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For the last three nights, Mer had barricaded the doors and then slept on the floor with a knife she’d stolen from Laos Keep. Nightmares plagued Mer, so she was just as tired when she woke up in the morning.

Mazie had even commented on the dark circles beneath Mer’s eyes. The warrior knew something was wrong but couldn’t figure out what it was. Mer wouldn’t be telling her either. While she really liked Mazie, she knew the king had planted her into Mer’s lady’s maids to spy.

She growled and pushed out of the large chair by the fire. Mer paced, feeling like her skin was too tight for her body. Too many things were spiraling out of control.

The king didn’t remember Ream. His death had been so insignificant that the king didn’t even know he’d destroyed Mer in the process.

Phia was still missing and in the clutches of Duke Keventin.

Mer had no way of reaching the coast to continue her inquiries about Ceto.

The dowager queen expected Mer to become a Methian queen.

She had no true friends.

And . . . she felt herself softening toward Raziel.

It was a betrayal to Ream.

Mer leaned heavily against the back of the chair and squeezed her eyes shut. Grief came in waves. Some days, she only ached. At other times, the pain was so excruciating, Mer could hardly function.

Just breathe.

With difficulty, Mer slowed her breathing and managed to calm her racing pulse. By the time she’d come out of the spell, the fire had burned down to coals.

A knock sounded at the door, and she quickly wiped the tears from her face. Mer walked to the door and opened it.

Three Methian lady’s maids, including Mazie. Mer barely kept from rolling her eyes. The dowager queen had sicced them on her once again. They were a good source of information, but Mer wasn’t in the mood for engaging in idle gossip. She had plans.

“I am about to lie down and rest for a bit,” she said with a small smile.

The youngest of the lady’s maids, Mariah, nodded a bit too vigorously, her light brown curls bouncing around her round face. “Of course. We will visit later, my lady.”

Mazie arched a brow. “Can I bring you some tea, my queen? It might help.”

Mer shook her head no. The last thing she needed was the warrior poking around in her room. “No, thank you.”

“Alright. We will visit you once you’ve rested,” Mazie said, her tone somewhat begrudging.

Translation:you’re not getting rid of me.

Mer smiled gratefully and closed the door, locking it. She turned and leaned her back on the wood, sighing. She had to move quickly. Mazie was as suspicious as they came.

She glanced at the huge four-poster bed. While she would love a nap, there was much to do.

A grin curled her lips.

Today, she’d steal afiilee.

After the last few weeks of teasing information out of her lady’s maids, servants, courtiers, and merchants, Mer settled on one irrevocable truth.

Being bonded with a flying feline waseverythingto the Methian people.

While Mer had no plans to leave the king without exacting her full vengeance, she thought it wise to have a means of escape. Especially after the last few days.

Being locked away with one’s own thoughts was torture. She needed something to keep her mind occupied. She’d already searched through all the books on Raziel’s shelves, and none held any hints or information on the Ceto legend.

Mer pushed away from the door and sidled toward the bed. She lifted the mattress up and yanked out the makeshift rope she had been working on.