To Catch a Queen Read Online Free

take much pushing at all, and we’re running out of time.”
    The sisters exchanged one of their glances that made Sophie wonder if they could communicate telepathically. “It’s never come up,” Athena said at last. “But then, I haven’t found any stories about enchantresses or other fairies freeing a fairy captive. Religion seems to work in some stories. Do you know if she’s religious?”
    “Michael is, and he’s a minister’s son, so I’d imagine she’s at least not hostile to religion. Thanks, I should have remembered that. The Lord’s Prayer comes up in a few of the stories, but I’ve never been sure if they’re inspired by true events or are meant as morality tales—knowing your prayers could save your life, so learn your prayers, and all that. It’s worth a shot the next time I see her.” She pulled her foot out from under her and felt around on the ground for her shoes, preparing to leave, but Amelia cleared her throat.
    “There’s something else you need to know,” Amelia said, her face and voice grim enough that Sophie automatically tensed. “There may be an impostor queen. If you had a message from Detective Murray that you’ve ignored, that’s what it’s about. He called us about a case that turned out to be someone who’d been forced out of the Realm after decades in captivity.”
    “Ouch,” Sophie said, wincing.
    “Exactly,” Amelia said. “There was a fairy nearby who claimed they were cast out of the Realm by the queen. Detective Murray was sure that wasn’t you.”
    Sophie tried not to sigh wistfully and grin like an idiot when she said, “Well, at least he gives me the benefit of the doubt.” Then she did sigh, but wearily. “And that’s one more item for my to-do list, but I’ll deal with it next week.”
    The sisters exchanged a glance. “There’s more,” Athena said with a wince. “Detective Murray is worried about Emily. He thinks she’s acting strange, like she’s trying too hard to sound normal.”
    Sophie nodded. “Lately, she’s been avoiding me as badly as I’ve been avoiding Michael. Something must be up. I’ll check on her.” She glanced at her watch. If she got another teacher to cover her first class, she could meet Emily after the matinee and still get back in time for the rest of her schedule.
    As she left the shop, Sophie reflected on the irony of trying to reunite the man she loved with his wife and fighting to keep a throne she’d never wanted. When would she ever get to fight for something she wanted for herself?

 
Four
     
    The Theater District
    4:45 p.m.
     
    Emily Drake reveled in the applause as she took one last curtain call. She’d always lived to perform, but never more so than in the last couple of months. Only when she was onstage did she truly feel alive. But the applause eventually died, and the last members of the audience trickled out of the theater. Still, she hated to leave the stage. She stood there for a long moment after the curtain fell for the last time, until her friend Olivia gave her a nudge.
    “Getting a bit greedy with the curtain calls, are we?” Olivia teased. “You’d better hurry and change before the crowd at the stage door gets ugly.”
    “Ugly?” Emily asked as she allowed Olivia to steer her toward the wings.
    “They’re waiting impatiently for you to make an appearance. You’ve got them eating out of your hand. You’re on fire. Say, you aren’t taking secret music lessons from some scarred guy who lives in the basement, are you?”
    Emily twitched. “Why? What makes you think that?”
    Olivia paused, frowning, and stared at Emily for a long time. “Are you okay?”
    “What makes you think I’m not?”
    “You’re a theater geek and a Phantom of the Opera joke just flew right over your head.”
    Emily shook her head. “Oh, sorry, now I get it. It’s funny, really.” She held still while the sound tech removed her body mike. “I’m just off in la-la land, I’m afraid.”
    “You’ve