Venus was smiling at her. She had just finished dressing and was ready to go to sleep. The bed was small, as was everything else in the small cabin of the ship. In a few days, she would be back in Belcourt. Hanna, the Soldier accompanying them back home stood in one corner, quiet. Leila turned to her, but the woman could not meet her gaze.

"I am happy to be finally going home," Venus said, taking her hand. "You no longer have to worry, Your Highness. There are Soldiers around this ship who will protect you."

Leila slowly nodded and turned. She was tired. Too tired, in fact. Camila and Jamie had dragged her around town to look at toys with Mason. She was about ready to see the day end when one Soldier approached her and hastily guided her away toward an awaiting carriage. And now, with the moon high in the sky, they were crossing the ocean back to the mainland. This was not the outcome she wanted, but she had to admit that she was safer in Belcourt. Ellise St. Vincent was right. A leader should stay safe.

The Soldier left her alone with Venus, who guided her into the bed. "I can sleep alone," she said, but Venus remained where she was.

"How was your stay with the St. Vincents?"

She averted her gaze and looked at the ceiling. "Uneventful. I am glad you took me away. There were Royals in the woods."

"In the woods?"

"Yes. One of them told me we are family."

From the corner of her eye, she saw Venus stiffen. "We have no family," the girl said.

"Yes, we do not."

A long quiet reigned between them. "And the other children?" Venus asked. "What were they like?"

"Childish. Two of them are betrothed and are constantly planning their future together. The other is an orphan...like us."

"Who?"

"The boy."

"Where are his parents?"

Leila blinked, stole Venus a look, then sighed. "I do not know. He does not know either."

"And Dior?"

"Away. They trapped me in Herst. I want him found together with Ellise St. Vincent."

Venus nodded. "We will. I am certain Arielle already has eyes on them."

Leila's jaw tightened. "And the moment I reach Belcourt, I want Arielle in chains."

She did not have to look to know that her statement surprised Venus. But her words were law, and her Elected only nodded. "We shall do that as soon as we arrive, Your Highness."

Turning away, Leila closed her eyes. "I want to sleep now."

She did not hear Venus move. The door remained closed and they were alone, but she could hardly take a breath without feeling it rise to her throat. It was not the size of the room that made her feel suffocated. Something was wrong, she thought. Something was not right.

It must have been an hour, or perhaps more, when she stirred awake. It had been so long since she had awakened in panic, but tonight she did. The nagging feeling of uncertainty that she had tried to ignore since they left Herst came back to her. Nothing could go wrong now that she was with the Soldiers and Venus. Or could there be?

She looked around and found the room empty. And dark. Without thinking, she reached for her shoes and hastily put them on, her heart thudding against her chest, the feeling of dread slowly burning in her chest and at the back of her tongue. The voice in her head was talking again, telling her to hide... to run. Something was not right.

She reached the door and grabbed the handle. It was locked. Why? So she could be safe? Or so she could not escape?

No. It could not be.

Ellise St. Vincent's words echoed back to her...

What you do is dream, child. That you have power. But in fact, you are in a game where you are the pawn. Someone is making you play and you do not even realize it.

Her breathing came in short gasps.

Arielle.

That bastard did this. August, the man from the woods, was right. And she should have listened. She should have known better.

*****

Gabrielle thought for a long time. No, not quite long, because she had not much time. Over the drunken laughter of the men on the deck, she thought hard. She could let Nora and the others get to Reginald. She did not have to interfere. But why was she not informed of this plan?

Because you're a Vandenberg.

The voice got stronger, saying the same answer in every question that rampaged her thoughts.

Because you're a Vandenberg. Arielle is not. You are a threat.

Impossible. She had served Belcourt all her life. She had no other aspirations. She could not even be High Priestess for what it's worth. Why would Arielle consider her a threat?

Because you're a Vandenberg.

She gritted her teeth and tightened her jaw, absently reaching for her weapon. She was crazy for doing this, but if they were out here to kill everyone else, including her, she could not allow it.

Her last conversation with her brother echoed back to her. He had begged her to join him. Back then, he did not tell her everything. Perhaps he should have, she thought. Perhaps he should have tried harder.

She walked away from the porthole and back to the stairs, mind in a haze yet quite determined to do something. But then someone was already waiting for her as she emerged at the top of the stairs.

Rider Fairborne smiled at her. "We have your friend."

It took her a moment to digest his words. Without moving, eyes on the man, she said, "There are more coming."

His brows rose, as if amused. "Do you mean the boats coming our way?" he asked, smiling widely. "They are not from Belcourt."

She stiffened and her hand twitched.

"They are Royals coming to take Reginald away. The Duke and Duchess of Eaton will be joining him." He stepped closer, throwing her weapon a glance. "And you are staying in the ship with me and a few other Royals. As you said, there are Soldiers on the way. It will be our task to make certain they will not be getting off this ship the moment they arrive."

