“That you’re both crazy.” Reid understood why they wanted to eliminate Eldon—she just didn’t think it was the best course of action to take. She needed time to process the idea. She’d assumed she and Dexter would begin to implement the changes they wished to make over the years to come. She hadn’t realized he’d planned to do something so extreme right now.

“We need to head back,” Colbert said. “This is the tricky part.”

“Sure…that’s exactly what I was thinking,” she muttered sarcastically. She rose, pain sparking in her ribs. “Getting back to the palace unnoticed is definitely the hard part. Not assassinating the king, not taking over Marsden, not any of those other seemingly impossible tasks, but simply returning home.” She rolled her eyes.

“Come,” Dexter said, ignoring her sarcasm. “We’ll talk more about this when you’re not so tired and the shock has had time to wear off.” He took Reid’s hand, leading her through the side door.

Reid glanced at their joined hands. It suddenly hit her like a ton of bricks—she was in over her head in all possible ways. Because she was fairly sure that she shouldn’t feel a mix of comfort, strength, and desire every time she touched the man who was going to be her husband. How had she gone from being scared and intimidated by him to seeking his friendship? To maybe even wanting more?

Chapter Seventeen

Dressed in a nightgown, Reid stared out her window, mulling over last night and what may or may not happen in the near future. If life were a game of chess, she needed to plot her next move carefully. No longer having the luxury of lying around in bed again all day—even if she did still need to heal—she went over to her armoire. There was too much to be done.

Pulling out an elegant green dress, she tossed it on the bed and considered the role she needed to play. Nara didn’t want Reid to be a warrior—the princess wanted her to be a refined lady from the north. But that didn’t mean Reid couldn’t fight for what she believed in and wanted.

Joce entered the room to help Reid dress. Once Reid was presentable, she exited the bedchamber and headed to the royal family’s private sitting room down the hall.

Nara and Henrick sat beside each other on the sofa, deep in conversation.

“Good morning,” Reid said, loud enough to be certain they heard.

Henrick waved her forward, so Reid entered and sat across from them. There was a detailed map of the palace on the low table between the sofas.

“What do you need me to do?” she asked.