I'd spent a good portion of the previous evening staring up at my ceiling and tossing and turning amongst twisted up sheets soaked with sweat. Why was it so hot in this room? What was keeping Brigham up and away from his rooms so late into the evening? And why had I actually nearly given in to Tyne of Vyndoli's half-assed attempt at flirtation?

I groaned when the morning sun filtered through the curtains, tossing my arm over my eyes to shield them from its onslaught. I'd only just fallen asleep and now it was already morning. I contemplated the possibility of sending word that I was feeling unwell, blaming it on my monthly cycle to ensure that neither my brother nor my husband would question my absence, but then my handmaiden strolled through the door and tossed open the curtains and sleep slipped right through my fingers as I was blinded by the morning light.

I sat up slowly, my unbound hair falling around my bare shoulders, and blinked at her. She was already bustling busily about, gathering my gown for the day, another frilly court dress I would undoubtedly loathe once I was in, some cosmetics and a hairbrush. She took one look at my clammy, gleaming skin and frowned before sweeping into the bathing chamber. I heard her filling the tub a moment later and sighed.

I didn't say a word as the woman helped me into the tub and assisted me in bathing, then dressing, but as she sat behind me, brushing through my long curls and arranging them atop my head, I could hold my tongue no longer.

"Are you a virgin?" I blurted and then immediately berated myself for the question as the girl flushed crimson, eyes going wide at the same time she cast them downwards, focusing more on my hair than she ever had. I cleared my throat. I had to try again. "My apologies. I shouldn't have been so blunt. I know that it's a... sensitive subject. But I find myself quite without anyone to truly speak to about it. I promise not to tell anyone your secrets."

The girl only raised her head, watching her hesitantly in the mirror.

"You don't have to tell me," I told her, softly, silently cursing myself again. Of course she wouldn't trust me. Why would she? I had no doubt she'd been treated unfairly by some royal or noble at some point in her life of servitude. And I'd done nothing to earn her trust. "Of course you don't. Let's try this again. Have you ever felt... need? For someone, for a man."

Now, I was blushing as she met my gaze again and her lips spread into a knowing smile.

"A particular man, princess?" she asked, eyes sparkling with mischief. And that was when I remembered I was married.

"Tell no one," I said just as a knock on the door sounded and I nearly leapt from my seat as I called the visitor in. I could have sworn, though, as I turned in my seat to face whoever had come to call, the handmaiden was grinning behind the hand she had clasped over her mouth.

"Princess," Captain Ridley said with a slight bow as he stopped at the threshold of my room. "The King has summoned you to his chambers."

I stood from the chair, nodding back at the handmaiden before exiting into the hall with the Captain. Ridley didn't say much and he seemed to be in a fouler mood than usual. When I tried to question why that was, he only grunted in response, dropping me off at the door to my brother's room just down the hall and turning on his heel to storm off in the other direction. I watched him go, feeling dread pool in the pit of my stomach at the realization that, whatever this was about, I most likely wasn't going to like it.

Acton was pouring himself a glass of water when I entered. He was dressed for the day but his hair was still a mess, sticking up in every direction as he took a sip. When he saw me, he gulped it down and beckoned me in. I closed the door behind me, strolling forward to stop casually in front of him.

"I've been thinking," he told her, quickly, waving a hand to have her follow him as he crossed the room to a door on the other side. A smaller study, meant for his private use. No one but him, the royal family, and a few very trusted members of their court ever entered this room. There was a map laying on his desk, a map of their continent. "And I think it's time."

"Time?" I asked.

"To lay claim to Vyndoli," he finished, not looking up at me as he gazed down at that map. My throat clenched.

"Lay claim. What do you–"

"I intend to use Tyne to do it."

"Tyne is a natural born Vyndolian."

"Who wants revenge against the Rirdantans who took his land. I will lay claim to it, declare a formal war against the seafarers, and send my armies to clear every inch of Vyndoli land. When we have recaptured the country, I will place one of my men in charge of it. Not as King, but as Lord. A young, unmarried man. I will marry him off to the princess of Vyndoli, thereby appeasing the people and sealing my hold over the land. It will fall, formerly, under Etzeran rule. Then, with the combined force of the Etzeran army and what remains of the Vyndolian fighting forces, we will drive the Rirdantans back over the sea, thereby ridding our continent of the barbarians infecting it and getting a better hold on the continent than we've ever had before."

I blinked at him, stunned.

"We were barely able to hold the border before," I reminded him. "How do you intend to accomplish the retaking of an entire country?"

"First of all, our grandfather was never interested in going to war with the brutes. He sent only enough regiments to safeguard the borders and left the rest of our army stationed throughout the country. I gave Brigham the role of border security so that my sister's husband could earn his glory but I've been building up our army all the while. Benefits for joining the fight have never been higher. And now I have Tyne and his merry little band of highly trained warriors. We also have the princess, safe and unharmed. Once her people hear she's alive and that she's in our kingdom beside the boy she has some outdated marriage contract with, they'll come flocking to serve us, anyone remaining to do so. I'm making other alliances too but that's irrelevant. What matters is that it's time, Adelaide. I have the men, I have the influence, I have the princess. Vyndoli is within my reach.

