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I balk at the obvious directive, but Ballsy just shrugs. “I’m good,” he says, adjusting his own tie, which somehow makes him look twelve instead of nineteen. “I’ll keep out of the way.”

“Give us a minute,” I say to Pace. He doesn’t look happy about it, but I’m not particularly worried about his feelings right now. Stepping away from my Prince, I approach Ballsack.Eugene. “He’s right,” I tell him, heart heavy. “Go celebrate with Sy and the guys. I’ll be surrounded by three obsessive Princes and a whole frat, deep in East End territory.”

He shakes his head. “It’s fine. They’ll all be shitfaced by the time I get to the tower, and Remy will just force all of us to get some stupid tattoo to commemorate the event.” He lifts his sleeve, revealing his wrist. “Here’s the one he insisted we all get for the waxing moon three months ago.”

I know he’s trying to be lighthearted, but I see the deep groove creasing his forehead. He looks tired, his arms crossed over his chest like he’s holding himself together.

I reach out to touch his arm. “Look, even if you don’t go to the party, maybe you can talk to the cutsluts. See if anyone has heard anything. They may loosen up if they’ve had a few drinks.”

Eugene nods, finally relenting, but looks back at Pace, who I’ve sensed behind me, large and looming this whole time. When he speaks, there’s no disguising the threat. “You keep her safe.” His Adam’s apple bobs under a thick swallow. “Two of my girls have already gone missing. I sure as hell can’t take a third.”

* * *

On the rideback to the palace, the sun is on the verge of setting, painting the sky a vivid pink. I get this involuntary notion that Stella would love it. She’d probably fill the tense silence with her bubbly voice and happy exclamations. In the end, I think that’s what makes me so sick. That she was such a bright light in a dark world, and somehow, Forsyth is trying to snuff it out.

I’ll be damned if I let it.

“I’ll give you tonight,” I tell them, looking out the window at the passing scenery, “but tomorrow, I’m calling the Duchess, and she’ll call the Lady. One of them must have a way to contact Regina. Then, we’re going to work together to find Stella.” I take a deep breath, the idea having come together during the ceremony. Watching the five factions of Forsyth co-exist for a moment in time just bolsters my resolve. “Together, the Royal women will organize a search. Each house will dispatch its members, and we’ll comb every inch of Forsyth for Stella and any other girl who’s gone missing.”

“Jesus, Red, just give it a fucking rest,” Wicker says from the back.

I spin around, the rage in my chest combusting. “Did you just tell me to give it a rest?” When he stares blankly back at me, I add, “You and I were the ones who told her to go! To use my car! And why? Because we were too busy fucking to be interrupted.” I swallow back the bitter taste of guilt. “I don’t know why this is okay with you. Any of you! Are you all seriously okay with someone snatching girls off the street?”

“Look, I’m not saying it isn’t fucked,” he snaps, running a hand through his blonde hair. “But we can’t just—”

“The reason we can’t look for Stella is because we’re leaving.” Lex’s toneless words barely penetrate before he adds, “And you’re coming with us.”

“What?” I look at Pace, who’s sitting in the driver’s seat next to me, his knuckles tight on the steering wheel. “What are you talking about?”

Pace’s jaw tics as he presses the accelerator. “Once we get to the palace, you have thirty minutes to pack,” he says, matter-of-factly. “One bag. Nothing frivolous. We’ll buy what we need once we get settled.”

I look between them, my heart plummeting when it sinks in. “What the hell do you mean we’re leaving? Like running away? From Ashby?” Panic rushes up my throat, and without thinking, I reach for the door, pulling at the locked handle.

“What the fuck, Ver!” Pace grabs at my hands, jerking the wheel and making the car swerve. “Stop trying to jump out of themovingcar!”

Urgency grips my lungs like a fist, making it hard to breathe. “We’re going to grab a bag, take one of his cars, his money, not to mention his fucking grandchild, and just… run?” I shake my head, gawking at them. “You’ve lost your goddamn minds!”

“This isn’t some impulsive move we’re making!” Wick snaps, eyes flaring. “Everything has been set to go for years. Money, transportation, safe houses. You have no fucking idea how much time and effort has gone into this. Theonlything that’s changed is that you’re coming with us!”

Slowly, I shake my head, knowing they can’t be this stupid. “And you think the Dukes will be okay with that? Mymother?” Lord, she’ll lose her mind and burn down the entire city looking for me. Then, it hits me. “Son of a—that’swhy you had me send Effie away? So we could run?”

The car pulls up to the house, and I don’t miss the anxious looks they’re giving one another. There’s a reason they told me about this in the car. It must have been swept of bugs.

Pace shifts the car into park, breathing long and measured. “You’re going to have to trust us.”

“What if I say no?” I ask, suspecting I already know the answer.

“It’s simple, Rosi.” Pace finally turns, meeting my gaze. I feel a chill at what I see in them. “You can go willingly, or we can take you. Either way, you’re coming with us.”

I glance back at Lex and Wicker, seeing the same determination in the set of their faces. In all the time we’ve been together, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen them so united.

“You’d force me.” Blood turning to ice, I try to inhale, but it hurts. “You’d kidnap me. Just like the other girls. Just like Stella.”

Through the sound of me hyperventilating, Pace snatches up my hand, thumb running over the ring. “Hey, hey—it’s not like that.” I haven’t tried to take the ring off again, not since experiencing the excruciating pain the first time. These men may care for me—they may have feelings for me and this baby—but they’re still Royals.

They possess.

And I belong to them.