“You didn’t see the look in her eyes, Daddy,” I say, trying to convince him. “She looked truly frightened for her brother.”

“Brother?” Daddy puffs out a sad laugh. “King Zostero has only daughters.”

I clench my jaw. “Her half-brother,” I explain. “He’s human and he works on one of the oil rigs and—”

“She manipulated you, Lily,” he says. The pity in his tone sends a shot of lead down my spine. “She obviously knows of your love for Quince and exploited that to make you believe her.”

“But—”

“She cannot call dramatic council meetings anymore,” he continues, “so she is using you to bring her attention.”

I fall silent, trying to process Daddy’s words. He’s basically accusing Aurita of lying and me of falling for it. I can’t believe that. I mean, I can’t believe he doesn’t trust me. And I refuse to believe she was lying.

The sparkling tears in her eyes are proof enough for me.

“You’re wrong,” I say. I don’t usually argue with Daddy—and by usually, I mean never—but I can’t just sit aside and let bad things happen to innocent humans. “I believe her, and if you won’t do something about it, then I will. I don’t want the consequences of King Zostero’s actions on my conscience.”

I kick up from the chair, ready to storm out of the office in a show of rebellious certainty. But before I can swim away, Daddy says, “Lily, wait.”

I stop moving, but I don’t turn back around. Growing up, I never thought I would have to use Doe’s tactics to get Daddy to do something. I used to roll my eyes at her pouting and storming away. But today, when the cause is so important, I can see the benefits of her methods.

Not that I will ever tell her that.

“If you believe so strongly,” Daddy says, his tone more serious than pitying, “then I will investigate the situation.”

“Investigate?” I whip back around. “We have to do more than just investigate.”

“Investigation is the first step,” he replies. “I cannot go in accusing the king of plotting against humans. It would put him on the defensive, whether he is guilty or not.”

I take a deep breath and try to see the reason in his argument. He’s right. Just rolling into a royal palace and lobbing accusations at the king is the surest way to be tossed either out the front door or into the palace jail.

“Okay,” I say, forcing myself to be reasonable. “I’ll go with you.”

He shakes his head. “It will be better if I go alone. Besides, you have obligations on land. You have graduation in just a few weeks’ time.”

“That’s true,” I say reluctantly. “But I can miss a day of class. This is more important than my attendance record. I don’t want to sit around waiting and wondering.”

“That is unnecessary. I will visit Desfleurelle and then send you a messenger gull with the results of my inquiry as soon as it’s done.”

I consider his suggestion. To be honest, the idea of turning around and swimming all the way back to Desfleurelle after my weekend of travel is a little depressing. And it’s not like I don’t trust Daddy to do what he says he’s going to do. I know he will.

I relent. “Okay,” I say, not really happy but willing to accept the situation. “But you send me that message as soon as you’re done.”

“I promise,” he says with a smile. “Now I think you need to go catch up on your rest as well. You look nearly as exhausted as Quince did earlier.”

A yawn I didn’t know was coming pushes out, and I try to cover it with my hand.

Daddy chuckles.

“I guess you’re right,” I say around a second yawn that I don’t try to stifle. “I could use a good night’s sleep too.”

I push off and start to swim out the way I almost stormed out a minute ago.

“Lily,” Daddy says again, and I turn back to face him. “I am very proud of you, daughter. Whatever the results of my inquiry, your compassion and concern are wondrous traits in a princess.”

“Thanks, Daddy,” I say, a proud smile breaking across my face. “I’ll stop in and say good-bye before we head out in the morning.”

He grins, and as I swim out the door and head for my room, I know he’s going to spend half the night working. Maybe someday he’ll let me take over enough duties that he can take some time off.

Another yawn washes through my body, and I swim faster for my room and my bed. I don’t even have the energy to change into a sleep top before my head hits the pillow.

Chapter 14

“Pardon me, Princess.”

A soft voice pulls me out of a nightmare about Quince drowning in an oil slick. I woke up about a dozen times in the night, shaking with fear for what might have happened to him in his first test. Needless to say, I’m happy to return to reality.

I blink my eyes open and spot the source of the voice, a timid palace maid floating a few feet away from my bed.

“Forgive the intrusion, Princess,” she says, keeping her eyes averted, “but—”

“We made her do it,” another—familiar—voice calls out.

I lift my head and see Peri and Quince in the doorway.

“Look what I found in the palace kitchen,” Peri says, nodding at Quince. “I’m amazed there’s any food left in the kingdom after the way he was devouring Laver’s culinary concoctions as fast as the cook could make them.”