*****

Sheridan looked up from her desk and sighed in disappointment. It was not a black-haired woman, but one of her guards. "We are ready."

She nodded and stood. Gathering the papers on the table, she said, "I will be right down."

She would heed Ruby's advice and go away, but not for long. There were so much to do here. Belcourt was starting to get restless. Sutherland was starting to ask the right questions. More articles. They needed to produce more articles.

But for now, she had to go to safety. Until it was safe again.

Throwing the papers in the fire, she watched them burn. Slowly, like how she imagined Belcourt to burn.

The door burst open and a wide-eyed Ruby walked in. "We have to leave," Ruby said, rushing toward her.

"What are you—I am leaving. But what you doing here?"

"I told you to go, and you did not listen," Ruby hissed. "We have to leave now."

Ruby was dressed in a dark coat, hair askew in many places. "What happened?"

"Soldiers are on their way here."

"What?"

"I had no choice. I had to tell my Mistress."

"You told them where I am?"

"My hands were tied." Ruby stepped closer, looking more desperate. "I found a place we can escape to. We have to go now."

Sheridan shook her head. "I am leaving. But you should stay. You have work in Belcourt."

"Not if they can get you. And once they do, it will be over for me."

"I will not talk, Ruby."

Ruby looked beautiful—she always would be. But tonight, she looked frightened. "They will make you talk. They can make you talk."

She scoffed, defiant. "I am not easily threatened."

"You will not be threatened, Sherry. You will be tortured." Ruby reached for her hand and tugged. "Come with me now."

"Ruby, I'm going somewhere else. I will be safe there."

"I do not trust your men. No one can be trusted, Sherry. They can be paid."

"They are my uncle's men."

"Were," Ruby corrected.

Sheridan looked around the room, at the reflection of the flickering fire on the walls. "Where are we going?"

Ruby's face hardened. "My mother."

*****

The night was quiet. Too quiet, in fact. The manor was just as silent and it was not the kind Esther was used to. Leo was always doing something, always eager for her attention. But not tonight.

She heard the clash first. Then the muffled shout.

Her heart raced, hope rising to her throat.

In her nightdress, she rushed to the wall beside the door. Nothing. She could hear nothing. Just that one clash. And that one shout.

Escape.

Whoever it was, whatever they wanted, it was her time to escape. Without further thought, she walked out of the room and padded down the corridors in naught but her soft slippers.

A thud echoed from the hall downstairs. She flinched.

She did not know why, but she rushed in the direction of his room. Did she think she would be safe there? She must be crazy. But she did it anyway. He did not want her dead, not yet, anyway. He was her safe place for now until she knew what was happening.

She stopped, realizing the end of the corridor led to the foyer that overlooked the grand hall below. Pressing her back against the wall, she poked her head out. And then she saw him across the foyer, at the end of the corridor that led to his rooms.

Esther swallowed the whimper that rose to her throat as Leo placed his finger over his mouth.

Quiet, he was telling her.

But should she? What if the intruders were here to rescue her? What if her mother finally found her?

His eyes were filled with warning. And that was when she screamed. "Help! I'm here!"

Leo cursed, sprang to his feet and rushed toward her. She did not go far before he caught her. "Stupid!" he hissed, hand over her mouth. "They are from Belcourt!"

Her eyes widened. She squirmed. He was lying. No, it was her mother's men. They must be here to take her back home. The footsteps rushing up the stairs, however, told her otherwise. They were too light to be that of men.

Before she could confirm anything, Leo grabbed her hand and pulled her down the corridor, then another, and then another. She tried to pull back, wanting to believe she could be rescued tonight. But she did not scream again. A part of her knew she was running away from danger.

Leo pushed open a door. Another bedchamber.

"Do not make a sound," he said, tone far from the teasing one she was more acquainted with. "Not a bloody sound, princess, or I will kill you myself."

She was too stiff to even move, more so make another sound. He let go of her hand and rushed to the window. He cursed.

What? What is it—she wanted to ask.

"There are Soldiers everywhere," he said. He looked around the room. "Do you know how to fight?"

She shook her head.

"Of course, you don't," he grumbled under his breath as he reached for something tucked in his waistband. "Stay behind me," he said, cocking the pistol. "And whatever happens, you stay quiet."

She nodded, swallowing another whimper, following him to the door.

"Not too close, darling," he said over his shoulder. She took a hesitant step back, thinking she could easily push him toward danger or escape him if she had to. "Ready?" he asked, hand on the door handle.

She nodded.

Then he opened the door. And before she saw anything, a fire was shot and she was running after Leo down the corridor, jumping over a green cloaked woman on the floor.

