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There was another way, but it would mean putting someone other than herself first, and Ava knew her aunt was incapable of that.

Herron was suddenly beside her, roughly grasping her arm. “You leave the queen’s presence when the queen tells you that you can leave.” He gave her a shake.

“What’s she going to do?” Ava asked, lifting mocking eyes up at him. “Have me killed?”

The queen laughed from her perch on the throne. “I really am sorry I’m forced to kill you, Ava. And Herron, I’ll remember you are responsible for this situation. I won’t forget. Take your hands off her and don’t touch her again.”

“What do you want done with her.” Herron let go but he was still standing too close.

“Balrick knows what to do. It’s none of your concern.”

Ava started walking again and Herron started after her, getting to the door in time to open it.

“You should wear your best clothes tomorrow to see me murdered,” Ava told him as she stepped out into the airy atrium. “You’ll want to make a good impression given how angry the queen is at you. Something beautiful and ornate.” She gestured to his jacket. “You’ll never have a jacket like that again when I am gone. I’m the last of my line.”

Herron stared at her for a moment, then turned on his heel and stalked off.

When she had conceived of embroidering the shirt she had made for him, she had never envisaged being in Fernwell to see it work.

But now, Luc and her lives depended on his wearing it.

At least her mother’s magic in his jacket meant he would most likely wear the shirt tomorrow, if he had it.

The final gift from her mother, from the grave.

Chapter 38

Lucinde didn’t ask her how she’d slept, or engage in any chitchat with her at all when she arrived the next morning with breakfast.

Ava respected that.

There was nothing either of them could do about her situation, no matter what anyone thought of it.

She had tried to get access to a needle, but needles were sharp, and Balrick must have thought she planned to use it as some kind of weapon.

She had, but not in the way he thought.

Ava ate the fruit and pastry and looked for the shirt that Lucinde had taken yesterday. The only thing for her to wear was the silk dress with the embroidered flowers and birds on it.

When Lucinde came back in, she clicked her tongue at the fact that Ava hadn’t gotten dressed yet.

“I’m looking for my shirt and trousers.”

“Oh.” She shook her head. “The queen doesn’t want that. She wants you to look like her niece. Like a princess.”

Ava did not try to hide her disappointment, but she pulled on the dress. What Lucinde meant was her aunt was going to use her to strike fear into her court’s hearts. It didn’t matter how high you ranked, you could still be executed.

It would be harder to make that stick if Ava was in a plain shirt and pants.

“Do you know when the Commander of the Rising Wave is due to arrive?” she asked.

Lucinde shook her head. “Not my business.” She led Ava out the room again, and once again two guards followed behind.

As they reached the ground floor of the high atrium, one of the guards tripped on the last step, and fell with a shout.

His companion bent to help him. Lucinde turned as well.

“I’m telling you, I felt a foot. It had to have been you.” The fallen guard glared up at his partner.