QUEEN slammed the door shut behind her, leaning against it for a breathless second, her chest heaving like she had run miles instead of just walking back through Oswald’s halls. The quiet click of the latch felt deafening in her ears, echoing against the walls of her lavish guest room. Her robe fell open slightly at the collar, her pulse fluttering there, an angry red tremor just beneath her skin.

She pushed herself off the door and stumbled to the bed, sinking down so hard the mattress dipped beneath her weight. For a heartbeat she sat there, hands braced on her knees, nails digging into the silk of her robe....