Chapter 150
Kit’s lips were a little sore after all of the ribbons were traded in, but she was glad to have it out of the way and thankful Pierce had only managed to get two ribbons. She could tell by his expression he was angry that his scheme had not worked out, but she wasn’t in the mood to feel even the least bit sorry for a cheater who didn’t get to cheat.
Back in her chambers, Kit’s muscles rippled with exhaustion. Not only was she physically spent from running through the maze, and from her exertion in the carriage, dealing with her mother was enough to leave her needing a nap all on her own.
That wouldn’t happen though.
As soon as the interior chamber door clicked closed, Avinia spun to face Seph, who was standing with her hands covering her face. Kit froze in the doorway, not sure what was happening. “What did she say?” her cousin asked. “Why did she wish to see you alone?”
Realizing Seph’s tardiness had to do with being summoned by the queen, Kit crossed the room to rest a hand on Seph’s slender shoulder. “What is it, Seph? You need to tell us.”
Tears streaked her pretty face as she finally turned toward them. She wiped at her cheeks with the back of her hand. In a quiet voice, she replied, “The queen has ordered me to enter Eli’s chambers tonight, precisely at 2:35 in the morning so that her guards can burst in and catch us together.” She hardly got the words out before she broke into tears. Kit collected her, pressing Seph’s head to her shoulder and stroking her hair while a fire stoked within her.
“Obviously, we can’t let that happen,” Isla said, sitting on the edge of Kit’s bed.
“How will we prevent it?” Seph asked, pulling up to look at them. “If I don’t do it, she’ll have my head—or throw me in the dungeon. And if I do do it....”
She didn’t have to finish the sentence, which was just as well because her tears caught up to her again before she could. “It’s all right, Seph. We’ll think of something,” Avinia assured her.
“Yes, we will think of something.” Kit continued to comfort her lady-in-waiting while she pondered how absolutely low her mother had gone this time. While she’d always been aware that her mother wished Eli were out of the picture, the fact that she was willing to go to such great lengths to make it appear as if he were cheating on Kit during her Choosing was abominable.
Once Seph had control of herself, Kit brushed her hair off of her dampened cheek and took a seat next to Isla. “It would help if I knew precisely who I had at my disposal, but thus far, not enough has been revealed to me to let me know what cards I may hold.”
“We should let Eli know,” Isla advised. “He will come up with a plan.”
Kit thought back to the conversation they’d had in the carriage. Would he come up with a solution, or would he roll over and give up? An idea entered her head, and she wouldn’t need Eli’s help in pulling it off, though he would have to know eventually. Turning to Avinia, she asked, “Do I have any councilwomen on board?”
Avinia looked at her skeptically, as if she were trying to figure out why the princess was asking, before her head rocked back and forth.
“Good,” Kit nodded. “Then I have an idea.”
“One that will spare Seph and Eli?” Isla clarified.
“I believe so, and one that should keep from embarrassing my mother, though I’m certain she’ll know I’m on to her—if she hasn’t figured it out already.”
“After that announcement you just made, how could she have any doubt?” Avinia pointed out.
Kit had been bold in proclaiming Eli the winner, but it had been necessary, and hopefully she had come across as naïve to her mother, not scheming. After this, though, there would be no room to question her daughter’s treachery. If the plan in her head worked out as she had it envisioned, there would still be some room for coincidence, but she had a feeling Rona would know for certain that her daughter was coming for her, one way or another.
