A few hair pins and hallways later, Matias knelt in front of the door their parents kept locked. He held a single pin in each hand. Cal watched as Matias put the pins in the keyhole and started wiggling them.

They heard a click, and Matias slowly pulled out the pins. Matias grinned as he got to his feet and opened the door.

It was a bedroom. An abandoned one. The drapes were pulled shut over the windows. There was a thick layer of dust on everything, cobwebs everywhere.

They walked in, leaving footsteps in their wake.

"I don't think that anyone has been here in about twenty years," said Matias.

Cal walked over to the bureau and ran a finger across the top. "You don't say." She looked at her finger and the streak across the top.

Matias shrieked and Cal whipped around to face him. She watched him back away from a spider dangling in front of his face. The spider retracted up its web. Matias shuddered.

"Come on, Matt," she said. "We're here to find out Miles's past. Not shriek at spiders."

She turned back to the bureau and picked up a dusty piece of paper. The ink was faded, but Cal could make out the words Prince James.

"You're not going to find anything about Miles's past because it's not in there," said a voice from the doorway.

Calista and Matias whirled to see Miles standing in the doorway, his arms crossed, furious that they went in.

"My study now," he seethed.

Cal and Matias looked at each other before bowing their heads and walking out.

"Nail it shut," they heard Miles tell the guards.

"Yes, Your Grace."

They walked through the corridors until they reached Miles's study. They opened the large oak doors and sat down in the plush armchairs across from his desk. Miles shut the doors behind him. He crossed to his desk and sat down in his seat. His eyes bore into theirs, making Cal feel like Miles was looking at her naked. She glanced at Matias but his expression was unreadable.

"What in the name of the gods and their mothers made you think that you two had the right to go into a room that was locked for a reason?" asked Miles.

"Why are we not in the noble lineage book?" Matias retorted. "We are noble, are we not?"

"I'd watch your tongue if I were you, Captain," Miles snarled.

"Watch how you speak to my guards, Miles," Cal snapped.

"You're not queen yet, Calista Pyro. Your mother is, and until you ascend the throne, you will abide by my and your mother's wishes."

Cal hung her head. "Yes, Your Grace."

Miles sat back and heaved a sigh, his hand on his forehead. "Captain, I need you to assign watches for our guests next week."

Matias nodded his head. "Anything else, Your Grace?" he asked, every bit the soldier he was trained to be.

"Guests?" Calista asked dubiously.

"You may leave, Captain Gomez. Calista, you and I need to have a word," said Miles.

Matias stood up and left, casting a sidelong glance at Cal as he did. When the door closed, Miles turned to Cal.

"We need to secure your claim to the throne," he said.

"What do you mean 'secure your claim to the throne'?" she asked. "All of Zemlja knows to not challenge my claim and birthright to the throne."

"Then why is it that they call you 'Heir of Nothing'?"

Cal fell silent.

"They call you that because you can't wield fire," said Miles. "They think you're illegitimate."

She scoffed. "That is ridiculous. My parents were married and my father died before my birth."

"Tell that to the non-believers. Besides, House Pyro's reputation will only shield us from war for so long. If you want to ensure safety for your people, a political alliance is the best avenue for Lucis."

House Pyro had a notoriety for brutal warfare dating all the way back to the Independence War. When Adramelech Pyro—the first Pyro king—led a violent revolution against the Krigereans, he would turn the Everlight's men into ash. This tactic led to Adramelech earning the title "King of Fire" and Lucis quickly got the reputation as a powerhouse and a force to be reckoned with.

"So you're marrying me off to a lord or a prince I don't know just because I can't wield fire and because there are rumours that I'm a bastard?"

"We're doing this for Lucis's best interests. You will still become queen and ascend the throne."

Cal rolled her eyes, resting her chin on her hand. "That makes me feel so much better, Miles. Who's all coming to vye for my hand in marriage?"

"Lord Warren's son, a few rich merchants' sons, and some young noblemen."

Cal stiffened. "And from Apparatori?"

"Mostly knights and successful merchants. King Andrei hand-picked them."

"They're probably old men. Never let the King of Wolves hand-pick suitors. What about Krigere?"

"Even with our strengthened ties, they declined."

"Tenebrarum?"

"No! They are too unstable!" Miles objected. "Even if they were stable, they don't have any suitors."

"Are you going to choose who I marry or am I?"

Miles shrugged. "It's your marriage."

"Great! I'll take my leave, then."

She had her hand on the handle when Miles said, "Calista, keep an open mind and get to know them first."

Cal opened the door and left.