West looked across the carriage at Trent. There were four Soldiers sitting inside with them, all armed and sitting in all corners of the carriage. Tanner and the others were also inside, the other carriages rolling behind them.

His eyes darted toward the Great Hall. Trent did the same. Their wives were inside that burning edifice. But there was hope, he thought. If the children were able to make it out alive, then it meant the first part of their plan worked. However, something must have gone awry.

This could all be Arielle playing a mind game. The hall could be empty. Perhaps Sasha and the others could have escaped.

West bent his head, convincing himself that Sasha would have had a plan. And that he himself had to find a way out of this.

One thing was certain: they could not reach the dungeon. Sasha told them it would be very difficult to break out of that place.

If Arielle would be believed, West and his men would be dead by morning.

His jaw tightened as he closed his eyes. Just like that night he learned that Sasha had been captured by Belcourt, he prayed. He prayed for the children. For his son. His wife.

He prayed for the Royals outside Belcourt.

And he prayed Darcy could come up with a plan.

"Where are we going?" At Trent's question, West looked up. None of the Soldiers answered. He looked out the window and realized they were headed to the Village.

Confused, West shared a look with Trent. This was not the way to the dungeons. A group of French soldiers passed them, all of them on horseback. West did not miss the look on one Soldier's face. Her lips pursed and her hand tightened around her sword. These women did not like having outsiders within Belcourt. And apparently, that included the Frenchmen.

"What is going on?" West finally asked when the carriages drew to a stop outside the northern gate of the Village. The Soldier to his right extended her arm to stop him from moving while one Maiden descended from the carriage in front of them. She stopped just outside their carriage and waited patiently while the four Soldiers guided West and Trent out. The gate into the Village was closed and guarded, but not by Soldiers. Four women wearing black and green cloaks were standing inside the iron gates, all holding weapons.

Facing the Maiden, West frowned.

The oldest of the Maidens looked over her shoulder where the other five ladies wearing purple cloaks lined up. Facing him, the older woman looked up at him. "We are only doing this to save Belcourt." Her eyes scanned the Soldiers that were also guiding the other Royals toward them. "Arielle is not the rightful High Priestess. It had gone this far because we blindly followed her." She closed her eyes, as if to close off the reality that she was living in. "I do not know how it came to this. We did not know she was inviting those men here." When she opened her eyes, her gaze held West's again. "We are choosing the lesser evil by helping you. You shall not face resistance from us from now on. Whatever you need to take her and those Frenchmen from here, we shall give it to you. And in return, we demand that you do not forget how we spared your lives."

"The Circus has no desire to destroy Belcourt. Like you, we were also forced to work with the lesser evil to save Sutherland. And one way to do so is saving Belcourt from Arielle."

The Maiden slowly nodded. She turned her head toward the gate. "We need to gather as many Belcourt women as we could. And we need to safely escort the children out of that lake. The Village is the best place to regroup. As long as we can protect it, we have control of all of Belcourt's supplies—food, drink, clothing."

West shared a look with Trent, and then Tanner and the other Royals. Looking back at the Maiden, he nodded. "I'll need to meet the leaders."

The Maiden allowed a faint smile. "I'm afraid we do not have everyone here. The Mistress of the Court of Library and Service are inside. The Mistress of the Court of Arms is in the Palace and we shall try to get a word to her. But we cannot be certain. As you know, she is not quite happy to have her court quite divided."

West stared around at the Soldiers. "How do we know these Soldiers are not playing on Arielle's side?"

The Maiden shook her head. "Our Soldiers answer first to the children of Belcourt. And these Soldiers who are here tonight are the numbers who remember their pledge." Turning away, she added, "And we remember our pledge, West Blackwood. Until death, we save the children because they are Belcourt."

"Wait," West said, stopping the woman. "If we are to join forces, then I would like it very much if we rescue everyone trapped in the Great Hall first."

The Maiden looked to her left. "Delaney." Aliya's sister came forward without a word. To West, the Maiden said, "Delaney is a Belle, but she was a Soldier first. And I assume you are familiar with her?"

West nodded. "And I'm hoping I can trust her."

Delaney looked at him with almost an angry look. "The only family I have is in that hall, Sir. You don't have to trust me. I'm going there with other Soldiers whether you like it or not."

West nodded.

*****

Sasha took another step back as Summer advanced, sword pointing directly at her. Behind the closed doors, the fight had started. And so did the one behind them—Soldiers against Soldiers. And here, where she stood with Aliya and the others, was a fight of Belles against Belles.

"She's using all of you," Sasha said, looking at the younger Belles.

"Don't expect us to believe traitors like you, Sasha," Summer said, eyes jumping from her to Aliya and Caroline. "While all of you have been living your wonderful lives outside Belcourt, we've done nothing but to protect it from the people you share your beds with."

"We're here to save Belcourt from Arielle," said Sasha. "We are not here to destroy it."

"The High Priestess—"

"Is not Arielle," Aliya interjected. "The High Priestess is a child manipulated by the former High Priestess—Prince Albert."

Summer snorted.

"Don't believe us if you must," Caroline added. "Albert, my cousin, is dead, killed by his own family, the very same ones who had been controlling Belcourt to establish power in the kingdom."

Summer shook her head. "It is too late for a history lesson, Carol. You were never a Belle to begin with. Why would I listen to you? You have all betrayed Belcourt and that's reason enough for us to keep you here."

Sasha looked over her shoulder. She could not tell who was winning.

