Page 59 of Rise of the Phoenix King (Crown and Crest 4)

“Try to get Camellia’s attention,” Lawrence says.

“Try to get her attention?”

He smirks. “Flap your arms around a bit—maybe cluck like a chicken.”

“Just say her name once or twice,” Pranmore says, suppressing a smile.

I clear my throat, feeling like an idiot. “Camellia…?”

Della looks back,judgingme. My lips press into a frown, and I have the intense desire to punch the king.

“Try again,” Pranmore says, using that soothing tone on me now.

I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly as I fight for patience with the man I’ve sworn allegiance to. “Camellia?”

Della looks back at me, slowly shaking her head.

“Do you feel anything?” Pranmore asks the girl. “Anything at all?”

“Like what?”

“Like my sister’s presence in your head,” Lawrence says impatiently.

I mutter a curse under my breath, rubbing my hands over my face.

“Let’s not give up yet,” Pranmore says. “It might take a bit of time to catch her attention.”

With a long-suffering sigh, I sit back in the chair and cross my arms. Della watches me, but this time…something is different. I narrow my eyes, and a small smile crosses the girl’s lips. A smile I recognize.

A shiver runs down my spine as I stare back at Camellia.

“I don’t think it’s going to work,” the princess tells Pranmore, doing a fair impression of Della.

“Camellia?” I whisper, both horrified and curious.

She raises a brow as if she believes I’ve lost my mind, giving me a baffled look that’s a ploy.

“Leave,” I say to Pranmore and Lawrence, jerking my head toward the door.

“What?” Lawrence asks.

I stare into Della’s eyes. They’re brown, not blue, but it’s the princess. “Maybe she won’t talk to us because you’re all here.”

“Even if that’s true, it’s not safe…” Pranmore says hesitantly.

“He’s right,” Camellia says. “What if the princess wishes to harm you?”

“She wouldn’t kill me here—not like this,” I say confidently. “It’s not grand enough, not public enough. She’s gone to this much trouble. She’ll want to put on a show.”

Camellia smiles. “Is that right?”

“Go,” I tell Lawrence and Pranmore again. “Now.”

“I’ll set a ward in the room,” Pranmore finally says, and then he warns, “Don’t attempt to cross the line, or it will shock you.”

It wouldn’t be the first time.

“Move back a little,” he directs.

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