I am finishing up my meal in the Hall the next day when I see them. Members of the Board, sitting atop their usual benches at the front of the Hall with their bald spots plainly visible as they lean across the table and talk anxiously among themselves.

I watch them thoughtfully, dabbing my mouth with a napkin. Most mornings, many of the Board members are absent from breakfast, but today they are all gathered together. This immediately gives me cause to think something is up. They appear unusually tense and hurried and I surmise they will be meeting in the Boardroom on the second floor after the meal.

One by one, the ladies fold their napkins and rise from the table, trickling back toward the parlour or out to wander the courtyard. I take my time, scraping the sauce from my plate with a bit of toast as I spy on the men from the corner of my eye.

Will sits behind the Board's table, closer to them than I am. I shift my focus momentarily to regard his scruffy head bent over his plate as he eats.

Defiance blooms in my chest. He hasn't made eye contact with me once during yesterday's meals or this morning's breakfast, and has been conspicuously absent immediately afterward. He's purposefully trying to avoid me.

I chew carefully, willing him to look up. By now, all the ladies except for myself and Blinky have left. Blinky chatters away happily, completely oblivious to the fact that I haven't heard a word she's said.

Finally, Will looks up and is suddenly staring right at me. I almost drop my toast in surprise but recover my wits well enough to nob subtly at the Board's table.

His dark brows lower as he looks to the old men, watching them carefully. I can practically see the cogs in his brain working while he takes in the scene. After a few moments, he inclines his head toward the courtyard.

"How interesting," I say, balling up my napkin and tossing it onto the plate.

"I know, isn't it? And I could swear that I had already eaten it!" Blinky laughs, not missing a beat.

"I'm going to take a turn in the grounds." I rise and straighten my skirt.

"If you want some company..."

Her voice trails off as I step away from the table and make my way toward the exit.

I wander slowly down the garden path, seemingly admiring the way the light from the open roof streams in around me. I keep a slow pace and, after a moment, Will appears beside me.

"Cousin," he says, falling into step.

"Good morning," I greet him.

As we walk, I am painfully aware of the space between our arms. We used to walk so that we could graze each other lightly, but now the distance between us is obvious and deliberate.

We stroll toward the end of the yard, where there are fewer people. In the back of my mind I recall that no guard is scheduled to walk by this area for another twenty minutes but am careful to keep my voice low, just in case.

"Well, what do you make of it?" I ask.

"They are definitely worked up about something," Will replies. His voice is quiet but he keeps his expression neutral while he looks around. Anyone watching from a distance would think there is nothing untoward occurring but a friendly chat between cousins.

"Do you think there could have been another Wastelander attack?" I ask.

"I'm not sure, but whatever it is, it can't be good for us."

"What makes you say that?"

He takes one more glance about the yard before shifting his gaze back to me. "I heard one mention something about a spy."

My heart thuds loudly and I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry. "We have to find out what it is they're talking about."

He nods, slowly. "Do you know a way to listen in to that meeting?"

I bite my lip, amused despite the seriousness of the situation. "Will Cain, correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds as though you are condoning something risky."

A dimple pocks his cheek and for a moment I forget about the strange distance between us. "I suppose I am."

"Lucky for you, you've come to the right girl." I start walking again, looping around the back of the courtyard and returning to the hall.

Together, we walk unhurriedly along the tiled floor, him nodding to the occasional courtesan as we stroll. Once we reach one of the entrances to the servants' stairs I slow my pace, glancing around to make sure we are alone before I grip his wrist and pull him up the stairs.

The servants' passageways are low and narrow, lined with a rough stone that is in stark contrast to the gleaming tiles of the main quarters. The route I have chosen wraps along the east side of the inner Palace—an area few servants occupy, as it leads in the opposite direction of the kitchen and the laundry room.

The stairs twist up toward the second floor and I keep one hand on the wall to stabilize myself in the small space. I can hear Will breathing steadily behind me.

The passageway widens once we reach the top of the spiral staircase. I turn right and walk down the hall, in my mind's eye counting off the doors that we pass until we reach one in particular.

"Where in the eternal Burn are we?" Will whispers.

I shush him and press my ear against the door, listening for the sound of several heavy chairs scraping against the floor while their occupants situate themselves.

