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  Reid thought she did, so she nodded.

  “I need you to play your part flawlessly.”

  “And what part is that, exactly?” Tired of pretending to be someone she wasn’t, Reid had hoped she could be herself in Axian. While she understood a war brewed, she didn’t know how she fit into the equation.

  “You are a refined lady from northern Marsden.”

  Reid snorted. She’d dressed up a few times at the king’s castle to act as a lady. However, she disliked having to play that part.

  Ignoring Reid’s snort, Nara said, “Your engagement will be announced at the end of the week. It will be followed by a small celebration. The wedding will take place next month.” Folding her arms, she leaned against the window ledge.

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “About which part?”

  “All of it.” Reid went around to the side of the bed. In order to have something to do, she straightened the blankets while she tried to organize her thoughts. “I can’t believe my father signed a marriage contract on my behalf just to retain his title and land.” She rubbed her forehead. “There has to be more to it than that.” What was she missing?

  “He told the entire kingdom you were a boy. He raised you as a boy. Surely you, of all people, realized he would marry you off to retain what is most precious to him.”

  It felt as if Nara had punched Reid in the stomach. Sinking onto the bed, Reid understood why the statement hurt. Her father had sacrificed Reid’s future and happiness for his. She wasn’t his most precious possession—his land and title were.

  She pushed off the bed, facing Nara. “The king expects me to spy on you.”

  “I figured as much.”

  “Then why did you allow me to come here? Why sign the marriage contract?” What Reid genuinely wanted to know was why the Axian people treated her so nicely. Why were they helping her? What did they hope to gain from this asinine marriage?

  “My husband is trying to prevent a nasty civil war.”

  War was imminent. Instead of voicing that, Reid said, “Why do I have to dress as a refined lady?”

  “You are a lady, are you not?”

  “I am.” Technically speaking, anyway.

  “Then you will dress and act as one because that is what Axians expect of a woman from northern Marsden.”

  “But that’s not who I am.”

  “I know that. However, the truth is too complicated to explain. I need you to play the part, at least until everything is sorted out.” Nara moved away from the window, her smile kind. “Besides, the people want a fairy-tale romance. They weren’t given that when I married Henrick, so I intend to give it to them with you.”

  Nara wasn’t the one who had to wear the dumb dress. Reid muttered, “Fine.”

  “I expected more of a fight from you.”

  “I’m too hungry to argue. I just traveled from the City of Buckley while wearing two dresses. At the same time. What’s one more?”

  Nara chuckled. “I’ll meet you in our family’s private dining room,” she said before exiting the bedchamber.

  Joce returned, once again picking up the pale purple dress. Without arguing, Reid accepted her help putting it on. After Joce tied the back, she combed and braided Reid’s hair. There was a vanity in the corner—somehow, Reid hadn’t noticed the vile thing until now—so she sat there while Joce applied dusting powder to her face.

  Once Joce deemed Reid presentable, she led her from the suite, down the hall, and to the first floor. She pushed open a door, ushering Reid into a quaint room that contained only a long table and a few chairs.

  Nara waited for Reid, already seated. “This is where the family eats,” she explained.

  Joce went over to the corner and rang a bell before she exited, leaving the two women alone.

  A servant entered, carrying several plates of food. She set the plates on the table and left.

  Reid sat across from Nara, observing her meal options.

  “Have whatever you like,” Nara said.

  Reid grabbed two pieces of bread, a bowl of oatmeal, and an apple. Her stomach growled. Taking a large bite of bread, she moaned. It was still warm.

  Nara chuckled. “You weren’t kidding when you said you were hungry.”

  The door flew open. Dexter entered the room, dressed in gray trousers and a loose tunic. He’d only taken three steps when he froze, his focus zeroing in on Reid. “What are you doing in here?”

  “Son, that is hardly the way to treat your fiancée.”

  Glaring at Reid, he sat next to Nara. He’d pulled his hair back at the base of his neck, emphasizing his strong jawline. “Actually, Mother, why don’t you explain why you and Father agreed to this marriage in the first place?” Still scowling, he piled food on his plate.

  Reid took a bite of her oatmeal, wanting to hear the answer but not wanting to have to partake in the conversation.

  “You know your father received a request from the king.”

  “He just wants a spy embedded in the palace.” Dexter piled more food on his plate.

  “Yes, I agree. But there’s more to it than that.”

  “I know. That’s why I’m asking,” he said, sounding exasperated, before he shoved a bite of oatmeal in his mouth.

  Nara glanced at Reid. “I’ll explain everything later,” she mumbled to Dexter.

  “I’d like to know,” Reid said. “After I finish eating, I’m going to write to my father to ask why he agreed to the match.”

  “You already know,” Nara said. “Land and title.”

  “Why did you agree?” Reid asked. “I don’t understand how Axian benefits from the union.”

  “I’ll explain it to you both over supper tonight when Prince Henrick is present. Is that all right?”

  They nodded.

  “Excellent. Until then, I have some business to attend to.” She stood, then left them alone in the room.

