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The look on his face mirrored Rowena’s. “I’m not letting either of you go in there,” Ash said. “It’s much too dangerous.”

I frowned and Elowyn crossed her arms. It seemed that both of us were tired of being told no.

“I look like a completely different person and Elowyn will be invisible,” I said. “Is that enough for you?”

32

It was enough. We foundourselves outside the duchess’s suite. The hallway was quiet, barely illuminated by a few candles from the sconces along the wall.

I craned my neck over Ash’s shoulder. Elowyn crouched behind me.

“Where is everyone?” I whispered. The lack of servants felt odd. Surelysomebodywas recruited to guard the duchess’s suite after I was caught.

“Asleep, perhaps.” He sounded doubtful. “I don’t know how we’re supposed to get in.”

“I can go,” Elowyn said. She dangled a small vial of clear liquid on a cord around her neck. Her invisibility tonic.

“Can you pick locks too?” Ash reached over and wriggled the doorknob. “There’s no way—”

The door opened.

“What are they playing at?” I said, suspicious.

I turned to Elowyn, but she was nowhere to be seen. A soft touch at my elbow made me jump. She had ingested the tonic.

“I’ll see if anyone is in there,” she whispered.

“Be careful,” I said.

Ash and I watched as the door opened slightly. A few seconds later, there was another touch at my elbow. “It’s empty.”

“It’s probably a trap,” I said, frowning as I recalled the last time I snuck into the duchess’s suite.

“Trap or not, this is as good an opportunity we’ll get,” Ash said with a sigh. “Elowyn, can you keep watch out here and alert us if someone comes in?”

“Okay. I’ll knock on the walls like this.” A short rhythm sounded from the wall beside him.