Page 30 of Decoy

He retrieved my fallen dagger. He only needed a moment’s perusal before his eyes widened in recognition. “It appears that despite your constant surveillance, you managed to find a way into the royal armory.” His gaze searched mine for the answers I was desperate to hide.

Technically,Lord Lukehad been the one to do the seemingly impossible, but I couldn’t tell the advisor about my unwitting accomplice, even as it felt unwise to keep it a secret from one determined to protect the princess. Luke had always been suspicious and dangerous, but he’d only become more so after his poisoning attempt. Yet even so, a strange reluctance to turn him in warred against my sense, fear that the royal family would rid themselves of me the moment I ceased being useful.

The early-morning light glistened off the blade as the advisor carefully examined my dagger, taunting me with its nearness. “I should have been astute enough to predict your skillset when we first confiscated your weapon, though admittedly it would have dissuaded me from choosing you; your abilities just might prove useful: the longer you survive, the higher the likelihood we’ll find the threat Their Majesties are searching for.”

For a fleeting moment I hoped that meant he’d return my weapon, but he only tucked it away in his belt. Just like that, once more I was left without protection.

Curses.

He smirked, seeming to sense my inner frustration and taking great delight in it. “If you hope to retain this position rather than resume your trip to the gallows, you will keep your skills that are unbecoming for a princess a secret. I suspect you possess many more, considering your presence here means you’ve also found a way past the guards posted at your door.”

My mouth went dry, preventing me from answering, but my silence did little to keep my escape route a secret. He only needed a moment to ponder the riddle for understanding to widen his eyes.

“I see, you snuck out the window. I admit I didn’t immediately consider such a method considering your room is located on the third floor. A lock and guards posted beneath your window should do the trick. You might be cloaked in silk and bear the title of a princess, but never forget that you’re still a prisoner.”

I clenched my jaw to hold back the myriad of biting words burning my tongue, demureness that twisted my stomach with self-revulsion that only further tightened the chains trapping me in my sense of inadequacy.

“I initially sought you out to acquire a status report for Their Majesties. We shall further discuss the matter somewhere more private. Come.”

He tilted his head in a motion to follow him and I did so with considerable reluctance, knowing it was in my best interest to cooperate even as my hatred at my forced coercion deepened with every step. His brisk pace slowed near the back entrance so he could take in my disheveled hair and the sweat lining my brow that made it impossible to hide my morning of intense exercise.

After a moment’s perusal his shoulders slumped in reluctant acquiescence. “Thankfully the hour is early enough we shouldn’t encounter many in the corridors, but in the future you will do well to maintain the image expected of you; you never know when someone will come upon you and discover you in such an unroyal state.”

I’d merely been caught off guard, but after my recent myriad of mistakes, I no longer possessed my usual confidence that it wouldn’t happen again.

He lowered his voice. “Always remember that the crown will offer you no protection should you be caught as an imposter; that I can promise you.”

My blood chilled and I forced a nod before following him into the palace. After many detours through several obscure corridors to avoid the servants we happened across, we finally reached the study where this nightmare had first begun. He possessed enough grace to hold the door open for me and motion me inside, though that likely had only been a show for the attending guard.

Upon entering I immediately became awash in the memories of the last time I’d found myself within this room—the elegance that had been a stark contrast to thenothingnessI’d expected to be feeling instead, the suffocating fear choking the air, the sensation of death’s hovering shadow, and the advisor’s words upon recruiting me for this dangerous game.

“Remember your feelings as you languished in the dungeon, counted down your final hours, first glimpsed the gallows, and imagined the sensation of losing your breath while having your life slowly stolen away, the dreaded feeling of being so close to death…”

I dug my nails into my palms in hopes that the sharp pain would ground me against the horrible thoughts threatening to send me adrift.I’m alive,I repeatedly reminded myself as the advisor left me standing and settled behind the desk, just as he had the day we’d met.

“Give your report.”

I carefully organized my gathered clues, none of which I wished to disclose. Now that my weapon had once more been confiscated, my only remaining defense was the information I’d obtained, particularly that which Their Majesties required. Though I’d been promised a pardon, it wasn’t a guarantee, which meant that the identity of the mastermind served as my sole shield between me and execution.

Deep down I knew I possessed a far more complicated reason for my hesitancy. I currently only possessed evidence against Lord Luke, and despite all he’d done against me, I didn’t want to submit his name. One would imagine his poisoning attempt would provide enough motivation to betray him, but instead I could only focus on details irrelevant to my cause—the feel of his embrace the night he’d pulled me into the secret alcove to rescue me from my pursuer, the comfort I found in his proximity that contradicted his threatening aura, the glimpses of his sweetness and vulnerabilities, the strange draw I felt towards him…and especially the sense that something about him wasn’t quite what it seemed, which I would never discover if I exposed him now.

I unconsciously made a decision I had no explanation for. “I don’t have any information to share at this time.”

Silence settled over us as Sir Rupert gravely surveyed me. “I see.” He studied me a moment more before he slowly smirked. “I’m surprised you’d even attempt such an underhanded tactic while in your precarious position.”

My heart pounded wildly, each pulse painful through apprehension’s firm grip around it. “What do you mean?”

“Though you address me with the proper respect due for an agent of the crown, you attempt to deceive me with your tricks.” He motioned to my restless fidgeting my nerves made impossible to hide. “Let’s try this again. I’ll repeat my question and this time you will provide me with thecorrectanswer. Understood?”

Completely. Attempting to lie after having just been caught in it would be suicidal, yet still I felt a strange urgency to protect Luke, despite having no reason to and every reason to protect myself. Yet in the end, the memory of the gallows still imprinted on my thoughts and the suffocating terror of being so near death remained an essential motivator to cooperate.

I took a wavering breath. “I have reason to suspect Lord Luke, the son of the Duke of Rosewood.”

The advisor’s eyes bulged. “Theduke’s son?If that isn’t a random name given in desperation, then it appears you’re not entirely useless.”

I immediately yearned to snatch back my words, but it was too late—they already hovered between us for the advisor to poke and prod, which he did with an expression of utmost interest.

“It’s just a suspicion.”

---