It sounds as though the meeting hasn't started yet. I pull back and take a couple of steps away from the door, gesturing at Will to come closer.

"Each of these doors is the servants' entrance to a room on this floor," I explain, quietly. "This is the door to the Boardroom. If we stay very quiet, we should be able to hear the entirety of the proceedings from back here."

He shakes his head slowly, regarding me. "You really are something else."

"Stick around," I tell him. "You might learn something."

We move back to the door and lean in, listening intently to the murmuring voices from behind.

Someone speaks up, quieting the last of the chatter: "This meeting of the Board is now called to order."

There is the sound of a particularly phlegmy cough and I wrinkle my nose in disgust.

"Gentlemen, being that you are all well aware of why we are here today, I will get straight to the point." The first man expresses himself with an air of authority and I guess that the speaker is Chancellor Braun, the King's chief advisor.

"We have reason to believe that the commoners are organizing a revolt, once again." Braun's words set off a flurry of hushed whispers.

I raise my eyebrows at Will. His jaw is clenched as he listens carefully.

"How do you know this?" someone calls out.

"Our sources in the Commons have relayed rumours that the Runner is attempting to gather supporters." Braun's voice is deliberate and controlled, as though he were speaking of nothing more serious than an incoming dust storm.

"Are these rumours substantiated?"

"Not yet. At this moment, we don't have confirmation that she has managed to organize anything, but obviously we must take any threat against his Majesty or the throne very seriously."

There is a murmur of agreement and someone calls out, "Hear, hear!"

"I will now open the floor to your suggestions." A gavel bangs against a tabletop and I picture the Board members raising their hands to volunteer their solutions.

"Senator Field," Braun says.

A nasally voice pipes up, "We could hold a larger draft. Pierce their numbers and leave no one behind to form a rebel army."

I ball my hands into fists at my sides, my fingernails digging into my palms.

"Very good. Anyone else? Senator Healy."

"I propose a curfew. Any citizen caught out after dark or suspected of conspiring in groups would be arrested."

There is the sound of a heavy door swinging open and I jump back instinctively, so on edge that for a moment I forget I am concealed in a separate hallway. Will glances up at my reaction, his eyes concerned.

"Your Majesty," Braun says.

I hear several chairs pushed back hurriedly as the Board members scramble to their feet.

"Chancellor. Forgive the interruption, but I felt it necessary to partake in this meeting."

At the sound of the King's booming voice, my palms grow slick. I hold my breath and press my ear back against the door, my brow furrowed in concentration.

"Of course, your Majesty."

"I understand that you are discussing methods for handling our latest Runner situation. If you would all take a seat, I will offer up my idea."

From the commanding tone of his voice, I know this will be less a suggestion than an order.

The chairs scrape against the floor again as the men seat themselves. There is a pause and I strain to pick up any small sound from the room.

"This so-called Runner has been a thorn in my side for too many years now. She steals from my people and mocks my power from within my own gates, tampering with my cavalry and releasing my prisoners. She undermines my position and I cannot have the commoners looking up to her, thinking that her behaviour exempts her from the full weight of my justice."

There is a fearsome banging as heavy fists connect with the table and I flinch, jostling Will. He places a hand on the small of my back and leaves it there.

"I want her taken off the streets. Immediately. Every available guard is to be dispatched into the Commons with the sole mission of tracking her down and bringing her to me so she can be made an example of. I give full permission to use any methods that my men deem necessary, so long as she is found and captured."

No one says anything. Next to me, I can't even hear Will breathe.

"Is that understood, Chancellor?"

"Perfectly, your Majesty. A most attractive solution, I must say. I will personally pass along your order to Lieutenant Griss."

"Very good. And, Braun?"

"Yes, your Majesty?"

"Do not fail me. If I don't have her, I will have to give someone else over to my Inquisitor. Harmen is expecting a new guest."

At the mention of Harmen, the breath rushes from my body. Once a captain, now the head Inquisitor to the King. My parents' murderer still lives.

"Yes, your Majesty." Braun's voice is strained.

"That is all."

I step away from the door at the sound of the Board members concluding their meeting. A dull throb has formed between my eyes, clouding my thoughts.

"Can you take us to my surgery?" Will whispers softly in my ear.

