Gabrielle stood side by side Theodora Vandenberg in front of one of the hundreds of windows of the Sinclair Hospital in Strait. They watched the carriages leave one by one. All of them: the Royals, the king and his family, the Vandenbergs. The meeting was over moments ago, and even with all the planning, Gabrielle could still not believe she was here.

But she was. She was because she chose it.

"We should wait a while," Theodora said, turning around to walk back to the chair by the fire. Gabrielle stayed by the window, not sure why she considered it an escape should things go awry. Should Theodora do something.

It was the Soldier in her who always thought of danger. But the other part of her, the one that was the child chosen to be a sacrifice, was curious about many things. And she knew Theodora had answers. Why, really, had they done what they did? Was it really for power? Surely, there was at least one good reason.

Before she could speak, she heard footsteps down the corridor. When the door opened, Ellise St. Vincent walked in with Sasha. And behind them were women Gabrielle was familiar with. Her eyes widened in surprise as eleven Soldiers filed inside, dressed in dark cloaks, face unreadable. She knew most of them; had trained with them for years.

"There are others," Theodora told Gabrielle. "Others who had retired."

Sasha was the one who spoke when Gabrielle could not find her voice. "They are loyal to your family and will fight with us next week." A small smile touched her lips as she caught Gabrielle's gaze. "We're also locating the women who left Belcourt to ask for their help. As agreed earlier, I will lead the group that will secure everyone within the Common Court."

"You and the other Soldiers will be coming with me," Ellise said, looking stoic as always. "Before we leave tomorrow, I believe we have more planning to do."

"I'll leave you all alone," Sasha said, stepping back.

Once she was gone, Ellise St. Vincent walked to the middle of the room, confidence in each stride. Being surrounded by women from Belcourt did not seem to faze her. "Shall we start?"

*****

When the Theodora left with the Soldiers and Ellise St. Vincent told her to get a good sleep because it might be her last, Rider Fairborne arrived to take her to a villa they reserved for her and other Royals.

"I will be sleeping under the same roof, as well as other Royals," he told her while inside the carriage. "Don't attempt anything that may put you in a difficult situation."

Gabrielle stared at him from across the carriage. His face was shadowed, but she could make out the shape of his nose and mouth. "As we agreed before we left Islefield, I will stay with you as long as you help me save Leila."

Silence reigned between them, the sound of the carriage wheels against the cobbled road the only indication that they were in motion. "Are you comfortable betraying her?"

"Who? Arielle?"

"I heard you have always been the one she trusted."

Gabrielle shook her head, looking at the spot where his eyes glimmered against the passing light from outside. "Arielle only trusts herself. It shall be her downfall."

"And after? Once this is all over. What will your next choice be?"

Another choice to make. Of course. She was not used to making these kinds of choices, so his question became a bit of a dilemma. "I'll stay with Belcourt."

"Whatever becomes of it?"

She nodded. "Whatever becomes of it."

"Even if Arielle maintains her power?"

She nodded. "If she remains to be in power after this, then I'll face the consequences of my choices."

"Do you want to hear my opinion?"

"No."

"Good. I'll say it nonetheless." She snapped her eyes back to him. "I think that's a stupid choice. You can come and join us."

"You might all be dead after all this."

"Possible, yes. But not all of us."

"I don't work with men."

"You're working with them now."

"We're talking about the future."

He shrugged. "We work with women. Ask Sasha and the others who order us around."

Her jaw tightened. "That's how you manipulate us. You give us a certain kind of power so we stay."

"And Belcourt? What do they give you in return to earn your loyalty?"

"You don't understand. Our world inside Belcourt is different."

"Which is why you wish to change it."

"I didn't say it's perfect."

"I don't understand the animosity towards men."

"I don't abhor your breed."

He chuckled. "Our breed."

"Your breed, yes."

"But you can't say you like us either."

She took a deep breath to compose herself. "The very fact that I'm uncomfortable in our current conversation should tell you why."

"I honestly do not understand what you mean."

"You make me uncomfortable."

"Because I'm a man?"

"And you're different from what we were told about you."

His head shook as he chuckled. "We should do this more often, then, Gabrielle."

"I'd rather not."

"The first lesson, of course, is that you don't have to kill every man you encounter."

Through her teeth, she said, "I'm afraid I'm not a fast learner, sir."

She saw his lips curl into a smile. "I'm a patient teacher."

*****

Of course, they took her straight to the dungeon. The Soldier had regained consciousness and told Summer the truth. Ruby was indeed a traitor.

Not surprising, Summer had sadly said before she let them take Ruby away.

She had been here before, yet it seemed different. She had been with Sasha. Now, it seemed different. There was no one here she could be angry at but herself. Nothing but her miscalculated choices.

The following day, Jade showed up. Her old friend, now her Mistress. Ruby wondered what happened to them. They grew up together. They enjoyed their lives as Belles, and they've been through many exciting things. It was hard to wrap her head around what Jade became, and what she became. It seemed like they were from different courts, unknown to one another.

"That was stupid of you, Ruby," Jade said, shaking her head. "You were the one responsible for spreading Sasha's letters, weren't you? For what? The Circus? Did they poison your mind like how they did Sasha and Aliya?"

Ruby remained silent. Jade would never understand. A tear rolled down her face as she bowed her head, wanting to be alone. She needed a plan. A good one. And it was Jade who presented it.

"Enjoy the time you'll have in this dungeon, Ruby," Jade said. "You'll be shipped to Sinhold in five days." Jade's face was filled with disappointment as she stepped back. "Enjoy your food."

