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Doubling over, I cough. We’re in my bedchamber, and I’m still dressed in my yellow dance gown. On the floor is Camellia’s white velvet cloak, a giant rip cutting it down the middle.

“I saw who took her,” I wheeze, lifting my head. “It wasn’t Lux or Castor. It was someone else. Someone who pretended to be a guard.”

Ami gasps. “Father said to the girls it was someone who pretended to be a guard, but he just assumed it was Prince Castor.”

“It definitely wasn’t him.” I exhale. “This man had an accent and a scar on his face, like lightning. And he said something about a ship.”

“A ship?” Ami’s lower lip wobbles. “Stars, Camellia. Where in our damned realm are you?”

“We’ll find her.” I squeeze her arm, trying not to show too much relief on my face. Of course I’m worried about Camellia. But right now all I can focus on is that Lux and Castor weren’t lying to me.

They weren’t lying to me, and now they’re chained up somewhere, probably being tortured by Father!

“Ami, I have to go!” I panic.

“Wait just a minute.” She grabs my arm, dragging me over to my bed. I try to wrestle her off me, but there’s little point. She’s spent the past few months training with an assassin. My sister isn’t a fragile princess anymore. Not like I am.

Pushing me onto my pillows, she sits cross-legged beside me. She’s not wearing her dance clothes under her cloak like she usually would on the nights she sneaks into our dance circle. Instead, she wears a purple corset over a matching silk dress. I’m guessing because, just like my sisters, she wasn’t in the mood to dance.

“You told the girls what happened with those princes earlier.” She folds her arms. “But I want to hear the real story. Tell me everything you left out.”

“I didn’t leave anything out.” But I realise my mistake as soon as I speak.

“You know I can see when people lie, right?” Her eyes narrow. “And my gift just told me that that was the biggest lie of today.”

I wince. I was mostly truthful to the girls earlier. I told them about the faerie bond and how I was practically trapped in that manor, but I suppose I did leave out one small detail…

Then again, I suppose they won’t be small for much longer.

“I’m pregnant,” I breathe. It feels so odd to say it out loud, but the good kind of odd. The kind that makes my heart flutter.

Judging by Ami’s horrified expression, she doesn’t feel the same way. “Oh Stars, I’m so sorry, Eden!” she cries.

“No! No! Don’t be sorry.” I take her hands. “This is what I wanted. Well…” I stammer, “of course, I was surprised when Lux told me, but I wouldn’t change anything. I’ve always wanted children, Ami. You know that.”

“Yes, but you’re not even married yet.”

“The bond is as good as.” I shrug. “And we will marry in the spring. Lux said we’d have a proper wedding.”

“But he practically kidnapped you!”

“Dahlia was kidnapped by Tauren,” I counter.

“And I don’t approve of their marriage either.” She glares at me.

I fidget with the ties of my bodice. I knew my sisters would be shocked to find out about my pregnancy, but I wasn’t expecting any of them to react like this.

Ami’s face falls into her hands. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be angry at you. This isn’t your fault.”

“They didn’t rape me, Ami. I might not have known that this would happen so soon,” I gesture to my belly, “but they didn’t force themselves upon me. I consented. Always.”

“They?” She wrinkles her nose. “I thought this was just about you and Prince Lux.”

“Well…” I laugh nervously.

Disgust pulls at her face. “Do you even know who the father is?”

“Of course I do. It’s Lux.” My tone is laced with offence.