Saeris’s room looked like a dragon had sneezed on it and lost interest halfway through.
The sheets were gone. One corner of the mattress was scorched. Smoke whiff still clung to the walls, thin and sour, and someone had tried, poorly, to cover it up with lavender.
“Fire caught the bedding,” a voice suddenly said behind her.
Saeris turned.
A girl no older than her … Talia, Saeris remembered, with those soft brown eyes too much like Ianthe’s.
“They think it happened by mistake,” the girl added. “His Majesty has ordered a new room prepared for you, just down the hall.”
So… they didn’t know.
Or pretended not to.
“I’ll show you.”
The girl didn’t wait for a response; she just turned and walked, expecting her to follow. And Saeris did — because what else was there? Pick glass shards out
