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Summary
At his maze party, Locke’s petty attempt to provoke Cardan unfurls beyond his control, forcing Jude to reevaluate her loyalties and pulling her toward the enemy she despises most.
In the wake of a ruinous game of Dare or Drink, she uncovers the truth of Cardan’s feelings and resolves to forge that weakness into a weapon sharp enough to pierce his heart. Yet in trying to undo him, Jude learns he may be crucial to seizing the power she craves. And as the coronation draws near, the dance between desire and deceit builds toward its fateful crescendo.
“This game has grown insufferably dull,” Cardan says, sending the bottle into a furious spin. Just as it begins to slow, he stills it with a fingertip, its neck aimed at me like the point of a dagger. “You’re here to entertain your betters, aren’t you? And so far, you’ve been a dreadful disappointment.”
The promise I've made to myself surges back, burning like salt ground into an open wound: Whatever dare they throw at me, I will make sure it’s them who choke.