The phone slips from my fingers, landing on the desk with a dull thud. My breath comes in short, uneven bursts as I stare at the screen, Professor Joan's words echoing in my head.
The outskirts of Matica.
That's where Cassian was the night of the break-in. That's where the message came from.
Coincidence?
No. I don't believe in those anymore.
My fingers curl into fists. If someone outside the palace knew what was happening before I did, it means they were watching. Tracking my every move. And if Cassian was in the same place when it happened…
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to steady myself. My mind whirls with questions, but one drowns out the rest.
Did Cassian already know I was in danger?
And if he did, why didn't he warn me himself?
A slow, creeping dread settles in my chest.
I grab my phone again, my thumb hovering over Cassian's name. Should I call him? Ask him outright? But what if I'm wrong? What if this is all just paranoia?
And yet, deep inside, I know it's not.
Too many things don't add up. His frequent, unexplained trips. The guards failing to catch the intruder. My diary missing. The warning texts.
And now, this.
I push back from my chair, pacing the length of my study, my pulse racing. I need answers. But if I can't trust my own husband, who else is left?
Esther.
I grab my phone and type out a quick message.
Meet me in the library. Now.
Within minutes, she slips through the hidden door behind the bookshelves, her face tense.
"What is it?" she asks, eyes scanning my face.
I take a breath, then tell her everything Professor Joan's call, the location of the text, Cassian's whereabouts that night. By the time I finish, her expression is unreadable.
"Do you think he's involved?" she asks quietly.
I hesitate. "I don't know. But I can't ignore the fact that every time something happens, Cassian is either missing or one step ahead of me."
Esther crosses her arms. "If he was part of this, why would he rush back that night? Why would he be so angry about the security breach?"
"To convince me," I say, voice barely above a whisper. "To make me believe he had nothing to do with it."
Esther exhales sharply. "This is dangerous, Your Highness. If you start doubting the Prince and you're wrong…"
"If I'm wrong, I'll live with it." I cut her off. "But if I'm right, and I ignore this, I could lose more than just my trust in him."
She's silent for a moment, then nods. "What do you want to do?"
I square my shoulders. "I want to know where he really goes when he leaves the palace."
Esther's lips press into a thin line. "Then we follow him."
My heart pounds. This is reckless. Risky. If Cassian finds out, there will be consequences.
But I have no choice.
If I don't uncover the truth soon, it might be too late.
I swallow hard. No. It can't be.
Cassian? My husband? The man who holds me at night, who looks into my eyes and tells me he loves me? The thought alone makes my chest ache. But it was too much of a coincidence.
Or was it someone close to him? Someone who knew us well? Someone he confided in?
Alexander.
I close my eyes and try to steady my breathing. Alexander, Cassian's right-hand man, has access to almost everything. He handles Cassian's meetings, his trips, his schedule. He would have known where Cassian was that night. He could have easily sent the text or worked with someone outside the palace.
But why?
What does he stand to gain from destabilizing me? From making me doubt my husband? Unless… he isn't working alone.
I stand abruptly, pacing across my study. I have to be smart about this. My enemy is careful, lurking in the shadows, feeding me just enough to push me to the edge. They want me to react. To crumble.
I press my fingers to my temples. I need a plan.
First, I have to keep this to myself. If someone close to Cassian is involved, they might already be watching me. I can't let them know I suspect anything.
Second, I need more information. I pick up my phone and type a message to Professor Joan.
"Try to track the exact location of that number. I need to know who owns it. Don't tell anyone else."
I hit send and then take a deep breath.
Third, I need to watch Cassian. Not accuse, not confront...just observe. I have to know if I'm being played.
A knock on the door startles me. I spin around, heart pounding.
"Your Highness, lunch is served," a maid announces.
I force a breath. "I'll be down shortly."
As she leaves, I grab my phone and stare at it. Whoever is behind this, I will find them.
And when I do, they will regret ever thinking they could outplay me.