  Reid swallowed the lump of oatmeal in her mouth, observing Dexter across the table.

  He set his spoon down, the expression on his clean-shaven face wary. “I know my father wants me to marry you to stop a war, but I don’t want to wed you.”

  She chuckled, the sound hollow and humorless. “Don’t worry. I don’t want to marry you either.” Shoving her chair away from the table, she stood. “You should have married Gytha when you had the chance. Then we wouldn’t be in this disastrous mess.” Turning, she swept out of the room without a backward glance.

  Chapter Five

  Anger coursed through Reid as she aimlessly stomped along the corridor, not paying attention to where she was going. How was she supposed to marry a man who didn’t want to marry her? What sort of marriage would they have when neither could stand the other? And why were other people always dictating her life? Frustrated, she stopped before two open doors. Inside, books filled the four-story room from floor to ceiling. She recalled the tour she’d taken the last time she’d been here. The guide had said scholars from all over Axian had the privilege of using the library whenever they wanted. The county encouraged reading, studying, and the pursuit of knowledge.

  Which meant Reid should be able to peruse the hundreds of books in the library. Particularly, books relating the history of Marsden written by Axian authors—not the history books from a northerner’s point of view she’d already read.

  Inside, a dozen tables were situated in the front section. Several people sat around them, most reading or writing. Men and women, which was something King Eldon would never allow. He wouldn’t understand or value women studying to gain knowledge. She couldn’t even imagine him opening his home to others like this.

  With her hands clasped behind her back, Reid decided to examine the books along the eastern wall. When she reached the halfway point, she noticed shelves containing even more books filled the entire middle section of the room. Curious, she continued along the east wall to see what the back section of the library held. When she reached it, she found several couches, presumably for read
ing. Along the north wall were three evenly spaced arched doorways. Reid peered into one. It was a small room. Each wall had floor-to-ceiling shelves piled with papers. Most likely, they were unbound manuscripts. Going to the next arched doorway, she saw a long table with chairs. Probably a meeting room. She strolled over to the last doorway, then peeked inside. A large desk littered with papers, bookshelves on all the walls, and a sofa with blankets strewn over it, as if someone had slept there, filled it. However, none of that fascinated Reid as much as what was curled up on the floor in front of the desk.

  The hound raised its head, inspecting her.

  Smiling, Reid dropped to her knees. The dog wagged its tail. “Why, hello there,” she cooed. “What’s your name?”

  “His name’s Finn,” someone said from behind her.

  Reid jumped, startled. “Sorry,” she murmured, glancing over her shoulder. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”

  Prince Colbert stepped into the office, holding two books. “You’re not intruding.” He went over to the desk and sat, placing the books on top of a stack of papers.

  Reid stood. “I’ll let you get back to work.”

  “I think it’s time for you and me to have a chat. Close the door and take a seat.”

  She’d never spoken to Colbert before. When she’d fought Dexter that one time, Colbert had snuck up behind her, striking her down and tying her wrists together. But other than that, she’d had no contact with him.

  Finn nudged Reid’s legs, begging for more attention. Her smile returned as she reached down to scratch his head. She used the distraction to consider her options. Colbert didn’t scare her like Dexter did. However, that didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous. There was only one way to find out what sort of man he was. After extricating herself from the dog, Reid closed the door and sat on the chair across from the prince.

  Colbert’s shoulder-length hair looked longer than she remembered, and darker with more curls. Like the last time, he wore black pants and a black shirt, the top two buttons open to reveal the intricate tattoo along his collarbone. While Colbert was half the size of his brother, he was by no means slight.

  “You’re going to marry my brother.” He leaned back in his chair, steepling his hands together as he observed her with keen eyes.

  While Dexter exuded strength, Colbert radiated shrewd intelligence. Reid needed to be careful what she said around him. “That’s what I’ve been told.”

  “And I’ve been told you were residing in the king’s castle when your father signed the marriage contract.”

  What was he getting at?

  “Did you know,” he continued, “that your father entered into negotiations with my father before the king became involved in the matter?”

  No, Reid did not know that. However, she didn’t want to discuss the matter with Colbert. Nara had said she and Henrick would explain everything tonight. Wanting to change the subject, she said, “You must spend a lot of time in this room.” She pointed at the sofa with the rumpled pillow and blankets. “Too bad there isn’t a window to let the sunlight in.”

  “I prefer the quiet darkness.”

  “And Finn?” She reached down, petting the top of his head.

  “He doesn’t care so long as he’s with me.” Colbert smiled. “But enough about me. I want to discuss you.”

  “I’m not sure there’s anything to discuss. I haven’t led an overly exciting life.” At least up until the two northern princes had arrived at Duke Ellington’s castle.

  “I find that hard to believe. A woman raised as a man is anything but ordinary.”

  She didn’t feel like talking about herself. “I understand your brother is the commander of the army. What about you? What do you do?”

  Lowering his arms, he drummed his fingers on his desk. “The better question to ask is once you marry my brother and become a part of this family, what is your role going to be?”

