She stepped down from the small stage, a giant book in hand, and grinned down at Mia as she sat on the edge of the stairs. The way Zel was not only comfortable and happy to do things herself, but move around like a normal person and not a pompous queen wearing a corset and crown, made her endearing. That wasn't good. Much better to keep her framed as an evil, conniving bitch who'd rip out Mia's guts the moment she thought Mia's life didn't matter. The truth was somewhere in the middle, but better safe than sorry.

"Come, sit," Zel said, gesturing to the small stairway that surrounded the...