"Not funny, Mali. You know I have good reason to be worried about her."
Malika's freckled face scrunched up in a frown, and she whispered, "How did your talk with His Imperial Idiocy go?"
Before heading out to search for Lynx in the maze, he had told Malika of his plans to negotiate a deal with Lukan.
"Not well. That's just an added problem."
She squeezed his arm. "Wait here. I'll get Stefan. We'll help you look for her."
Stefan, sharply turned out in his full ceremonial uniform, was already heading toward them. He stopped at Axel's side with a slightly raised eyebrow.
"Your men are gone," Axel whispered, not bothering with lengthy explanations for Stefan's benefit. "The best place to start is the lair. See if we can find her on any of the cameras."
Axel led the way. Once at the door to the complex, he brushed his thumb against the scanner. The door remained stubbornly closed. He swore at what he considered confirmation that his father was involved in Lynx's disappearance.
"I haven't seen Father all evening," Malika said. "He's probably in . . . there . . . with Lynx." Malika didn't say the word dungeon, but it hung heavy in the air. "Poor girl. I hope she's okay."
Fists clenched in impotent rage, Axel banged his forehead against the door, designed to withstand a blasting stick. Then, he straightened, his jaw set. "Let's not jump to conclusions. Where else could she be?"
Both Malika and Stefan looked at him with troubled expressions. Was he in wishful thinking territory? He didn't want to give in to their negativity, but where else would she be? He paced across the hallway, trying to think, but every time he passed that locked door, his conviction grew. Lynx had to be in the lair.
Stefan gripped his shoulder. "Let's get something to eat while we make plans."
Axel pulled away from him. "I can't leave, knowing she's in there."
"Be reasonable, Axel," Stefan whispered. "You know as well as anyone that there is only one door into the lair, and you've been programmed out of it. There's nothing you can do."
Axel eyed Stefan and tried to resist the urge to punch him.
Malika stepped between them. "Ax, Stefan is right. I doubt you've touched any food today."
He hadn't, but that didn't matter. "I'm not leaving. When she comes out of here, I'll be waiting for her. And him."
Malika sighed, scooped her skirt up, and plunked herself down onto the floor. She patted the ground next to her. "Stefan, sit. If my brother is doing this vigil, then so are we."
"It's not necessary," Axel grumbled as Stefan slid down the wall and sat next to her.
Malika took Stefan's hand and looked up at Axel. "I'm-we're-not leaving you, so stop moaning."
Axel looked down at them, dug firmly into their positions. They would stay with him all night if that's what it took.
"All right, this is as good a place as any to plan a strategy for tomorrow." He pulled out his flashlight. Only when he had yanked all the candle sconces off the walls and tossed them out the window, did he sit. By the limited glow of his flashlight, he said, "Based on what Lukan said to me today, I think it's safe to assume that he intends to marry Lynx."
Stefan pulled out his own flashlight, adding to the illumination. "We cannot interfere with that. The emperor will never tolerate it."
Axel nodded. "That's a given. But it doesn't mean Lynx has to consummate the marriage." Marriage in Chenaya was only binding on consummation.
Stefan's voice dropped. "But I thought the emperor commanded-"
"It's one thing to command," Axel interrupted. "It's another to get people to obey." He thumped his thigh with his fist. "Tonight, we're going to come up with a plan to get Lynx, Lukan, and me out of this mess Lukan and Mott have gotten us into. Oh, and we have to protect her parents in Norin, too."
Stefan's eyebrows actually arched. "All before tomorrow morning? You're not asking for much, are you?"
"Those are the stakes. All we need is a plan-and set of titanium testicles to see it through," Axel said, refusing to acknowledge that it couldn't be done.
"Even without titanium testicles," Malika said dryly, "I can probably help. With the whole blood on the sheets business, at least."
Axel-and Stefan-grimaced.
"I hope you're not suggesting sleeping with Lukan," Stefan said, voice aghast. "That's assuming, of course-"
Malika grinned at him. "You'll have to marry me to find that out, won't you?"
Even in the wan light, Axel saw Stefan blush. He shoved Malika with his elbow. "Brothers-especially this one-do not take kindly to hearing that their little sister's virginity may have been tampered with. Particularly when said brother knows the last dolt she insisted on courting. I already have a kill list as long as my sword. Don't make me add to it by taking out your ex-boyfriend."
Malika chortled. "I love you, too, Ax. Now, as I was saying, Lady Tatiana is supposed to be Lynx's lady-in-waiting, but it's obvious to everyone that the relationship hasn't worked. Anyway, I've volunteered to take Tatiana's place, and Father agreed. I think he's hoping that I'll do a better job at keeping tabs on Lynx."
Axel shook his head. Despite all the surveillance equipment at his disposal, his father could be very blind where Malika was concerned. There was little Malika couldn't get away with.
"What are you saying?" he asked.
"All Emperor Mott is interested in seeing is Lukan's head on a pike and Lynx's bloody sheets on a platter. Correct?"
Axel nodded. That's exactly what his father had told him when breaking the news that Axel was to kill Lukan.
"So, before Lukan can get his hands on her, I'll hide Lynx while you"-Malika's voice hitched-"take care of him. When she's safely hidden, I'll doctor her sheets. In the morning, you can hand both . . . items to the emperor. And while you're in Lapis and Treven, we"-she turned to Stefan-"will take care of Lynx."
As grateful as he was, Axel knew Malika's plan was pathetic. This was the succession they were talking about. If Axel were in Mott's boots, he'd insist on more than a bloody sheet to convince him the succession was safe-or as safe as it could be, given the ludicrous situation. He would demand real evidence, of the photographic kind, before considering the job done. He had to assume Mott would be thinking along the same lines. Axel rubbed his jaw, mind whirling with ideas on how to fake some hot digital sex.
"Axel, I'm talking to you." Malika poked him in the ribs.
Before he could comment, the door to the lair slid open, revealing Felix and Lukan. Axel leaped to his feet. It was on the tip of his tongue to demand to know where Lynx was, but in his mind's eye, he saw how their huddle must have appeared. It certainly didn't shout strength and confidence.
But then, Lukan wasn't looking so good, either. Gutted was perhaps the best description Axel could come up with for his cousin's pale face, beaded with sweat.
"Nephew and uncle having a tête-à-tête," Axel said, pushing the sarcasm. "Father, you really need to work on your social skills. My cousin does not appear to have enjoyed your hospitality."
Axel expected a comeback from Lukan, but his cousin merely looked at him with haunted eyes.
"Don't be so smug, Axel. We may still find ourselves working together."
Eyebrows raised, Axel wondered what that cryptic comment meant as Lukan hurried away. He turned to his father. "Care to explain?"
"More than you can imagine." His father peered down at Malika sitting on the floor.
Stefan stood at attention.
Felix prodded Stefan in the chest. "This is no place for a lady. Get my daughter out of here, now." He grabbed Axel's arm. "And you, come. We have much to discuss."
"No place for a lady," Axel said, "but quite fine for Lynx to spend the night here? How does that work, Father?"
His father snorted as Axel followed him into the lair. Axel itched to push past him to get to the dungeons, but he knew it would be pointless. If his father had reprogrammed the main door, he would certainly have changed the codes on the portcullis, too. Digging deep into his limited wells of patience, he followed his father into his office-and stopped short at the door. The room looked as if it had been tossed about by a particularly bad-tempered giant.
"Lukan and Mott?"
His father nodded. "Right a chair for yourself."
Axel obeyed, but his foot bounced up and down on the chenna-stained carpet.