39

ELLIE STEPPED BACK, CONTEMPLATING HER work with a tilt of her head, black hair flopping to the side in wet inky clumps.

Their dorm room was fully aglow, come back to life after its hibernation over the summer, filled to the brim with books and clothes, socks on the dark-wood floor, which was making its familiar creaks, while the sound of students drifted into their motley hideaway on a breeze that smelled of flowers. Yet it felt like they were seeing it through an old TV. A fake happy, a “play pretend” that they were all following along with for each other’s sake.

“Done.” With one last snip Ellie chewed her lip, looking down at Lottie, absently fiddling with a strand by her chin, her mind already drifting off again.

The voice in Lottie’s head hissed again, wondering if the truth had been too much, if she’d done this all wrong.

They had dealt with the worst of Ellie’s panda eyes, though a faint black shadow still lingered, stuck to her like a tattoo under the skin. She was pretending it hadn’t happened, but the evidence was there, the effect this news had had on her, on all of them. But she was trying to pretend she was okay, and somehow that made Lottie feel even worse.

“You ready to see?” Ellie asked.

Lottie nodded determinedly, ready to embrace the new her and everything that came with it.

Liliana’s sword was safely hidden under her bed, and thinking about it made her feel a spark of relief, reminding her of the allies she had across the sea. The first thing she’d done when they got back to the room was message Sayuri; it was late in Japan, so she didn’t expect an answer anytime soon, although she was desperate for it, knowing that Sayuri more than anyone else would be able to help her make some sense of all this.

She still hadn’t told anyone what Ingrid had said in the Rose Wood, about Leviathan’s final plan; she knew she would have to eventually, but she hadn’t completely made peace with it herself, and it was clear from everyone’s reaction that no one was ready to hear it yet.

“I’m ready,” Lottie said, turning toward the mirror.

It was perfect; all the strands the sword had missed had now been cut sharply and precisely, framing her face in a way that made her look older, leaner.

Fresh, clean, open. That’s what it felt like, and it’s exactly what she needed to be, who she needed to be.

“I love it so much.” Lottie spun back to her princess, trying to ignore the shadows at the edge of the room. “Thank you, Ellie.” She beamed at her again, hoping the smile would cover up her inner thoughts, but it was clear by the way Ellie returned the gesture that they were both doing the same thing.

“Okay. Your turn,” Lottie said, taking the scissors from Ellie.

The two girls switched places, Ellie taking a seat and wrapping the towel over her shoulders like a royal cape.

Scissors in hand, Lottie felt the power of them, the importance of this moment.

The truth had changed them, and she needed to make sure it was for the better. If they were going to confront Claude, they needed to rid themselves of everything they thought they knew, everything about the Maravish family. Ellie’s family.

As Lottie snipped carefully, meticulously checking the length, Ellie could feel the spell of calm taking over—and it was not long before Ellie drifted off, her head flopping sideways like a doll. Each sleepy breath was like a lullaby to Lottie, calm and comforting, and she hoped Ellie could find peace in her dreams. Satisfied, she held a chopped lock of inky hair in the palm of her hand and blew it away.

Putting the scissors down, she placed her hands on Ellie’s shoulders, leaning over until they were face-to-face, their breath mingling together while she slept.

The wolf pendant glittered, dangling over Ellie’s neck, anchoring her to the Rose Wood, to everything that had happened.

“Why is Jamie your Partizan?”

Ingrid’s question grew in her mind like a distant rumble of thunder, a gray cloud looming over her that she couldn’t ignore.

Why would Claude want revenge?

Would he really want to commit murder?

What could lead a person to do such a thing?

And again the one question she knew meant something, snarling lips whispering in her ear with insidious knowing, toying with her. “Why is Jamie your Partizan?”

The words repeated in her head, but this time they weren’t Ingrid’s; it was Lottie’s own voice. It felt like a clue, the first part of a bigger riddle, a magic spell that would open a hidden door, and she leaned in so close that their eyelashes almost touched. “Why is Jamie your Partizan?” she whispered.

A gentle knocking at the door made Lottie jump and sent her scurrying to answer.

“Hey,” she said softly, opening the door slowly so as not to wake Ellie.

She wasn’t sure who she expected, and she probably should have been more surprised to see Jamie breaking the rules by being in the girls’ dorm, but all she felt was relief.

“Hey,” he said back, his voice barely above a breath. She nearly laughed when she noticed the big black cat in his arms, nuzzling him. She carefully slipped out and stroked Vampy. “Ellie’s sleeping, so we need to be quiet. Do you wanna head out to the pond?”

