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Suddenly, it hit me that I was on my way toward my future.

And that future was brighter than I could have ever imagined.

“My lady,” the guard prompted, and when I pulled my eyes away from the mob hungry for death, I saw he held open the coach’s door for me.

I took a deep breath, gathering my skirts.

“I knew it!”

CHAPTER 3CALLIOPE

My heart dropped. There was no mistaking the voice that had fussed at and bullied me for half my life. I should have gotten into the coach and let the guard shut me inside. Instead, I took a deep breath and turned to my cousin as she stormed down the alleyway toward me.

“She’s family,” I told the guard, because he looked like he was ready to cut her down right then and there. Some petty part of me wanted him to do it, but not enough to actually allow it to happen.

We were family, after all. Even if she was awful.

Too late I realized I should’ve just let the guard chase her off. Because as soon as she got closer, she said, “You’re not leaving without me, are you?” and I felt my stomach twist.

For once in my life something was about me—I didn’t have to share my birthday presents with her, didn’t have to pretend I didn’t know what I was talking about to allow her to shine. But it didn’t matter. Anise insisted on commandeering my victory.

“How did you know?” I asked, defeated.

“I didn’t know you’d be the winner, if that’s what you mean,” she said, looking me up and down as if I was nothing but forest brush. “I simply wanted to see who was. I did, however, know you’d be here in town—apparently, Mother believes you’ve gone to run an errand. As if you would miss an audition of this magnitude. I know you better than she does.”

The guard looked at us skeptically. “We must make haste, my lady,” he said, stepping closer to me, hand on the hilt of his sword.

“I’m sorry, Ann. I am,” I said, turning away from her. Why are you apologizing? You did nothing wrong. “I have to go.”

“And exactly whose family name did you give, Cali?”

I turned to meet her smug expression. Because it was true. I had given my uncle’s name—her name—not my own. Because my parents had lost their fortune by underhanded means, died penniless, and my mother’s brother had taken me in out of pity. Because my father’s name would have been unfit to present at court. Beric hadn’t even asked for it after hearing the name Bailey, but perhaps he would have immediately eliminated me if he had known. Perhaps I wouldn’t even be in this position now.

Doubt left my lungs empty.

“One moment, please,” I said to the guard.

His expression begged me to consider otherwise. “I am instructed to bring you to the queen without delay.”

“Thirty seconds,” I said, and I hated that I had to sound apologetic about accepting the position I had won based on pure talent. I hated myself for giving Anise even this much of my time. I should have gotten into the carriage and left. So why couldn’t I make my feet do it? “Please.”

I dragged Anise out of earshot, rolling my eyes at her fussing.

“I won fair and square, Ann,” I said, nearly begging. “Can’t you leave me alone for once?”

She scoffed. “And miss out on the opportunity to finally attend court?”

“You’ve had plenty of opportunity—”

“Which Mother swiftly killed with her outrageous marriage demands. We both know very well I’d be married to a marquis by now without her interference.” She stood tall, smoothing her dress, and I knew she had finally reached her point. “So I will just have to come to court with you and find a match, without her help. And, in exchange, I’ll keep your lack of pedigree to myself. Wouldn’t want the king finding out the truth, now would you?”

Her last sentence felt sinister, as underhanded as I knew her to be. “And what excuse will we give?”

“I don’t know,” she said, waving her hand carelessly. “I’m your squire, perhaps. A more respectable position than a maid, and it guarantees I’ll be with you at all times, including court. Once I’m there, I can catch a husband easily. You owe me that much.”

A stress headache was building behind my eyes. “A squire cannot marry a nobleman. And you don’t know how to be a squire—you’d never deign to do their duties, even if you did. Besides, you don’t have the right magic for it.”

“None of that will matter. If anything, we can just combine our knight magic, and that will be enough. But it won’t come to that, because all I have to do is stay long enough to find a husband. Without Mother there to deter suitors, it shouldn’t take long.”