ZOEY’S POV
I wasn’t supposed to be nervous.
I wasn’t supposed to care.
I’d told Violet… actually warned her, that if our mother didn’t leave the palace, I would.
But now?
Now I knew Merrin had “a special welcome” prepared for Violet at dinner.
Which meant danger.
Real danger.
And there was no way… absolutely no way, I could leave.
But pride is a stupid thing.
It wraps around your neck like a scarf and makes it impossible to admit you’re worried.
So no, I didn’t run to Violet’s room like a panicked sister.
I smiled instead.
A big, wicked smile.
Because I knew exactly what I was going to do.
Pepper.
Lots of pepper.
And I knew just where to get it.
I heard nobody was allowed in the royal kitchen.
But that was their problem, not mine.
I, Zoey, was born to break rules.
So I
