“I’ve missed you, too. I was so worried when you weren’t here earlier. Did someone find us out?”

“No,” she hedged. “I may have needed to slip something into my lady-in-waiting’s drink. She is always a step behind me here, and I couldn’t have made it to you if she’d come. It took longer for her to fall asleep than I expected.”

I giggled a little at the madness of it all, and I was pleased to see a tiny smile on her face.

“I’m so sorry about your baby,” I said.

The smile disappeared. “It was awful. It always is. I wished over and over that you were here. I’ve needed a friend, Hollis.”

“Have you been completely alone?”

She gave an all but imperceptible nod.

“At least I’ve had my family. I hate you’ve had no one.”

“Ugh, I don’t mean to be so selfish. I’m so sorry about Silas.” She sighed. “It’s the sad effect of being on my own all the time; I’m all I ever think about.”

“Don’t be silly. You’ve been through plenty. And if you hadn’t, I’d still understand. For what it’s worth, I think about you, too. All the time.”

Tears welled in Valentina’s eyes. “I need your help, Hollis. How did you escape Keresken?”

I didn’t dare look at her.

“I didn’t exactly. I told Jameson I was leaving. But if you’re asking what I think you are . . . I imagine the circumstances would be much more difficult.”

I saw out of the corner of my eye that she reached up to touch her temple.

“Are you in danger?” I asked.

“I don’t know. But this wedding means he’s lost hope in me. And, honestly, I don’t think I could take trying again. But I don’t know what happens . . . if you know about . . . Silas might have . . .”

“I know about the Darkest Knights, and, yes, I believe they killed him. And I think the king is dispatching them. So, I need your help, my friend. It would be risky, but we could offer you some protection if you can get us what we need.”

She sipped her drink. “Which is?”

“Proof. We need to know he’s murdered his own people. Some sort of documentation, anything that would give the Eastoffes or the Northcotts the right to take the throne.”

She laughed. “You will never snatch the throne from that man.”

“That man is old, and his son is barely clinging to life. If they can’t produce a legitimate heir—”

“What if I could prove something on that front?” she asked.

“What do you mean?”

She was quiet for a minute. “I can get into Quinten’s offices. I know where his most important papers are, though I’m not sure what they say. There might not be a trail at all. . . . If there’s any chance, I’ll get you what I can at the reception tomorrow. But you will have to find a way to get me out of here, Hollis. I cannot stay.”