But no Sera.
“Where is she?” they all asked each other in unison.
Duke Percy blinked, his frown deepening. “I thought she was with you?”
“No.” Olivia passed her hand over the tight curls of her hair, frustration welling. Her thoughts hazed beneath the rosy glow of the dream petal. When had she last seen her?Wherehad she last seen her? “No, I’ve been busy…”
Percy ticked a look between her and Sir Dacre.
Duchess Edith raised her eyebrows.
Sir Arkwright was smart enough to have no reaction at all.
Olivia narrowed her eyes at the Umberlys and finished, “…working through some messages.Alone. I was just coming to find her to give her the news.”
Percy’s expression darkened. “Bad news?”
She nodded once. Wasn’t it always these days?
The Umberlys shared a look.
Duchess Edith sighed. “We have some of our own.”
“Your Grace!” Lord Tiberius’s voice winged down the corridor, immediately setting her teeth on edge. The man forked over some ships and brought news of a coup, andsuddenlyhe was back in Seraphina’s good graces.
Duke Percy pursed his lips and turned to face the Baron of Crestley. That was the one thing she and ol’ Percy could usually agree on, at least—their shared dislike for Tiberius. “What?”
Lord Tiberius jogged the rest of the way toward them, his eyebrows knitting together. “I was merely hoping you had seen the queen. I cannot find her.”
Suddenly, Olivia remembered where she had seen Sera last. She jabbed a finger at Tiberius. “I left her with you. You were supposed to be playing cards.”
The baron spared her the most fleeting of glances, as if he could hardly bring himself to look at her with his precious, little eyeballs. “Wewereplaying cards until she grew bored of besting me. Then she wanted to go for a walk. Then the bells started ringing. Then the Count of Wellane came and saidyouwanted to speak with her alone, as it was a matter of State.” He gestured to Percy with his final words.
Alone? Olivia swiveled her attention back to Percy, her eyes narrowing to slits.
The duke swallowed visibly. “Did he now?” he asked, his voice soft. “And when was this? Where?”
Lord Tiberius frowned. “Just a few minutes ago, Your Grace. And Wellane said you wanted to see her in the council chamber, but—”
Duchess Edith reached over to rest her hand on the duke’s arm. “Percy.”
Olivia didn’t need to hear more. She was already in motion, jogging back the way she had just come.
“Wait!” Tiberius called after her. “She wasn’t there!”
But she didn’t care. She didn’t stop. She had to see it for herself.
No. Why had she let Sera out of her sight? The reasons resounded through her thoughts, each more pathetic than the last.
Because her guards had been with her.
Because that idiotic peacock had been with her.
Because she just wanted some time to herself.
And, stupidly, she had thought the guards and peacock would be enough.
Olivia cursed under her breath. Seraphina had been right.
