His jaw works to the side, and then he says, “The Tribune.”
My nostrils flare with anger, but before I can beat him into the floor, I tear out of his room and head straight for the palace.
LILLY
Lilly: Keller, can you please text me back? It’s five in the morning and I want to know if you’re okay.
Lilly: Keller, please. I’m scared. I need to talk to you about all this, and I don’t want to do it through text message. Please, just see me. I’m awake.
I stare down at my unanswered texts as the clock in the top left corner of my phone switches to half past five. Lara left about forty-five minutes ago after I promised her I wouldn’t do anything stupid, like attempt to find Keller. And I’m holding myself to that promise, because even though I’m desperate to see Keller, to work things out, I know the value and importance of my actions.
So, I’ve stayed up, still waiting for Keller, texting him often, hoping he’ll respond or visit me in my room.
But . . . nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
And the more the silence goes on, the more my heart breaks.
KELLER
“I need to speak to the king,” I say to the footman at his bedroom door. “Now.”
Thankfully, I still have the authority to override the guards at his door, and they knock on it before opening. When the door parts, I push through into a dark room, the curtains completely blocking off all the light from outside.
“Your Majesty,” I say, using formal terms. “I need to speak with you. It’s urgent.”
“What’s going on?” he grumbles as Katla switches on a light, casting the room in a yellow glow. Theo sits up and spots me. He rubs his eye and asks, “What time is it?”
“Almost six,” I say. “And I’m sorry for barging in like this, but I need to speak with you about the protection for the welcoming parade.”
“What’s going on?” Katla asks, keeping the comforter close to her chest. “Has there been a threat?”
“No, but I found the leak we’ve been looking for. It’s Brimar.”
“Brimar?” Theo asks with a surprised cough. He pats his chest. “Our Brimar?”
“Yes,” I answer, still pained from the thought of my best friend turning on me. “I’ve noticed he’s been slipping on his responsibilities, not making the right calls, so I stepped up with Lilly to make sure she was protected. Not enough, apparently, because he was leaking information right under my nose.” I hang my head. “I’m so sorry.”
“Do not apologize to me,” Theo says sternly. “This is not on you. Tell me, what’s happening to ensure Lilly’s safety?”
“I’ve gathered with Henrik, and we’ve been working on a plan. We detained Brimar, since he’s broken the code of trust with the crown. We’ve also taken his phone and searched it for any leads he might not have told us about.”
“Is there a security risk for the parade?”
“No, we’ve spoken with the rest of the security detail, and they’re all on the same plan we originally had. They haven’t been tipped off about any threats, and from the rounds they’ve made on the parade route, everything seems to be in order.”
“So, everything is okay?” Katla asks.
I take a step forward, and I must come into the light just enough for them to see the gash and bruising under my eye.
“Dear God,” Theo says. “What happened to you?”
“Nothing you need to concern yourself with. I’m fine.”
“No, I’m concerned. I asked you what happened, and you will tell me.”
I let out a deep sigh. “I lost my temper with Brimar,” I answer, my head hanging in shame as I pull on the back of my neck. This entire twelve-hour period feels like a goddamn week at this point.
Theo stands from the bed and wraps his robe around him before moving to the seating area, Katla joining him. “Take a seat and start from the beginning.”
Knowing this will be a painful conversation, I sit across from them as they put on their glasses. “We got a text last night, Lilly and I. We were, uh . . . together.”
“It’s no secret that you’re staying in her room,” Theo says.
“Just the first night,” I say, as if I’m in trouble.
“I don’t care,” Theo says. “If you’re in a relationship with her, it doesn’t matter to me.”
“Right . . .”
I explain to them about the prank I was pulling on Lilly with the Lady Whistledown gossip, which makes them chuckle. “And when I was with Lilly, we both got a text from The Informative, and I was fucking confused since I’m the one who sends those texts.”