When Sasha arrived in West's villa, she was immediately bombarded by questions.

"Who did she meet?"

"One of the Maidens," she said, looking at West, Tanner, and Rider, assessing their expressions. She could not find any sign of deception. Unless they were good at it as she was. "West, she is your sister."

At the last word, West took her hand and guided her out of the study and pulled her into his bedchamber, locking the door behind them.

Sasha walked to the center of the room.

With his hands on his hips, he scowled at her, brows fused. "What do you mean the Maiden is my sister?"

Sasha blinked and swallowed. "She is."

He just stood there for a long time looking at her while she searched his face desperately. She wanted to demand for answers, but she knew that she could not do that now. She would have to do it on her own.

"I do not even know what to say."

Sasha took a step forward and held out her hand, showing him the ring. "She told me to give you this. She said that you would know it is her if you see it."

His eyes fluttered down on the ring. His jaw tightened and Sasha's heart sank. "That is my mother's ring."

Sasha took his hand and dropped the ring into his palm and guided it closed with her fingers. She looked into his eyes. "She does not wish to leave Belcourt."

He frowned. "Why?"

"Like me, she considers it home."

His frown grew into a scowl and Sasha saw raw hatred burning into his light blue depths. "And like you, Belcourt has manipulated her."

Sasha let go of his hand and took a step back. "Please, do not say that."

His nostrils flared and he looked away to absently gaze at the window across the room. "What else did she tell you?"

"She told me everything. Why she ordered Gabrielle to follow Willoghby."

"And why was she having Willoghby followed?"

"The prince told her that the intercepted letter was from Willoghby. She thought that she ought to pursue her own investigation. While she needed me to spy on you, she also used Willoghby to spy on the prince."

"Why would she use that bastard to spy on the prince?"

"Willoghby found out that I have a hidden flower. His obsession with me gave him enough reason to find out more about his... contenders." Moistening her lips, Sasha added, "She wanted to know the true enemy of Belcourt."

Sasha knew she was diverting from the instructions given to her by Arielle, but she knew it was for the best. West was wise. If he were who Arielle said he was, Sasha could not give him any reason to suspect that Willoghby had been looking into him instead of the prince, thereby uncovering his secrets. He could question Willoghby and whatever the man told him would not reflect on Arielle's claim. He might suspect, but it would give Sasha enough time to do her an investigation on her own. If he suspected her, he would not push her away because he would want to know more.

He frowned at her. "Belcourt is the enemy, Sasha, for all we know."

His hatred toward Belcourt seemed to have more weight now that his innocence hovered on the edge of Sasha's mind. Could it be true? Could he truly be leading a group that vowed to destroy Belcourt and the current kingdom?

"Believe whatever you wish to believe, West, but Arielle and all ladies of Belcourt, including I, are after one thing and that is to protect our home."

"And what have they discovered after following Willoghby around?" he asked, ignoring her statement.

"Nothing," she said. "They could not prove any of their suspicions because we captured Willoghby before he made any progress."

He shook his head, his eyes looking into hers, probing. "Are you certain she was telling the truth?"

"No. That is what she told me," she truthfully said. "I do not even know who to trust anymore, West."

He looked at her. "And I can say the same. You could be lying as we speak."

"And I told you never to trust me in full," she told him, her eyes welling with tears.

He saw it and instantly stepped forward, cupping her face. He bent his head and kissed her lips in such a tender fashion that Sasha's mouth trembled against his. "I just want this to be over."

He slowly leaned away, his eyes searching hers. "And I just want to be able to trust you with everything."

Sasha felt the ache in her chest vibrate down her arms and to her fingertips. A lump in her throat formed as she fought the urge to tell him what Arielle was accusing him of.

But her mind was stronger than the feelings she had for this man at the moment. Those feelings could wait their turn until she settled the confusing details.

He let go of her and stepped back. "This has changed the course of the game for me. I need a moment to think."

Or a moment to gather your friends and come up with a plan, she added in her mind.

Sasha nodded and received another kiss from him. "Rest," he said. "Your wound has not yet healed. After I think of the situation and once you are quite well, we will talk. And then, perhaps, we can come up with a plan."

She hated to tell him that her mission for him was over. She had found his sister. She ought to return to Belcourt. But she could not do that. She had another mission.

*****

By evening, Sasha pretended to be asleep when West entered the bedchamber. She felt him adjust the covers over her shoulder before he left.

Opening her eyes, she knew that he was nowhere in the villa. Seven came out of his hiding place underneath the bed and joined her as she lit a lamp and took out Addison Blackwood's journal from under his closet.

She leafed through the pages, the cryptic messages and instructions making more sense now as Arielle's revelation guided her.

She was near the end of the journal when she noticed two words that had been constant throughout most of the pages.

Opera night opens when necessary...

...as opera night comes to a conclusion...

Secure the place every night of the opera if a royal is present...

Opera night...

Opera...

Sasha frowned and shook her head.

Surely it could not be that simple, she thought.

But it made sense...

Slipping out of bed, she padded to the door and down the quiet corridor, her heart hammering against her chest as her feet led her to the library.

West's voice echoed in her head.

An invitation to the Royal Theater...

