The Firethorn Crown by Lea Doué Page A

drawn low. He had good reason to be confused. She and the girls had never gone missing, not all at once. She ran her fingers along the back of her neck, the sting from the chain almost gone. If only she could make everything else disappear so easily.
    The guards fell into step behind them. She saw no one else on the way.
    Mother greeted them with silence, her back straight as she watched the sleeping city. After a few minutes of silence, she turned puffy eyes on her daughters. Lily tugged at her pendant, regretting her words from earlier. She wished she could apologize right now.
    Mother spoke to Lily in a flat tone. “Would you care to explain yourself?”
    The girls answered for her immediately.
    “We were taking a walk.”
    “Exploring the gardens.”
    “Lord Runson wouldn’t leave Lily alone,” Ruby elaborated, “so, we hid from him in the maze.”
    Mother studied each girl’s face in turn, searching for lies in their words. She wouldn’t find any. They’d told the truth, even if they had omitted part of the story.
    Mother approached as far as Father’s desk, searching for truth in their appearance. Lily’s hair tumbled in a knotted mess down her back, and Neylan had flowers from the undergarden tucked into her braids—the feather had disappeared. Nothing outlandish, but a sign of some sort of adventure.
    Surprisingly, Mother made no comment about the most obvious evidence: tattered slippers peeking from beneath their dresses.
    “Lord Runson approached me over two hours ago.” She addressed Lily. “He was concerned that you didn’t meet him in the gardens after supper as you had planned.”
    Lily huffed loudly. Runson had a lot of nerve to lie to his queen.
    “Meet him!” Melantha scoffed. “Why would she do that?”
    Coral choked back a laugh.
    Mother frowned and rubbed her temples. “You did not arrange to meet Lord Runson in the gardens?”
    Lily shook her head, and tears stung her eyes. All she wanted right now was her bed, with Gwen curled up in a ball at her back. Ivy’s small hand slid into hers.
    “Then, where have you been?”
    She shrugged.
    Mother closed her eyes, a sign she was near the end of her patience.
    “It’s been a long day,” Gwen said. “We’re tired. Please, may we talk more tomorrow?”
    Mother didn’t answer right away, no doubt drawing conclusions about their evasiveness. When she opened her eyes, she pinned Lily with her gaze. “You have acted selfishly today instead of facing Lord Runson and telling him plainly how you feel.”
    Lily studied the carpet. Black-and-gold wool from Sotan pillowed her poor feet. Father had good taste in carpets. And Mother was right. She didn’t want to face Runson.
    “Convincing your sisters to join in on your game is childish. If you have issues with me, with Lord Runson, or with anyone else, your father and I expect you to face them head on.”
    If only she could.
    “And what are these necklaces you’re all wearing? You didn’t have them at supper.”
    The girls exchanged sideways glances until Coral spoke up. “They’re from an admirer.”
    “An admirer.” Gifts from admirers always peaked Mother’s interest. “Who?”
    Coral shrugged, as if she didn’t know. “We can’t say. They’re pretty, and it’s nice to have something matching.” She fingered the glittering jewel and tried to get a glimpse of it as Melantha had earlier, but she had no luck. She dropped it, shrugged again, and smiled.
    Mother looked disappointed, but let it go and addressed Lily one last time. “Do you have anything to say for yourself?”
    Lily shook her head. Whatever she did now, Mother would consider it disrespectful.
    “Mother,” Junia spoke up. “Lily had a fall in the maze.”
    Mother’s gaze sharpened. “I thought as much this afternoon. Have you seen a healer?”
    If Mother would stop addressing her, this would be easier. How could she keep silent if people kept talking to her?
    “No need for that,” Junia said. “I’ll give