"You are correct to say I am not a Belle," Caroline said. "Because I can never imagine to be one. To be reared to seduce men for the benefit of Belcourt, to give my life and soul to an institution who would never give me my freedom."

"The High Priestess gave us a chance for freedom. It is us who chose to stay."

"Then tell us why she tried to kill Leila, the former High Priestess. She was a child, Summer."

Summer shook her head. "You're lying, Sasha."

"Leila came to us for help," Aliya said. "But Arielle eventually got to her."

"The High Priestess did what she thought best."

"She did what she had to do to keep her power," Sasha said, taking a step closer. "And to gain more power, she invited Napoleon's men here in Sutherland. To overthrow the king."

"Belcourt is an independent institution. We do not serve anyone. We do not care who reigns the kingdom."

"Then perhaps you do not care what happens to everyone else outside?"

"Why would I? They do not care about us to begin with."

Sasha was silent for a moment as she held Summer's gaze. "Summer, why do you think Ruby did what she did?"

"Just like you did. Out of selfish reasons."

"Because she had a mother and father outside Belcourt. She had something to protect. Not serve, Summer, but protect."

Summer's jaw tightened. "Stop talking."

"What you think you are doing—what Arielle wants you to think you're doing—is to protect Belcourt. But you're not doing that now, are you, Summer? The children are not here now, are they? You're here because you're serving your purpose. You're being a pawn."

"I'm being part of an order that is protecting the children! Do not dare belittle the sacrifice I'm doing for them!"

"I, too, along with Aliya and Caroline, are sacrificing so much tonight. We could have chosen to be with our families outside Belcourt."

"Then you should have stayed outside, Sasha."

"How could I when I know what Arielle is planning to do? When I know that she's keeping Leila here? When I know that she's planning a war?"

"No. She is not—"

"She is, Summer, and you know it. In the back of your mind, you know it. You're a Belle. You've met the French soldiers, have you not?" Sasha allowed a small pause. "Did you have to please them in bed? Were you instructed to do so? Keep them happy? Gain their trust?"

A tear fell from Summer's eyes as she shook her head. "No. Stop talking!"

As her cry joined the sounds of swords behind them, the double doors swung open, revealing more Soldiers.

Sasha started to turn to Aliya and Caroline to warn them, but then stopped when she noticed the Soldiers were coming toward the Belles. From outside, Jade's cry of "Traitors!" could be heard.

Then the Royals rushed in, led by her husband. Summer made the mistake of turning her head to look. As she did, Caroline jumped at the chance and disarmed her with fluid ease, stole Caroline's weapon and swirling the sword over her head before jumping back, arms raised to her sides.

The younger Belles were looking more uncertain and scared with each passing second, confused by the scene around them; of their fellow Belcourt ladies fighting against each other. Summer grabbed the sword from the Belle closest to her, but it was easily snapped out of her hold by Caroline.

"I had to learn to fence to fit in with my friends," Caroline explained, pointing the sword at Summer. "I should say it's worth it." She stepped forward and the other Belles jumped back in alarm.

"Drop your weapons," one of the Soldiers said to the other Belles.

Summer's nostrils flared as she glared at the Soldiers. "Traitors!" She flung herself toward one of them and failed, caught by the arm, and whirled around to be bound. "You're all killing Belcourt!"

Sasha saw West running toward them, Trent not far behind. And from the doorway, Jade, with a murderous look on her face, stormed toward them, a dagger in hand.

"Trent!" Caroline shouted, running.

West and Trent turned just in time to find Jade raising the dagger over her head. They jumped to the side, dodging her attack.

Jade let out a scream of fury, turning frantically around in search for Trent, then skidded to a halt when she spotted Caroline. Trent rushed toward her, weapon in hand, but the woman was already running the opposite way, hatred fueling her toward the source of her wrath.

However, she was not fast enough. Caroline was ready. With no hesitation, she bent low and struck forward, the blade of her stolen sword tearing right through the center of Jade's chest, freezing the woman. The dagger clattered to the ground as she looked down right where she was struck.

Her laugh was a gurgle of blood; her wrath reduced to a look of confusion as she stumbled back, standing there with a sword in her chest as her eyes searched for Trent, who had grabbed Caroline, pulling her away, leaving Jade in the middle of all the chaos.

The Soldiers in the middle of the Great Hall had stopped fighting, a few on the ground wounded, others being tied down by fellow Soldiers. The Belles had been cornered, looking horrified to witness their Mistress be killed.

"Aliya!" Delaney shouted, running toward her sister.

"Sasha," West said, taking her hand without another word. She followed without a word. "We have to find a doctor."

She was about to ask why when they emerged from the Great Hall and came upon the other Royals guarding the threshold. To their right, leaning against the wall, was Leo, face white, eyes barely open. Beside him was Tanner, hand drenched in blood as he pressed it against Leo's side.

"I'm bloody and I'm bloody tired," Leo murmured to Sasha when she rushed toward him.

She took his hand and squeezed. "If you die, Leo, we'll lose the deal with Louis and the Vandenbergs."

He rolled his eyes. "Bloody hell, woman. Have some mercy on a dying man."

She stood and exchanged looks with West and the other Royals. "You're not dying tonight," she told him. To the others, she said, "We'll find a doctor."

"No. Find Esther and the child. They're here somewhere." He offered Sasha a weak grin. "No Esther, no deal either."

Sasha nodded. "We'll find them."