So far, he hadn’t uttered a single word to her as they walked through the castle, which meant he wanted to make her sweat. She knew all his tricks. When they reached the second floor, Neco finally said, “Marek came to speak to me.”
“Is that so?” she replied, trying not to say too much since she wasn’t certain what Marek had told him.
Neco gently, but firmly, took hold of her arm, pulling her next to one of the windows. He gave a hand signal to the guards, telling them to block the hallway on each side of them so no one could pass by and overhear their conversation. Once the guards were in position, they turned their backs, giving them privacy.
Her heart thundered in her chest and her hands became sweaty.
“Is there anything you would like to tell me?” Neco asked, releasing her arm but standing too close for comfort.
“Not particularly.”
He stood there, staring at her, trying to intimidate her. She bit her tongue, refusing to tell him about her nightly escapades.
Neco sighed. “You have to understand, your safety is Marek’s number-one priority.” Allyssa nodded. “My son told me he has some concerns, although he didn’t specifically say what they are.”
Relief filled her. Neco didn’t know anything that had happened this morning.
“When Marek came to speak with me, he was upset. I’ve never, and I repeat, never, seen him like that before.” Neco folded his arms, his eyes boring into hers. “I’m not sure what you did, but I want to make sure it doesn’t happen again. You can’t put yourself in jeopardy. You are the only heir left.”
His words stung. The only heir left. Her twin brother, Savenek, had died shortly after they were born. Now the entire line depended upon her since she was the sole remaining heir.
“I know,” she replied, her voice weak.
He placed his hands upon her shoulders. “Allyssa,” he said, using her name instead of her title, “I know you’re under a lot of pressure right now. We all are. But that is no excuse to endanger yourself.”
“I understand your concern,” she said. “However, I haven’t done anything reckless.” Every precaution had been taken to ensure her identity remained a secret.
Neco raised his eyebrows. “Even though Marek didn’t tell me exactly what you did, I’ve been around long enough to suspect what happened, or should I say, what has been happening.”
His hands fell from her shoulders and she turned to stare outside the window, not really seeing anything on the other side of the leaded glass. Neco knew she’d been sneaking out. Rubbing her tired face, she tried to figure out what to do so her parents wouldn’t find out.
“I need your word this … behavior will stop,” he said, leaning against the window ledge.
Allyssa didn’t say anything. She supposed she could agree. After all, Grevik would be a City Guard shortly and she wouldn’t be sneaking out any more. But the thought of not going into the city, of never seeing Grevik again, made her chest tighten and it became hard to breathe.
“You’ve always been so stubborn,” Neco muttered. “Tell you what, how about if you just promise to have Marek with you?”
She hadn’t expected him to say that. He was offering a compromise, and she had to take it.
“Not that I’m saying it’s okay for you to do something stupid and dangerous,” Neco clarified. “But if you decide to suspend all common sense, at least have my son with you.”
“Very well,” Allyssa said. “Should I choose to do something foolish, I’ll be sure to include Marek.”
“Promise me,” Neco insisted.
She hesitated. If she gave him her word, she wouldn’t be able to break that promise.
“Or I will tell the emperor everything.”
He was serious, and she couldn’t let her father find out what she’d been doing. Turning away from the window, she faced Neco again. “On my honor, I promise.”
“Thank you.”
Glancing over Neco’s shoulder, she saw someone down the corridor, on the other side of where her guards stood blocking the hallway. Watching her and Neco speak was Jarvik. Why did he have to be everywhere she was? Was he spying on her for the prince? Or was she simply that unlucky to keep running into him?
Neco released the guards and they surrounded her once again, opening up the corridor. When Jarvik neared, he gave a curt nod, not uttering a single word as he passed by.
The prince, accompanied by his most dutiful squire, entered the sitting room in the Royal Chambers. It took every ounce of self-control Allyssa had not to scream at Jarvik and demand he leave at once. When Mayra had invited the prince, she specifically said it was a private dinner party for Prince Odar.