"It solidified one thing, right?" Althea offers. "We know it's a noble…has to be." "I already figured that," I tell her. "Although, a female's voice helps narrow it down. Not by much." She shrugs. "Sleep on it, sis. I'll help you figure this out." I shake my head, staring out the carriage window as we travel through town. "Do you miss the inn?" she asks suddenly, her eyes also on the town outside. "Sometimes. It always felt simpler. Meet Lucas, track my mark, get paid. I was good at it, too. There wasn't any mystery or questions keeping me up at night." "Sounds boring, though," she grins. I roll my eyes. "It was safe." "The king would keep you safe," she says quietly. I glance at her. "I don't need a king to keep me safe, Thea." "No, you need a king and a prince," she winks, laughing as I playfully kick her. "Do you love them?" "How can I love two people?" I ask. As soon as I say it, I realize I'm asking myself the question, too. How can I feel this way toward bot

I heal irritatingly slow. I spend the rest of the week in my room, moving from my bed to pace around the room, thinking. That's all I'm able to do is think. Occasionally, the king and prince visit, but mostly Althea keeps me company when she isn't spending time with Theodore. Sebastian's warning has left a weight in my chest. If Theodore is a part of this, it would break my sister's heart. But it didn't seem right. None of it did. And it was frustrating the ever-loving f*ck out of me. Sure, Theodore had time to send off a letter letting the attackers know where we would be. H*ll, he probably had time when he was waiting outside the cottage while we spoke to Lucas. But no matter how I tried to piece together the story, I couldn't find a reason. Theodore's family was raised alongside the king's. He was Ambrose's best friend and most trusted advisor. He didn't seem power hungry. Unless there was something I was missing? Some crack in their relationship that was large enough to cause

I run straight into Sebastian, nearly losing my balance as I let out a huff. Of course, he just happens to be here. He seems to have a habit of roaming the halls at night and being perfectly placed where I can bump into him. "Hera?" he says. "Are you all right?" I'm shaking uncontrollably, but I hide my hands behind me so he can't see. I don't know if I'm ready to share this with anyone yet. Not until I wrap my own head around it. Unfortunately, Sebastian's become good at seeing through me. He pulls my chin up so I'm forced to look at him. "What is it?" he growls. The sound sends a shudder through me, and it isn't from fear. If I wasn't stressed about the information I'd just discovered, I would let myself give in to the heat. But this isn't the time or place."I'm fine," I manage. "Don't lie to me, Hera," he says. For some reason, I find I can't. Or I don't want to. I want to share this with someone, so the burden isn't on me. And Ambrose isn't an option right now

Sebastian releases me, and without saying a word, takes my hand and starts toward my room. I let him. I don't have anything to say right now, and I'm sure neither does he. We take our time. I enjoy the feeling of his hand entangled with mine but it confuses me, too. How is it possible to feel this way for both Ambrose and Sebastian? The connection with Ambrose feels so powerful, sometimes it scares me. The responses he elicits from me feel otherworldly. He anticipates what I need before I know it, and his touch alone is enough to send me over the edge. And then there's Sebastian. Could I be his mate too? It'd crossed my mind once before but I wrote it off. Maybe what we had didn't sink below the surface, but it didn't feel that way now as he walked beside me. It felt like his presence alone was enough to guard me against everything I didn't want to face. They are so different and yet they complement opposite parts of me. Am I falling in love with both?Sebastian stops in

Despite being exhausted, I'm awake. I'm standing by my desk, the only light in the room coming from the moon outside. I'm not sure what time it is or what I should do to help myself sleep. My mind wanders absently over the case, but I can't seem to focus on any thought or clue. It's all jumbled like I'm completing a puzzle blindfolded. My head snaps up as I hear the lock on the door click open. It's too dark to see who enters, but I sigh as I expect Althea's voice to ask to sleep beside me tonight. "Can't sleep either?" I ask into the dark. I shiver at the male's voice that says my name in response. "Hera," Ambrose says. He closes the door behind him and I can sense as he comes closer. I thought he'd be too upset to speak with me, at least for a while. But if he came looking for comfort, I certainly don't mind providing it. Especially since I think I could use a distraction right now, too. His form approaches me. I turn to face him as he corners me against the desk. I feel h