“We’re going out the rear windows,” my father says, “and then we’re going to cross the gardens and exit through the back of the estate, where a car will be waiting to take us to our jet.”

My eyes widen. I hope I’m one day half as good as my father at these things. He’s had our escape plan prepared way ahead of time.

My father glances at his watch. “Okay soldiers, your three minutes are up. Let’s move to the back of the room.”

The words are barely out of his mouth when there’s a pounding on the door. I glance at my father.

“Don’t answer that,” he says, his voice deadly serious.

“Wasn’t planning on it.”

The pounding gets louder, and then I hear a key inserted into the lock. My eyes go wide as I look at my father. The soldiers fan out around us, covering us just as the door opens and Marco comes in with a dozen palace guards.

What could’ve possibly gone on during negotiations?

“Ambassador Freeman,” Marco says, “the king has ordered me to retrieve your daughter.”

My heart pounds at the mention of my name.

“I did not agree to the terms of the revised peace treaty, so he does not have that kind of authority over her,” my father says.

I glance between Marco and my father. He didn’t agree to the king’s proposal. Why?

“You can agree to the peace treaty or not,” Marco says. “Either way, the king is not going to let Serenity leave here.”

I hone my attention on Marco. The king thinks he can keep me around despite the negotiations. Of course, this is his back up strategy to make sure he gets what he wants.

“Dad, what were the terms of the peace agreement?” This is the question I’ve been dying to know.

My father doesn’t answer, but Marco does. “Money, medical relief, a series of programs to revitalize your hemisphere’s shithole economy.” I hear the acid in Marco’s voice. I always had the feeling that below Marco’s smooth exterior there was a dick of epic proportions. Now I’m finally meeting him. “The king would freely give all of this so long as you stayed here with him.”

My gaze moves from Marco to my father. “Is that true?” I ask.

My father’s focus is on Marco, but he nods in answer.

“Dad, if it’s true, then why didn’t you agree to the king’s terms?”

Now my father looks at me. “I won’t sign away your life, Serenity. I’ve already made too many personal sacrifices; I will not make this one.”