Jamie nodded, peeping over Lottie’s shoulder, a strange expression on his face when he saw Ellie in the chair.

“I figure she needs a rest after the news,” Lottie said, the two of them closing the door behind them.

The school was officially back to life, new and returning students filling up the hallways, sun-kissed skin and designer clothes, golf carts carrying giant suitcases fit to burst. None of them could possibly imagine everything they’d been through that summer.

“You know what?” Jamie said as they sat on the bench in front of the fountain. “Sometimes I’m glad I don’t have any family.”

Lottie spluttered, hardly believing Jamie could have said such a thing, before she added with a dark realization, “Me too actually.”

Ryley the stag watched them curiously, the bronze flesh of the Ivy mascot rippling with the water’s reflection, rose petals from the surrounding bushes swimming at his feet.

She wasn’t confused anymore, at least she could say that much. They weren’t in the dark about Leviathan and what they wanted; it was all becoming clearer, and they were stepping into the truth together. And yet, even as she thought it, she felt that fear again for Ellie.

Vampy let out a grumpy meow, squirming until Jamie put him down.

“Will he be all right in the school?” Lottie asked, watching as he sprinted off to find some food.

“I think he can look after himself mostly,” Jamie replied, scowling at Vampy, but she could tell he liked him just as much as she did. “We’ll be heading back to Maradova this coming weekend,” Jamie said. “Nikolay took the news, so I’m afraid I don’t know what the royal reaction was. We’ll have to wait and see for ourselves.”

“And you?” she asked. “How do you feel about all this?”

Jamie didn’t answer at first, staring out into the water.

“You said Ingrid wasn’t my enemy, and you were right,” he replied cryptically.

“It’s a relief to know that it’s Claude, even if it’s hard to digest.”

Jamie nodded, but once again she saw anger crack over him like thunder, and it made her nervous.

“I’ll make sure they pay, whoever’s responsible for this.”

Before Lottie could register what was happening, Jamie was holding a lock of her freshly cut hair and staring at the cut on her cheek with such intensity it made her dizzy.

All the sounds of the school melted away, and the scent of roses and cinnamon was so powerful she thought she might choke.

“Jamie, I—”

Lottie wasn’t entirely sure what she was going to say; all she knew in that moment was that she was truly afraid. It was a fear for Ellie and Jamie, a fear that she’d made a terrible mistake in discovering the truth, and a fear that even though she’d uncovered the mystery she still felt like she knew nothing at all. But before she could get the words out, someone called to her.

“Ah, Lottie, I’m glad I caught you before the opening speech,” Professor Devine announced, her piercing soprano voice like birdsong. Jamie quickly released her lock of hair, the two of them turning away, the brief moment vanishing as fast as it had happened. “I heard you had a little tumble in the Rose Wood. I’ll overlook this time that you were beyond school boundaries. I think your injuries are punishment enough, hmm?” The professor looked at her pointedly, sharp eyes darting between her and Jamie. “How are you feeling?”

The question felt loaded, dripping with a million possible answers. The truth was a good thing, and with a deep intake of breath she told herself for the first time in a long time: I will be kind, I will be brave, I will be unstoppable.

“I actually feel great, Professor. I hope you had a lovely summer.”

“Yes, yes, I did, thank you, Lottie, and that’s wonderful.” The professor waved her hand through the air absentmindedly. “Now, I was wondering if you two could help me with something. We have a new arrival who I think you might know. It would be lovely if you two could show him around the school. He’s in my office right now—do please come along and meet him.”

A prickly spider began to crawl along Lottie’s skin, a nervous feeling she couldn’t shake, and with it the chirping of cicadas, a scorching-hot sun and the sleepy, disarming smell of lilies.

“Yes, of course,” Lottie said, she and Jamie getting up to follow Professor Devine.

As if from far away, Lottie could hear the professor talking. She could smell the spicy cinnamon of Jamie’s aftershave, only it was drowned out by memories of Takeshin.

The professor opened the door to her office, and what Lottie saw made everything turn black. On the other side of the room was a worry she thought they’d escaped. A warm summer smile that turned her blood to ice.

“This is Haruki Hinamori. I believe you met over the summer,” the professor said. “He’ll be working as my teaching assistant over the year. I’m sure you’ll all be happy to see a familiar face.”

Haru beamed at Jamie. “I look forward to spending more time with you,” he said. “I’m sure we will have a very interesting year together.”