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merely strengthen my skill in zandara.
    It’s Diane who finally begins to explain. “As you may know, andaba is based around a patriarchy, the same way zandara is centered around a matriarchy. Power here is passed from father to son. So while women have always been respected, we’ve never been the ones with the true power, just as the men in your magical tradition take a backseat to the queens.
    â€œBut for the first time in Caouanne Island history,” she continues, glancing at my father, “we have a female heir, which creates a very . . . unique situation.”
    It takes me a split second to realize exactly what Diane means, and when I do, I feel like I’ve swallowed a jagged piece of glass. “Me?” I ask. “You’re saying I’m an andaba ruler?”
    Diane nods. “Of course this is because your father, our most powerful king, had a child with the heir to a matriarchal structure: your mother. If he’d simply stayed on the island and had a child here, as he was intended to, his firstborn would have been a boy, just like every other firstborn in the history of andaba.
    â€œSo while you’re obviously a Queen of Carrefour, Eveny, you’re also a Queen of Caouanne Island,” Diane continues. “We’re quite fascinated by what this might mean for the future of andaba. But we’re also very aware that if Main de Lumière gets to you, they’ll be able to destroy not just the zandara bloodline in Carrefour, but also the future of andabaon Caouanne Island. That’s what makes you such an appealing target. Of course Peregrine, Chloe, and their mothers are targets too—as are the kings here on Caouanne Island—but you’re unique, and they have their eyes on you.”
    George picks up her explanation. “Eveny, they know that eliminating you before you give birth to an heir would effectively cripple both andaba and zandara, because your bloodline would be destroyed.”
    My head spinning, I turn to my dad. “Why didn’t you tell me this?”
    He hesitates. “Honey, you’ve had so many revelations lately that I didn’t want to overwhelm you. The truth is, you’re not just a part of our sosyete; you’re the leader, since it was our ancestors who founded the sect. When you turned seventeen, that authority fell naturally to you.”
    Suddenly, I realize something. “Wait, is that why you came back?” I ask. “Because the future of Caouanne Island rides on me? Because you wanted to bring me here to assume my rightful place or something?”
    My father looks startled. “Of course not, Eveny. I came back after Main de Lumière’s attack on you because you were in great danger. I couldn’t live with losing you.”
    I turn to Caleb. “Did you know about this?” I ask. “That I’m an andaba queen too?”
    â€œNo,” he says. He glances at my father. “I would never have kept something like this from you. It changes everything.”
    Peregrine, who managed to clean her plate while we werediscussing the possibility of my imminent death, holds up a fork. “Clearly, for Eveny’s protection, we should all return to Carrefour immediately,” she says.
    Diane looks like her eyes are going to pop out of her head. “Why on earth would that be the preferable situation? Am I incorrect in recalling that just yesterday, Eveny was attacked inside your walls?”
    â€œWe’ll work on that,” Peregrine says. “Besides, Caleb is better able to protect her there. Inside Carrefour’s walls, he’s able to sense when she’s in danger.”
    â€œWhen his abilities aren’t being disrupted by his lust for Eveny,” Diane shoots back. I can feel my cheeks burning as she adds, “You know as well as I do that he’s compromised, and his abilities are lessened because of it.”
    â€œIt’s over between us,” I