"And you think Tyne will agree to help you conquer his homeland?"

"Tyne doesn't have a choice. He signed a contract to serve me. He must obey my orders."

My mouth parted in surprise. I knew that my brother's practicality had always bordered on cold but this. There was nothing but cold, cruel cunning gleaming in his eyes as he stared down hungrily at that map.

"You'll use the princess," I said, not bothering to hide the disgust lacing my tone. "You'd let her people think the marriage contract between you still stands, that she's assured an alliance with our country, just so they come to fight under your banners."

"They can think what they want to think. All I'm telling them is that she's safe, that she's here."

"You know they will think–"

"It doesn't matter," he snapped. "It doesn't matter why they fight, sister. Just that they do. Just that we win. And we will."

There was so much more that I wanted to say but that wicked gleam in his eye had me hesitating long enough for him to consider my silence as agreement.

"I don't trust Tyne," he said then, pacing away from his table in thought. "But I need him. Therefore, it stands to reason that I need someone I can trust to go with him. Keep an eye on him and his men. You'll be thrilled to know I've decided upon you for the task. You and Tyne will take an army southeast toward the mountains and your husband and his army will go southwest toward the coast."

"Should I not be with my husband?" I spat.

"You and I both know that's an empty gesture," he said dismissively and I narrowed my gaze into a glare. "And this is more important. You will keep me apprised of all of your actions. You will allow him to lead but interject when necessary. You will leave as soon as you are ready. Now go."

Ridley was waiting outside when I stormed from my brother's rooms. He looked just as furious as I felt.

"Your things are being packed as we speak," he told me, voice low. My gaze snapped to his in understanding. He knew. I wasn't sure how he knew. But he knew.

"Thank you," I hissed, practically fuming at my brother's dismissal, at his ridiculous plan, at the lives he was risking on his path to claiming what did not belong to him, what never had. "Brigham–"

"Is waiting in the courtyard. He spent all night gathering supplies, commanding his men to prepare to leave at first light. He's already kept them waiting long enough."

A pointed glance in my direction. I'd slept in. I growled, my mood deteriorating even further.

"If someone had bothered to tell me–" I snapped but was interrupted by the spring breeze and the fragrant scent of roses and my husband reaching for me, broad grin on his full lips.

"Beloved wife," he cooed and Ridley stepped away instantly to give us our space. I stepped forward, letting him fold me into his arms.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I whispered into his neck.

"The King told me late last night. I only had time to rouse my men and make the arrangements."

"We're supposed to be a team."

"We are."

He separated from me then, eyes boring into my own in an intense gaze that, to anyone else, might look like a teary goodbye between husband and wife. But I knew what the connection truly was. One of mutual secrets and a burgeoning trust. Then, without warning, he swept in, pressing his lips to mine. He made a show of it, gripping me tightly, placing a hand gently on the back of my head. When he pulled away, I was still trying to keep the shock from my expression as he leaned in, pretending to be toying with a strand of my auburn hair, and whispered.

"Try to get pregnant at a time when it's believable to be mine."

I blinked, the fog of the faux intimacy between us clearing as I understood what he was saying. He accepted our arrangement. I just gave him a slight nod that showed I understood and a little wave as he strolled away from me, joining his commanders who sat grinning atop their horses.

Captain Ridley tapped me lightly on the arm to remind me of my task and I turned away from Brigham and made my way, captain at my side, to the stables where our company and Tyne's were already readying for the journey. So everyone had known but me. My sour mood snapped right back into place at the realization and was only worsened when I looked up at Tyne himself to find him watching me, fuming.

His jaw was clenched so hard, I thought his teeth might shatter, as he turned away and barked something low to his men that only they could hear before riding off toward the front of the column. I just rolled my eyes and blew a strand of hair that my handmaiden hadn't been able to finish tucking away out of my face. I swung myself onto the horse they had prepared for me, inwardly groaning that they hadn't even given me time to change into something more comfortable to ride in, and prepared for the journey.

We were moving within the hour. I didn't speak once to the Captain, letting him feel how furious I was with him for not having warned me. I just kept my gaze forward, set on the horizon and the mountains rising up in the distance. Hours passed before I felt someone else rising beside me. I didn't have to turn to know who it was.

"I don't need to be watched," he grumbled.

Moody still.

"Believe me, I have no inclination to be your watcher," I answered.

"Then why are you here? I signed the damned contract. I am in his service."

"Because you have not earned his trust."

"Have you?"

My gaze snapped to his but he only inclined his head once before spurring his horse onward at a much quicker pace. My lip twitched as I settled back in my saddle with a scoff. What a delightfully horrible day.