MAXINE

Part 4

Sophie looked away, an old darkness rearing into her heart. "Just like my mother."

Lady Lesso arched her brows, intrigued.

"My mother was the third wheel, watching my father and her best friend fall in love," Sophie said, eyes pinned to the floor. "And my father and Honora didn't care."

"Because they knew your mother didn't have the courage to fight them."

Sophie nodded. "It's why she died so young. She couldn't face the rest of her life alone. She just . . . gave up."

"Then it looks like your best friends are betting an old story can be made new," said the Dean.

Sophie slowly lifted red eyes.

"Like mother, like daughter," said Lady Lesso. "Is that what you want?"

Sophie's body hardened to steel.

"My job as Dean is to ensure you do not end up alone, Sophie," Lady Lesso soothed. "My job is to ensure you and Rafal win your Happy Never After. But I made you a teacher because I need you to find out how Agatha and Tedros plan to break in."

Sophie frowned. "How would I know how they plan to—"

"Because there is a spy working for your friends inside this school," said Lady Lesso harshly. She shoved forward the crumpled scrap she'd been studying. "The fairies snatched this from a white mouse near the school gates, before it escaped."

"It's a map of your movements," said the Dean. "Why the notes about the fog, I haven't the faintest clue. But someone in this school is telling Good how to find you."

Sophie looked up, the last of her fear draining away. Good was spying on her? That's how desperate they were to destroy her happy ending? Suddenly, any remaining desire to see her best friends scorched to wrath.

"I haven't told Rafal, of course. He's so drugged up on teenage testosterone that he'd exterminate every last student in this school," griped Lady Lesso. "I need you to find out who the spy is, Sophie. A white mouse messenger suggests it's an Ever, but you know Agatha and Tedros' friends better than I. As a teacher, you can keep your eye on any suspects and help us uncover how exactly your friends plan to invade our castle."

Sophie bridled. "But I don't have the foggiest idea how to teach a class!"

"Pollux has been teaching your class the past few weeks and will stay on to help you settle in, especially with double the number of students to manage. That said, I'm quite sure they'll prefer you to that twit even if you pick your nose the whole time. Focus on finding the spy, Sophie. We don't have much time. Agatha and her prince will be here in days. And if you don't end your fairy tale now, the sun will soon end it for all of us."

Sophie nodded, adrenaline coursing through her . . .

Then she saw the empty Dean's desk in the corner. Guilt dampened the storm inside of her. "But surely Professor Dovey knows a way to close our storybook without me hurting anyone—"

"Professor Dovey is no longer a Dean," Lady Lesso said stiffly.

"Where is she?" Sophie asked, startled.

"She and the other Good teachers have been imprisoned in a secure location, where they will remain until the School Master deems otherwise."

Sophie gawked at her. "But she was your friend! You two always helped each other!"

"Like you once helped Agatha." Lady Lesso's purple eyes cast down as she caressed the basket of plums. "But a witch can't be friends with a princess no matter how hard she tries, Sophie. Haven't we learned that lesson well enough?"