The maids hesitated, but then bowed and stepped away, leaving the chamber in silence.

Melva stood by the door, eyes wide with disbelief. “My Lady… what are you—”

“I need to see her,” Althea cut in gently. “If I don’t face her head-on, she’ll just keep trying to crush me in the shadows.”

She wanted to read the Queen Mother's thoughts, anything to help her plan ahead and see if there was still a chance to fix things. A chance to make up for what her father had done.

Deep ...