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I just can’t help but feel like I always fail when it matters most.

The door to the tavern swung open. Despite the scarf concealing the majority of his face, she recognized him instantly. Thicket’s shoulders relaxed as Marcellus’ stepped inside, sharp eyes scanning the room. Spotting Thicket and Alouette, he motioned for the others to come inside with a jerk of his head. They shuffled into the seats beside them.

Marcellus immediately grabbed Thicket’s drink and sniffed it. He recoiled. “Did you drink this?” he demanded.

“No,” Thicket said.

“What is wrong, guard?” Alouette mused, swirling her cup. “It is just water.”

“Water that needs vinegar to cover its questionable origins,” Marcellus said, pushing the drink across the table. Alouette caught it with a smirk. “Well, we are here, per your request, Your Highness.” The formality was practically spat out. Thicket shot him a warning glance, which he ignored, staring the Dymrian Princess down. “What now?”

“Apparently, the Desert Kingdom blames us for killing a phoenix, thereby breaking the Treaty. They are planning on using this as an excuse to start a war.” Alouette sighed. “I do not know if they are blaming an unfortunate death on us, or if they are looking for an excuse to get back at Dymree for refusing to turn over that which we stole from the phoenixes centuries ago.”

“I think I might actually know why the Desert Kingdom believes it was Dymree,” Thicket said. She told Alouette about her dreams and Lavender’s influence on them, and how maybe—just maybe—she had been able to peer into Lavender’s mind.

“I hate to admit it,” Alouette said, “but I like how your sister’s twisted mind works.” She downed the rest of her questionable water.

“What do you mean?” Thicket asked.

Alouette sighed, setting her cup down. “When this is all over, I really need to teach you how politics work. Why blame the phoenix’s death on Dymree and not Vindrya? Wouldn’t that be easier than fighting you herself?”

Thicket’s lips parted. She hadn’t even considered that.

“It’s because she’s backing you into a corner, making it so you have no choice but to give into her demands or fail. She doesn’t just want to be queen. She wants to make you the villain so Vindrya accepts her as queen. That just proves how much you threaten her.”

“Me?” Thicket said. “Threaten her?” Lavender hadn’t displayed any signs that she was scared of Thicket in any way. If anything, Thicket was terrified of her.

Alouette shrugged. “You have blue fire. Pure blue fire. There is not a single soul in this world who you could not beat. Why do you think Lavender is going to all these lengths to torment you? It is because she knows you can beat her and she is terrified. Her only chance at winning is by convincing you that you cannot. You don’t need me or Dymree or anybody else. You just need to believe in yourself.”

Thicket shook her head. “I barely survived a fight with Elian.”

“What are you talking about?” Marcellus said. “It was Delmore who barely survived. If you had attacked properly from the start, he would have lost immediately.”

Thicket’s eyes found Elian’s, searching for confirmation. “The only way I could have won was by attacking you with everything I had from the start,” he said. “You saw what happened once you let go. Your pure, raw power overcame me instantly.”

Thicket frowned. Was that how everyone had seen that fight?

Alouette made to stand. “I need to start heading back to Dymree and tell my father about the Desert Kingdom’s plans.”

Thicket’s heart skipped. “What about our alliance?”

“I want to help you, Thicket. I do. But I cannot put my kingdom at risk. Not when the threat of war is imminent. Besides, you don’t need Dymree to beat your sister. Not if you challenge her directly.”

“Even if I can beat her, she still has an entire army at her disposal.”

“What if we can convince the Emperor that Dymree is innocent?” Lotta asked.

Alouette listed her head. “I’m listening.”

“The Desert Kingdom thinks Dymree killed the phoenix. That is why they are attacking. But if we can prove it had been the Soumort Princess all along—”

“Then the Treaty would have never been broken,” Alouette finished, settling back in her seat. She turned her attention to Thicket. “Are you sure you want to do this? If we succeed in proving your sister’s involvement, Vindrya might be targeted instead.”

“Either way, we will still be facing an army,” Thicket said.

“Then it is settled. I will accompany you back to Vindrya. Once the Emperor knows I have left the bounds of the city, he will send soldiers to Dymree. We need you to beat Lavender and make her confess to her crime as soon as possible. The more we prolong it, the more the Desert Kingdom is going to retaliate.”

“We left horses outside of the city,” Marcellus said. “We can use those to return swiftly.”