Her hope was diminished as fast as Leo's second shot. And as they passed the second body of a Soldier, Esther was entirely determined to stay with him. He was definitely her safe place tonight.

Leo skidded to a stop and she bumped into him. "There are three of them," he said after poking his head out the end of the corridor.

"Then shoot them," she ordered.

He checked his pistol, jaw tight. "I only have two more bullets." He looked behind them.

"I'm not going back there," she said. "Where are your bloody men?"

"Probably dead," he said.

She cursed under her breath just as he stepped out of their hiding place and shot his last round of bullets. Then they ran—back to where the two Soldiers were. Leo picked up the sword and handed it to her. "At least hold it," he said as he rushed to the first Soldier he shot and grabbed the woman's weapon too.

They slipped back into the same room they came from. He went back to the window and she joined him there. There were carriages below. And probably a dozen more Soldiers.

But Leo was not looking down. He was looking ahead—at the roof of the extended part of the manor. Esther shook her head, regarding him as if he was crazy. "No," she said, voice shaking.

He grinned at her. "Yes, or we die."

"And we will," she hissed, pointing at the roof.

"Not if you have excellent footing. And I assume you are a good dancer," he said. "It is easier than a waltz."

"You are asking me to climb out a window, cruise along the walls, and land on a bloody roof. Even the most difficult sequence of a quadrille will not compare!"

"Then die alone," he said, pushing her aside to climb out the window.

She gasped in disbelief as he did so, then gaped when he stood outside the window, his foot on the ledge that ran along the wall. He would need to take three more steps before he could land on the adjacent roof.

"Is this goodbye?" he asked, brows cocked high.

She could hear the light footsteps outside now. She handed him the sword and gathered the skirt of her nightdress.

"Good girl, princess," Leo said. "Now, try not to fall."

For the first time in her life, Esther trusted her life on another that was not her mother. She let Leo guide her along the ledge, waited until he landed safely on the roof, and even gave him her hand when he reached out to help her down.

He must need her alive so much to do this, she thought. But for how long? Until when would she become useful to him?

"Careful," he said, reminding her of the imminent danger they were in. As he said, walking on a roof was easier than a waltz.

"What now?" she asked as they reached the end of the roof. Below was nothing but grass-covered ground. And beyond was the woods.

"We jump."

"I know. But after?" she asked, breathless.

He looked serious. They both looked helpless. He was in naught but a dress shirt and breeches, and boots. She, in a nightdress and soft slippers. "I don't know," he said. Perhaps it was the most honest words she heard from him.

Esther lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. "Next, we survive. Then I'll kill you."

He scoffed, his grin returning. "Fair enough."

Then they jumped.

And they ran.

*****

Ellise was looking at the darkness before her, at the moving waves that caught that moonlight. Behind her sat Caroline, Aliya and Oliver. They were talking about Leila, how things went wrong that afternoon the child was abducted. Her mind, however, was on Shaw and ten other Royals who were in pursuit of the ship.

"The fact that they went for her meant she is the one," Dior said beside her. "She is a Vandenberg. The question now is if this is her plan all along."

"As I said, this could be a trap." She looked over her shoulder, at the other men and women traveling with them. "That is why we are on a separate ship." And just as she said the last word, Dior stiffened, his eyes frozen in shock. "Dior?" Ellise asked, frowning.

He did not reply. There was no time. He wrapped his arms around her and whirled her around. She heard him grunt, then she heard the sharp sound of the arrow fly past them.

"Dior?" she asked, pulling away and looking down at his chest.

The dark stain traveled fast, soaking his shirt. Then his arms loosened, his form falling forward. Ellise caught him, looking over his shoulder, finding the silhouette of the schooner. And the tiny yellow balls flying toward them.

And then screams. Caroline first, then Aliya. Then the Royals.

More arrows.

Then fire.

*****

Sasha finally allowed herself to breathe. She smiled against the wind as the ship took them far from the one they left behind.

"Do you remember that time when we went to the Sailor Garden?" she asked her husband.

"Of course. You almost jumped off the bloody cliff."

"Someday, I hope we can go back there," she said. "With our family."

"When this is over," he said, stepping behind her and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She rested her head on his arm.

"We're going home, West."

He planted a kiss on her temple. "We made it, Your Grace," he said, smiling against her skin.

Sasha could only smile. She turned and found Reginald standing alone to one side, his eyes set on the approaching land, the home he had to escape many years ago. His greed for power was a juxtaposition to his frail state. Perhaps it was the only thing that kept him alive. He was not the best king in her opinion, but he would give Belcourt a chance, just as what he planned to do in the past. He would give it freedom.

Her gaze returned to the distant shadow of home. She hoped Ellise had set up the board and found the right pieces.

Because their king was on the way.

And the game was about to start.