Page 51 of Desperately Yours

My skin went cold in an instant. It wasn’t a bluff. She could do all of it, and more. And she understood the power of threatening torture against the one I loved because it was the same net that had ensnared her. It made me sick. Was I really so powerless? Could I do nothing to protect Fitz from this trap?

“Are you willing?” Her volume returned, seemingly buoyed by regaining her power in this struggle.

“Yes,” I whispered, hoping she saw it as defeat. I averted my gaze as she shifted to the back of the chair and started to untie the ropes. I still had a window of opportunity. I would write her letter, but with one hand free, maybe I could overpower her, break down the door, and escape to warn Fitz.

I had to. I was his only hope.

Fitz

No trace. My security team had torn the palace apart searching for her, and yet found no trace. I’d grounded every flight, every train, and barricaded the major roads, and nothing.

Someone had to have taken her. They were holding her somewhere and if I had to search every home in Nolcovia, I would.

“I’m afraid, Your Highness,” Reginald spoke slowly, knowing the wrong phrase would set me off, “it’s time to begin preparing for the ball.”

“No.” I walked away from him and pushed my balcony doors open. Fresh air blasted my skin as I stepped outside. I had tothink. Michaela needed me. “Not until I know where she is. There’s no point in going to the ball if Michaela won’t be there.”

As soon as I said the words, I regretted them. This wasn’t the time to tip my hand. I whirled around, expecting judgment on Reginald’s face, but found none. Was I wrong to believe that perhaps the old man was actually on my side about this? Or maybe he hadn’t heard me at all. He was getting up there in age.

“Then you’ve made your choice, Your Highness?”

So, he had understood. And yet, still no judgment tipped the scales in his features.

“I’ve loved her since we were children, Reg. There was never a choice to be made.”

“I know.” He rarely smiled, but the faintest glimmer glanced through his eyes. “Love is a miraculous thing, is it not?”

“Yes, but only if I can find her. I fear someone has taken her in order to control me and the choices I make today.” Pain gripped my heart knowing I’d put the woman I loved in such danger. “I simply can’t rest or function until she’s found, Reg.”

Once more, he hesitated, understanding his place and yet, having advised me for years with careful precision. “Might I ask, Your Highness, how you plan to marry the American? I know the agreement with your mother. You promised not to fall in love with her or marry her on condition of Miss Caldwell entering the country.”

“Well,” I gulped back my nerves as I struggled not to feel like a petulant child throwing a fit, “if they want me to rule, then they’ll allow it. If not…”

“You’ll abdicate.” His shoulders slumped with defeat. “And since the king’s brother refuses to rule, your cousin will be offered the throne.”

“Yes.” I saw the flaws in my plan, but it didn’t matter.

“And if he denies it?”

That’s where my heart resided, the awful truth that Bishop would likely abdicate as well, and then the crown would go to a distant relation, one who may not love the country at all. One who may rule with an iron fist and glutton himself on the people. By this time tomorrow, Nolcovia could have a tyrant for a king, and I would be the one to blame.

“I suppose I better hope he doesn’t.” I spun to face the city as it came to life in the twilight hours. “Or, better yet, that my choice for a wife is the lesser of two awful futures and no argument is made over her country of origin.”

He didn’t say another word. Perhaps too caught up in his own worry since I’d shared my reckless plan. It wasn’t right to put the weight of my choices on his shoulders, but it felt good not to bear the burden alone for a moment. A knock at the door interrupted any further discussion. Reginald made haste to open it and Kabir entered, eyes wide, jaw taut.

“Your Highness—”

“Did you find her?”

“I’m afraid not.” His face twisted with the agony of denying me what I’d asked of him. “We’ve searched everywhere. The city, the palace, even the old castle and the woods.”

“Search again,” I commanded him.

“Sire,” once more he spoke as if the title of king had been given already, “the queen has commanded the transportation lockdowns to end. Guests are due to arrive by plane and train and—”

“No!” I shouted. “Nothing goes in or out of this country until Michaela is found, understood?”

His mouth moved, but for a moment there was no sound. “Your Highness,” my rank dropped back to reality, “she’s ordered it and I must follow the queen’s command.”

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