Aurora took a step forward, her chest heaving.

“I want to see my mother. Now.”

The reply came dry, like the crack of a whip.

“You are in no position to demand anything,” said the elder, leaning back in his chair as if bored by her petulance.

But something broke inside her. A heat rose from her throat, took over her shoulder muscles, her jaw, her clenched fists.

“I am the heir to the throne of all this shit. I want to see my mother. Now.”

The ...