Without another glance, Jade stiffly walked away. Soon, a Servant, escorted by a Soldier, walked in carrying a tray, gray eyes looking determined.

Fatima.

The woman locked eyes with Ruby as the Soldier unlocked the cell. And then she slid the tray of food through the threshold, stood, and stiffly walked off while the Soldier locked the cell. Once alone, Ruby reached for her food and found a tiny piece of paper underneath the bowl.

Friends in ship.

Ruby tore the paper and mixed it with the food in her bowl until it was no longer visible. And then she ate, wondering what the message meant.

*****

Sasha sat with her husband in the dark. Beyond the thin wall of the St. Vincent library, Aliya and her sister were talking.

"The Flower Ball is set," Delaney was telling her sister. "Aliya, I'm scared."

"You will be all right. I will meet you at the gates."

"What if Jade finds out? Do you know that they have Ruby? They caught her."

"Which is why this has to stop. This is not the Belcourt we want. This is not the Belcourt you chose, sister."

Delaney sniffled. "I know."

West's hand absently sought Sasha's as Aliya comforted her crying sister. He brought it to his lips. She smiled, knowing he thought she needed comforting as well. After all this time, he still believed Belcourt was her home. It had been, yes, but he was now her home. Their son was her home.

Belcourt was not home. It was her escape when she needed one the most. Now, it was the fallen savior she wanted to save.

"We'll bring Belcourt justice. Everyone deserves freedom," Aliya was telling her sister. "Now, stop crying."

"I don't want you to get hurt."

"I will not be hurt."

"Maybe you should heed your husband's advice. Don't go, Aliya. We don't know what Arielle is planning to do."

"What kind of woman would I be if I stayed safe? If I let you fight this alone?"

"I don't know where they're keeping the previous High Priestess, Aliya. I no longer have access to the Palace."

"It's all right. Just meet me at the gates in ten days."

When Delaney left and Aliya came through the door, Sasha stood and gave the woman a sad smile. "We'll keep her safe, Aliya."

Aliya sniffled and nodded. "I'll retire now." Forcing a smile, she wiped her tears. "Ollie's been with our daughter for too long. That's scarier, to be honest. Last time I left them longer than this, she was in his study, and that room is worse than Belcourt's dungeons. And they should be ready now for the journey. And I need to see their trunks. There could be dead animals inside for all I know." She offered a slight bow to her and to West before walking away to find her husband.

Oliver St. Vincent would be leaving with his daughter, along with Sasha and West's son, tomorrow to join the other children from all players of the game on a ship. They would all be guarded until the battle was over. With instructions from West, St. Vincent would know what to do should things get out of hand.

Once they were alone, West led his wife to the bedchamber assigned to them by the St. Vincents. "Do you trust her?" West asked.

"Delaney? No."

"Sometimes I wonder why you even try to ask for help from people you don't trust."

"Because we need their help." She squeezed his hand. "We just need to be ready for when they betray us."

*****

Arielle gracefully set down her wine and smiled across the small table. Across from her, Tanner Macmier watched with a small smile on his lips. She knew he was hungry for something else, but he would have to work for it. He knew she was only useful to her if he gave her information.

"Thank you for coming at such short notice," she said, nodding at the Elected standing by the door. The girl quietly left the room.

They were in Coulway's largest hotel. She could no longer trust anyone to enter Belcourt, Macmier included.

"The king and the Circus are working together," he said, watching her reaction.

She did not show much, but she was slowly boiling. She had anticipated this move from the Circus, but not from the king. As she realized his reasons, she slowly smiled. He was getting desperate. He had lost control of his own people. And obviously, so did his wife and the rest of the Vandenbergs.

"And what are they planning?"

"They sent Royal Watchers to all ports. All shipping lines are being banned from travel, including the Erns and the Priests. No ships from overseas are allowed into Sutherland."

She scoffed. So they knew of Belcourt's plans to bring in French soldiers. However, they were late for the party. The French were already here. And others more would come sailing as soon as Napoleon's generals took over parliament.

"You should prepare for an attack. They're attacking in eight days."

"On the night of the Flower Ball." Her jaw tightened. "Details?"

He smiled. "They've acquired help from active Soldiers. They'll pass through the main gates, out in the open. They'll go for the children first."

She scoffed, shaking her head with a smile. "They're quite predictable, aren't they?"

"I'm guessing you already thought of this," Tanner said, eyes filled with adoration.

"Of course," she said. "I would not be High Priestess if I did not expect such obvious moves." She downed her wine and stood, eyes locked with his. "Once Belcourt takes its place in the new Sutherland, I'll pay you grandly for everything you've sacrificed for me."

He smiled as she approached, turning on his chair so she could walk into his open legs. "I hope your gratitude will extend to my family. I'm also putting them in danger with what I'm doing."

She allowed him to undress her. "Of course."

"After all, I gave you Esther."

She pulled him up and toward the bed. "And for that, I'm much grateful."

He chuckled as they fell into the bed. "What do you plan to do with her?"

"Keep her locked in her tower, of course. Like a forgotten doll."

He exposed one breast and feasted on it. Then he trailed kisses up her neck and jaw. "I'm quite surprised she's still alive."

"Oh, she very much is. Still hating on you for your betrayal."

She felt him smile to her ear, his hands eagerly working on her dress. "Then you should keep her where she is."

"I intend to. I don't like murder for those I hate the most. I sleep soundly when they're suffering."

A small growl escaped him, then a chuckle. "Then will you spare me of my suffering tonight?"

Her hands worked on the fall of his breeches with a laugh. "Gladly."