  An incredibly good question indeed. Once Reid married Dexter—which she still couldn’t fathom doing—she would no longer be a Knight. Ackley had made it clear that once a Knight married, that person severed ties with the secret organization. Did that mean Prince Henrick was no longer an active member?

  Colbert stood. “How about I give you a tour of the palace?” Finn jumped to his feet, wagging his tail and pawing at the door.

  Reid eyed the prince. Giving her a tour meant spending time together. Something his brother had refused to do.

  “You’re going to be my sister-in-law,” he explained as he strode to the door. “I’d like to know what sort of person you are. Plus, there’s that saying about keeping your friends close but your enemies closer.”

  Reid joined him. “Which one am I? Friend or enemy?”

  “That is the question, Lady Reid, and one I intend to answer.” He exited the room, Finn at his heels.

  Wanting to see more of the palace, to understand its rich history, and to get to know this prince better, Reid followed as he made his way out of the library at a leisurely pace. Everyone they passed greeted him. Smiling, he returned each greeting using the person’s name. While several glanced her way as if waiting for an introduction, the prince simply ignored their silent inquiries, taking Reid through a maze of hallways before opening a door and ushering her outside.

  “Where are we going?” she asked. Finn shoved past her legs, then bolted down the grassy hill toward the lake.

  “I gathered from your earlier comment you’d rather be outdoors than indoors.”

  She added observant to the prince’s list of traits. The only thing she’d said was it was too bad his office didn’t have a window. The fact he’d deduced her love of the outdoors from her statement said a lot about his character. “True,” she replied, walking alongside him. “But I thought the point of our excursion was to see the palace.”

  A grin stretched his cheeks. “It is.”

  They continued across the lawn, skirting around the small lake. The city buildings started about a half mile from the backside of the palace. With the sun shining overhead, the entire city practically glowed. Reid closed her eyes, feeling the warmth on her face and breathing in the sweet smell of cut grass. When she opened them, she caught Colbert watching her, one of his eyebrows raised.

  Instead of saying anything, he stopped near the lake, shoving his hands in his pockets.

  “This is the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen,” Reid mumbled.

  “I’d have to agree with you.” He faced south, his back to the palace. “The entire block over there is Dexter’s domain. We refer to it as the military compound.”

  “You mean that’s where the army is stationed?”

  Colbert nodded.

  Like most buildings in the city, the compound was ornate and appeared hundreds of years old. If Colbert hadn’t told her it belonged to the army, she never would have guessed since it fit in so seamlessly with the buildings surrounding it.

  “Offices are in the first building on the right. The others contain apartments and indoor training facilities. In the middle, there’s a large sparring area. However, when Dexter wants to gather all his soldiers together, they convene at the southern end of the city where there’s an open field.” Colbert turned to face the palace. “Stables are on that end.” He pointed west. “This is the back of the palace. On the top floor, dead center, are the royal family’s bedchambers. Our private sitting rooms are on the northern side. Third floor is where the guest suites are located. Our servants are housed on the second. On the first, you will find the kitchen, great hall, throne room, meeting rooms, and other rooms of that nature.” He folded his arms. “Sometimes, it helps seeing it from this angle to understand the layout better.”

  Finn started barking at something in the lake.

  “It’s probably a fish.” Colbert chuckled.

  A frog jumped at Finn’s face. The dog yelped, then ran at Colbert, sprinting around him excitedly.

  “Calm down, Finn. It’s just a frog.”

  Finn jumped, his fron
t paws landing right below Colbert’s chest while his back paws remained on the ground. He licked the prince’s chin.

  Colbert hissed, shoving Finn away from him. “Lady Reid, I must ask something of you. Lend me your arm.” His voice sounded strained.

  Immediately, Reid gave him her arm to lean on even though he stood a foot taller than her. His face had drained of all color. “Are you okay?” she asked, worried.

  “I’m fine.”

  “You don’t look it.” She put her hand on his, feeling his clammy skin. “Shall we return to your office in the library?” she asked, recalling the sofa and blankets she’d seen in there.

  “Where’s Finn?”

  “He’s right behind us,” she assured him.

  With his free hand, he touched the spot where Finn had pawed him. When he pulled his hand away, blood covered it. “Please escort me to my suite.”

  “Did Finn do that?” His nails didn’t look sharp enough to break skin through a shirt.

  “Just help me to my bedchamber.”

  “Very well. And then I’ll fetch a healer to take a look at that.”

  “No. Just get me upstairs. No one can know.”

  If Reid aided him in his time of need, maybe she’d gain his trust and respect. “Let’s go.” She tried to steady him as she helped him into the palace, Finn following right behind.

  He told her which way to go to reach the stairs. Clutching onto the banister, he helped her hoist him up the three flights as quickly as possible. At the fourth, he leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. His forehead beaded with sweat.

  Reid grabbed his arm. “Come on.” She headed toward Prince Henrick and Princess Nara’s suite, knowing Dexter and Colbert’s bedchambers would be located nearby.

  “This one here,” he mumbled, his voice weak.