When she reached the first set of buildings, she peered down the main street, searching for the brothers. Only a handful of people were out at this late hour. The streetlamps were dim, the city fairly dark. A few windows in the surrounding buildings were illuminated. In order for this to work, she needed to make sure she behaved normally, not like a spy snooping around. She straightened, rolling her shoulders back and trying not to wince.

Strolling around the corner, she acted like she had somewhere to be. Even though she didn’t see Dexter or Colbert anywhere, she refused to stop or deviate from her current course. She walked with purpose while scanning the doorways and side streets. A thought suddenly occurred to her—how would she get back in the palace if the doors were locked? Would she be forced to knock? The entry and exit points had to be monitored. Last time she’d been here with Harlan and tried her hand at spying, she’d assumed security to be lax because she hadn’t seen any sentries. How wrong she’d been. The same was probably true tonight. Someone had to see her leave. Would they report her absence to Dexter? This had been a terrible idea. She should have thought this through before she’d left the palace. Why had Ackley ever made her a Knight? She suspected it was simply because she could act like a man when needed since she was the worst spy ever.

Leaning against the nearest building, she closed her eyes. She should be in bed, not traipsing around the city on a stupid endeavor. Returning to the palace and pretending this night never happened was her best bet. She’d just tell the Knights she’d failed.

“Care to explain what you’re doing here?” Dexter asked, his voice low and calm.

Reid’s eyes flew open, her heart pounding. Both Dexter and Colbert stood in front of her.

“Are you following us?” Colbert asked, folding his arms across his chest.

Glancing between the two brothers, Reid felt as if she’d violated their trust. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I know I shouldn’t be here. I was just about to return to the palace.”

“We were actually wondering how long it would take you to follow us,” Colbert said.

“The first day you arrived at the palace, we made a bet,” Dexter explained. “You lasted longer than either of us thought.”

They didn’t sound furious, nor had they attempted to drag her back to the palace. “Is it safe for you two to be out here like this? Especially seeing as someone tried to assassinate you not too long ago?”

“Are you concerned about our well-being?” Colbert asked, his eyes alight with mischief.

“Of course I am. Are you at least armed?”