Nastasia sat near a window in her bedroom, gazing listlessly across the palace grounds. She'd been stuck in here for two days already, and it didn't seem likely that she'd be free to roam again anytime soon. Not after what she'd done or what she'd promised to do.

She'd been surprised that her parents hadn't demanded more answers than what she voluntarily gave. She only gave them a general outline of how her plan came to be and how she enacted it. She had expected her vagueness to be met with arguments, demands, and protests, but they'd said nothing at all. The fact was almost terrifying.

Nastasia drummed her fingers upon the windowsill with a sigh, then glanced back over her shoulder. Two unfamiliar handmaidens stood in the same positions they'd maintained for the past four hours. One in front of the bookshelf hiding the entrance to the secret passageway, though she wasn't aware it was there, and the other blocking the bedroom door.

No amount of bribery, commandments, or pleading had persuaded them to move. They wouldn't until their shift ended and two different handmaidens came to switch with them. And anyway, it didn't matter if she found a way past them. There were guards posted outside the room who were more unmoveable than the maids.

I'm as much a prisoner as Nikolai, Nastasia sighed to herself.

She closed her eyes briefly, the thought of him pinching at her heart as usual. She'd been doing her best not to think about him because when she did, all she could do was worry, and without Alexei to bring her news on his condition, there was no assuaging her concerns. Her brother had been prevented from visiting her too.

The only people allowed in and out of her room right now were her parents and the servants. She hadn't even heard from Josephine and Elise, though she wondered if that was owed to the fact that she'd withheld the truth from them and they were now aware of it.

But still, I'd expect them to want answers, she thought.

A few shadows nestled around her fingers and squeezed gently. Nastasia smiled down at them, but her attention was soon captured by a knock at the door. She knit her brows and turned as one of the handmaidens answered it. Nastasia's blood ran cold.

Emperor Kazimir strode into the room, not waiting for admittance from the handmaiden. He carried a dark bouquet that dripped from his grasp like wine overflowing from a glass. Nastasia forced herself to straighten as Kazimir approached her and stooped into a bow.

"Your Highness," he greeted her, offering up the bouquet.

Nastasia took it and winced as her fingers curled against thorny stems. The outer edge of the bouquet was made up of roses so dark they were the color of dried blood. The inner piece was a cluster of black dahlias. A few sprigs of dry and wilted baby's breath filled in the negative spaces of the bouquet. Overall, the piece boasted ill intention and malice. She couldn't wait to be rid of it.

"I'm glad to hear you've been making a full recovery," Kazimir began, his gaze fixed on her intently. "It seems you'll be in perfect condition for the day of our wedding."

"I've not heard when that will be," Nastasia replied. "No one has told me what preparations need to be made."

"That is because I told them not to bother you with such things. Your mother and I have taken care of everything. She's been quite accommodating. She wants only the best for you, of course. Everything she never had."

"Still, I think I should at least be informed about the decisions being made regarding my wedding," Nastasia insisted, lifting her chin to meet the Emperor's gaze evenly. Unease flickered across Kazimir's eyes, but was gone the next instant.

"You'll have to get used to not being consulted. It's not how things are done in Andrian," the Emperor said.

"Perhaps it's time for things to change."

Without warning, the Emperor snatched her face by the chin and held fast, his grip hard enough to hurt. "Not to worry. We'll curb that little fancy," he growled. "I suggest you remember your place, Princess. You are no Saint. You're just a girl who thinks she's something she's not."

Her heart hammered against her ribs and she could scarcely draw a breath. Still, Nastasia managed to hold Kazimir's gaze defiantly. A cold smirk curled his lips and he shoved her backwards. Pain burst through her spine as she knocked against the windowsill, but Nastasia recovered herself quickly.

Her free hand curled into a fist and thorns bit deeper into the other as her grip tightened around the bouquet, though the pain barely registered. She watched Kazimir storm out the door, unaware of the shadows and starlight licking at her fingertips.

•༻᯽༺•

Alexei hovered within the shadows of an alcove, keeping out of sight of Emperor Kazimir. He'd been on his way to attempt to see Nastasia again when he'd seen the man enter his sister's bedroom and heard the angry words from within.

The door had been open a sliver during the entire encounter, allowing him to watch the ordeal as well. Now, one of Nastasia's handmaid jailers was closing the door again, and he heard the lock click. Once more, there would be no visiting his sister.

Alexei let out a frustrated hiss and sank deeper into the alcove. He slumped to the floor and rested his head back against the wall, thinking desperately for more ideas. He'd been trying to get in to see Nastasia ever since she'd woken up, but all of his efforts had been thwarted. He couldn't even sneak in through the secret passageway.

He'd tried going in at night too, but there were guards posted outside the door and even when he'd managed to slip past them, he found the door locked and heard different handmaidens whispering inside. Nastasia wasn't left alone for a single moment and her room was never unguarded. 

What am I going to do? My time is running out and I still haven't been able to warn anyone about the assassination, Alexei groaned inwardly.

Something seemed determined to prevent him from doing so. He'd been barred from speaking with his mother and father by people claiming they were not to be disturbed. There was no way to get in to warn Nastasia.