I nod wordlessly, turning on my heel and blindly leading the way back. Our footsteps are quiet in the narrow passageway as I lead him back down the stairwell and along the first floor toward his office.

Once we are safely ensconced Will closes the door, locking it before he turns to look at me, his expression worried.

"It's fine," I tell him, my voice sounding hollow in my ears. I take a deep breath and try again. "It's nothing I can't handle."

He nods, looking as though he wants to move toward me but remaining firmly rooted in place.

I run a hand through my hair, my fingers snagging in my updo and springing my locks loose. My mind is working furiously in an effort to sort through what I have just heard.

"We have to get Meg out of here," I say, eventually. "They already know that the Runner is trying to start a rebellion—it is only a matter of time until they find out there is support for Meg to be queen."

"I can take her to my sister's," Will says. "They seem to be focused on the Commons; no one should suspect that the Princess would hide in the Court."

"Good, good." I'm pacing back and forth, suddenly feeling extremely confined despite the spaciousness of Will's office.

"The trouble is where to put you," he ponders, almost to himself.

"I'm staying here," I say, not looking up.

"No, you're not."

"If I leave with Meg, they'll put two and two together and realize who the Runner is. Plus, you heard them: they're going to be looking for me out there." I shrug my shoulders, pausing in my pacing to look at him. "The Palace is the safest place for me right now."

Will looks astonished, his dark brows raised nearly to his hairline. "You can't stay here."

"Why not? It will be helpful to have someone on the inside. I can lift the gate and open the doors for you when the time comes, continue feeding intelligence, incapacitate the guards, whatever you need."

"It's madness," he says. "These people want to kill you."

"I don't think they ever said 'kill,' specifically," I correct him in a low voice.

"Something worse, then."

"Use your head. Will. We're so close, do you really want to throw away everything we've done up to now?"

He draws a shaky breath. "I honestly can't tell if you're being incredibly brave or incredibly stupid."

I shrug grimly. "Maybe a little bit of both."

He runs a hand back and forth over his stubbled hair. "I don't think I can let you do this."

"I don't think you have much of a choice," I say, with resignation. "You said it yourself—you can't stop me when I get a crazy idea." I take a step toward him, tilting my head. "It's nice of you to worry about me, though."

He glances behind him toward the door, as though searching for an escape.

I bite down on my tongue, feeling my shoulders tense in frustration. "We still have fifteen minutes until a guard passes through here."

"Oh, good," he says. His eyes dart back to me. "You should get back to the parlour—the Princess will be wondering where you've gone. How about we touch base tomorrow night at the engagement party?"

"What's with you?" I demand.

"What do you mean?"

"You've been avoiding me ever since I told you what happened to my family." Saying it aloud bolsters my confidence and I cross my arms as I stare him down.

"No, I haven't," he insists, unconvincingly.

"Yes, you have. Did you think I wouldn't notice? Look, I didn't want to tell you, but you begged me to. I knew you couldn't handle it and now something's changed." I bite my lip, fighting the angry blush that rises to my cheeks. "So what is it, Will? Do you feel sorry for me? Are you afraid of me? Do you think I'm unstable? Spill it and let's have an honest conversation, for once."

His face softens. "Kay," he says quietly.

I hold firm, refusing to take my eyes from his.

"So, what's the reason?" I ask again, waiting.

"I..." He rubs his fingers against his temple as though he could soothe an ache behind it.

"Say it, Will."

"I can't," he says eventually, looking away.

I feel a lump rise in my throat as I wait for him to say something else, the lump growing larger with each passing second.

"You don't have to hide anything from me," I tell him. "We've come a long way, you and I."

He makes a low sound of frustration and raises his eyes to mine. My heart thuds heavily at his tortured expression, confusion and fear lacing through me.

"I don't want to hurt you," he says, his voice strangled.

"Then tell me what's going on." I take a deep breath and force the words. "Can you be with me, or not?"

An eternity passes before he shakes his head, ever so imperceptibly.

Something wrenches inside me, twisting my stomach. This room is too small. This Palace is too small. I need to get out. I need to be away from him.

"Fine. That's all I needed to know." Blinking rapidly, I stride past him, my hand groping for the key in the door before I open it and step back out into the hall, slamming the door closed behind me.