, waiting for an explanation.

Solaris looked right at her, conflict warring across his face.

She stared at him for a long second, baffled by his silence. Mira would be lenient if he took responsibility. He was a guest. And he was the son of a goddess she was supposed to be maintaining peace with—for the sake of the lesson inflicted upon them by the curse. Something Solaris was aware of, and yet, he hesitated to take responsibility for the misunderstanding.

“Naia,” Mira said. “Did you steal Lord Solaris’s gift?”

Naia, the gluttonous goddess. Of course she had. It was what everyone thought, and if she blamed Solaris, they would only scoff and claim she was being defensive. In their eyes, Solaris, known for his honesty and goodness, would have spoken up otherwise.

“Yes,” Naia confessed. “I stole the canister.”

Endure the punishment and it will be over.

Mira rose from her seat.

“It is fine, Lady Mira.” Solaris stood as well. “I know of Naia’s love for sweets. I would’ve given them to her, anyway.”

Naia followed the sound of Mira’s heels clicking along the platform. Her wrath was like a steel plate gradually pushing against Naia’s back.

“Mira,” Naia’s father slowly stood from his chair.

The clicking of Mira’s heels came to a stop close behind Naia.

She gulped down her nerves before forcing out, “Mother, I?—”

Liquid, the color of sea berries, sprang up in the air from the crystal chalices across the hall like blowholes. Each current swiftly banded together as a wide canal and advanced for Naia, the sound of it like a roaring waterfall.

“Mira!” Father boomed as the wine plunged into Naia.

She tried to scream, but the liquid crammed down her throat. The force threw her over in her chair. The sting of the wine burned her eyes. Her hands fumbled to grab onto something. The flow of the wine barreled into her stomach and seeped from her nostrils. The muffled sounds of her choking echoed in her ears. A rock of pressure sat in her skull. She attempted to push the current from her airways to no avail.

Panic lit like a match in her veins. Her knees shook against the floor. She implored all her strength to push against the momentum, but the current was too strong.

Someone please help me!