He'd tried to track down Nikolai's friends but they were already gone, and the women who had traveled with Nastasia were confined to their quarters. He'd seen and heard nothing of Volya since the day of the tournament.

And it didn't help that he was running on just a few hours of sleep. Alexei stifled a yawn and rubbed his eyes wearily, then ran his fingers through his hair with a sigh. He wished now that he hadn't taken his dreamless nights at the start of the tournament for granted. His nightmare was back and worse than ever. It was the same thing it had always been.

Someone was holding him hostage and try as he might, he couldn't break loose. He felt the force of a collision and a sharp burst of pain. There was a searing blast of light and darkness, and then nothing at all. Sometimes the light and darkness came before the collision, but lately, it had been coming after. He didn't know what it meant or why the dream had increased in frequency and intensity. But there wasn't time to worry about it now.

He brightened as a new idea occurred to him. Alexei picked himself up and slipped into the hallway, keeping out of sight of the Guards at Nastasia's door. If he couldn't find Volya himself, perhaps there was someone who knew where he was. Maria Yensev hadn't been present at the palace since the day of Nastasia's injury, but he'd look for her anyway. If anyone could tell him where Volya was or pass on a message for him, she could.

He quickened his pace but made sure to keep his footsteps quiet, knowing Emperor Kazimir was likely only a short distance ahead of him. He didn't need the Emperor taking an interest in him now. Alexei stuck to the main corridor until he reached a servant's passage that would take him all the way down to the kitchen.

When Maria was present at this time of day, that was usually where one could find her. He whispered a silent prayer that luck might be on his side for a change and hurried down the stairs. Gradually, the bustling noise of the kitchen reached his ears.

Servants began to appear in the passage and would pause to bow or curtsy to him, but none blocked his path. He reached the door to the kitchen unimpeded and pushed it open in time to see a familiar red-headed woman glide into a secluded pantry. Alexei cocked his head with a frown and made his way across the kitchen.

Beside the pantry his mother had entered stood a table. Beneath it was a barrel and several boxes of spices, but there was just enough room that he'd be able to squeeze under it and listen in to whatever was being said. None of the servants paid him any mind as he reached the table.

Alexei glanced about, ensuring no one was watching, then huddled himself beneath the table and tugged a box in front of his legs. Anyone who bent over to retrieve something would undoubtedly see him, but his hiding spot would do well enough to keep him out of his mother's sight.

Alexei strained to hear what was being said inside the pantry. There were two female voices, his mothers, and Maria Yensev's. "I told you not to come back until after this was done," Serafima was saying. "You're making everything so much more difficult for yourself."

"Do you honestly expect me to stay away when my son is being held prisoner?" Maria retorted, sounding more angry than Alexei had ever heard her before. "I have to be here to ensure he's treated fairly. Goddesses know his brother won't."

"I've given you my word that after the wedding, Nikolai will be given his sentence and returned to you. Is that not enough?"

"No, of course it's not enough! I know about the deal you and Gavriil struck with Kazimir. I know the only reason Nikolai isn't on his way to face execution in Andrian right now is because you sold off your own daughter, and she accepted it because she loves him."

"I also know that if something goes wrong, you won't hesitate to hand over Nikolai. Tell me I'm wrong, Serafima. Look me in the eye and tell me my son isn't just another pawn to you." There was a brief moment of silence, and then, "There. You can't."

"The wedding will be the day after tomorrow. I don't want to see you here again until the day after that. If I do, I'll have Volya removed from his position."

"Do it then. It might do the boy some good."

"Maria, it's because of me that Nikolai is still here. I'm the one who arranged this deal. If it were up to Gavriil, Nikolai would already be gone and Nastasia would be nowhere near Kazimir. I knew she would never forgive us if we let that happen, and neither would you. At least this way, Nastasia gets to do something meaningful for the man she loves, and Gavriil and I will have a chance to reconcile with her someday."

Maria let out a disgusted scoff. "She won't be your daughter someday. You know exactly why Kazimir wants her and what he'll use her for. She's going to lose herself completely and you'll be the only one to blame."

When Serafima next spoke, her voice carried a harsh and commanding tone. "Enough. I've given your orders. Obey them and leave, or continue to defy me."

"It's not a wonder Gavriil doesn't trust you enough to share his power. He could've, you know. Pyotr told me shortly before you were married that Gavriil wished to make you his equal, and he was going to. He was going to amend the laws for you, but then you arrived, power hungry and bitter, and he knew he couldn't trust his kingdom and people in your hands. This is why."

Alexei shrank back beneath the table as Maria's skirts rustled past him, followed shortly by Serafima's. He watched as the two women went in separate directions, and once his mother was out of sight, he pulled himself out of his hiding spot and dashed after Maria.

"Wait!" He called as they left the palace and entered the courtyard.

Maria paused at the sound of his voice. "Your Highness?"

"Volya," Alexei panted. "I need to speak with him. Please tell me you know where he is."

Maria pursed her lips, then nodded. "Come with me." Alexei breathed a faint sight of relief and hurriedly trailed her across the palace grounds and into the streets beyond.