Crown Prince Bennett’s face was a picture of rage. “What is the meaning of this?” he said. “How dare you do this to my mother?”
She smirked. “I wanted you dead too, boy. Both you and your mother would’ve be gone in a week if my plans weren’t spoiled.”
Ash stood slowly, his gaze never leaving the duchess’s, as if she were a wild animal. There was no saying whether she would flee or attack. “You confess to framing Captain Greenwood and Amarante for your crimes?”
“Yes.” Duchess Wilhelmina gritted her jaw and narrowed her eyes. “She’s here, isn’t she? That witch girl is here. How did she escape? How?”
A shard of fear stabbed my gut. I ducked lower, but the movement caught her attention. Her eyes met mine.
“You!” she screeched, pointing straight at me. “You have spoiled my plans you wretched girl. Guards, seize that witch!”
I backed away, but the guards did not move. They were eying both the duchess and me, seemingly torn between which one of us was more dangerous. She snarled in frustration. Then she charged for me.
The rest happened in a blur. A yowl and a streak of black slammed her to the ground. The duchess screamed.
“Get off, you cursed cat!”
Misty clawed her face and yanked off the locket. Before the duchess could raise a hand against her, she bounded to me, a golden chain dangling from her teeth. I had never been happier to see the feline when she dropped the locket into my hands. I gave Misty’s head a pat. “Good girl.”
Without a second glance, I fled for the staircase to the orchestra balcony. I abandoned my mask behind me—there was no sense in wearing it when my identity was known—and reached for the flask in my pocket.
Screams exploded in the ballroom. I didn’t go back to check. There was only one task on my mind—to finish the manbane antidote. I remembered Lana’s instructions clearly. One drop of manbane was enough for the antidote. It must be stirred counterclockwise for two minutes to truly incorporate.
I burst to the balcony. The musicians had taken cover beneath their music stands. A violin player started at my entrance.
“Mind if I borrow this?” I said, plucking the bow out of his hands. He answered with a squeak.
There was a vase of marigolds on a pedestal. I tossed the flowers and emptied the water. The opening was narrower than I would’ve liked, but it would have to do. I squeezed the antidote into the vase and pried the locket open with shaking fingers. A tiny vial of scarlet liquid rested inside, nearly empty.
As I hovered the vial over the opening, the duchess’s burly accomplices swarmed in and attacked the wall of guards that encircled the dais. Queen Cordelia was missing, and so was the duchess.
Someone below shouted at me. Before I could decipher their words, a hand clamped down on my shoulder.
“Give it to me! Give it to me!” Duchess Wilhelmina’s crazed face was inches away from mine. A drop of manbane fell into the vase.
I jerked away. “Give it up!” I told her, clutching the locket behind me. “Your crimes have already been—”
My eyes widened at the sight of an unconscious Queen Cordelia crumpled behind the duchess. Had she been dragged up the stairs?
The duchess lunged for me. I evaded her again. My back hit the railing and I teetered.
“She’s going to fall!” somebody squealed.
That distracted me enough. Duchess Wilhelmina wrenched my arm from behind me. Pain shot up my shoulder and the locket clattered to the floor. She cackled and snatched it.
“Goodbye, witch.”
She shoved me. The world turned upside down and for a terrifying moment, I was falling. And then my hand caught the bars of the railing.
“Amarante!” It sounded like Ash. I didn’t look down to check.
The duchess had forced Queen Cordelia’s mouth open and was holding the vial over it.
My fingers began to slip. I swung my other hand up to grab the railing when Ash barged in and knocked the locket out of her hand. It slid across the marble.
“No!” Duchess Wilhelmina screamed. She scrambled to retrieve it. I struggled to pull myself up, ignoring the burning of my arms. Ash grabbed my wrists and hauled me back onto the balcony. I barely caught my breath when the duchess charged for the queen.
“Get away from my mother, monster!” Ash lunged for a music stand and jabbed her shoulder with it. Sheet music went flying as the duchess howled.