She remembered her own innocent words saying she never knew the theater sent invites and his reply whispered in her ears.

To people in my station, they do...

She remembered the pain of her wound when she bent over his table and found the same invitation.

You are planning to see a play without me?

He smiled at the red envelope then, his words crystal clear in her head.

I am planning to give it to you once you have completely healed.

Sasha had reached the study and rushed to his table.

The envelope was nowhere in sight. It was not in the drawers either.

It was gone.

Sasha rested her shaking hands flat on the surface of the table. Her head hung as she closed her eyes.

They were right there in the open.

Royal Circus...

Royal Theater...

Of course. Where else could it be?

*****

"Do you believe her?" Rider asked.

West's jaw hardened. "No, of course not."

"She is hiding something."

West looked at the gentlemen sitting around the drawing room. His gaze landed on Ross. "Remember, gentlemen," the earl said, his green eyes never leaving West's, "that these ladies spent their entire life believing Belcourt. They were fed and clothed, trained, and manipulated by this institution. They were welcomed when no one else wanted them. Like a dog to its master, they are loyal to Belcourt. And that includes my sister."

A clash of glass on the floor interrupted everyone. All twenty heads turned to the culprit with a scowl. "Apologies," St. Vincent said, kicking shards of glass with his filthy leather shoes. "Do go on, please."

West faced everyone in the room once more, ignoring St. Vincent. "Willoghby is not talking, but he has hinted that he has been looking into my life."

"We simply have to assume that he did and has discovered the Circus," Tanner spoke. "We have to get rid of the bastard, West."

West shook his head. "We have to get more out of him. How further he got and how much did Belcourt discover."

"We should not have sent his sister back to Belcourt," Rider coldly said, pointing at Ross. "We should have used him to get the answers out of her."

Ross glared at Rider. "And you think I have not tried? For years? She was placed there by the very people who support Louis. She was manipulated to be what she is now. Truly, Keene, have you not been listening to what I told you?"

"Sasha has the answers," West said, his voice an echo around the room.

He heard St. Vincent scoff.

"I do truly believe you are compromised, Blackwood," one of the gentlemen said. "She is manipulating you—have been manipulating you."

"That comes with the mission," West snapped. "I know what she is capable of."

"We do not know that," another gentleman retorted. "You must bring her in."

West turned to Rider and Tanner, both men looking at him squarely. "No," he said, "I shall deal with her in a manner I have learned to do."

"These Belcourt women will be the death of the Circus, I am telling you," St. Vincent slurred.

"And perhaps they can also be the end of Belcourt," West countered. "If we can learn how to play our cards right."

"It seems to me, Blackwood, that you are not playing the right cards. You are playing with your bloody heart—of all parts of your anatomy!" the Viscount of Greene erupted. "Do not be like your father."

"You might have forgotten who you are speaking to, Greene," West calmly said. Greene closed his mouth and sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. "We made an oath, gentlemen. You follow the orders of the Royal Master."

"Just be certain that we are to win this game, West," Rider said.

West nodded. "We will." He looked at his friend. "We shall make Willoghby talk while I work on Sasha." His eyes scanned the room. "This opera is over."

One by one, the gentlemen stood and walked out.

West turned to St. Vincent. "We need something from you, St. Vincent."

The man emptied his glass and swallowed. With a sigh, he asked. "What?"

"We need Sinclair."

*****

She had waited two more days.

The day after she read Addison Blackwood's journal, she had a chance. West said he had to attend parliament. But she did not want him to suspect so she stayed in his villa to recuperate.

And today, he had gone to Keene to question Willoghby as he claimed. She told him that she was expected to visit her villa today, which Sasha did the very moment he set out to Keene. Whatever he discovered there might just put her new mission in jeopardy and she could no longer wait for a new opportunity. Willoghby may reveal too much.

By nightfall, Sasha was looking up at the entrance of the Royal Theater, her heart pounding hard and fast against her chest. Hundreds of people were present tonight for the same opera that Sasha saw written outside the invitation she found in West's villa.

Dressed in her finest dress and pelisse, Sasha walked up the steps and presented the ticket Iyana procured for her earlier that day.

Gaining entrance was not difficult but searching for one certain room would be a challenge. She settled in her seat in the lower box and waited until the opera began. She let a few more minutes pass by before she stood and walked out of the main theater.

With her heart pounding in her ears, Sasha started her search along the corridors of the first landing. There was nothing. No doors were locked and no suspicious activities. Both drawing rooms were nearly empty.

If the Circus were hiding in plain sight, they would use an unassuming room. Otherwise, she might never find it herself.

On the second landing, she was stopped by someone who wanted to ask if she knew where the water closet was. She pointed her in the right direction before continuing her search.

It was then that she stopped.

If she could remember, the theater provided separate water closets for men and women.

Sasha whirled around in search of the gentlemen's water closet on the second landing. It was at the end of the corridor. She hid a smile of triumph as she pushed the door open but her heart sank the moment she realized she was in an actual water closet.

But it would have made sense. She searched the walls. No hidden doors.

Retreating into the corridor, she searched for the drawing rooms. She found one in the east wing. There were a few gentlemen inside who looked at her with interest. Murmuring an apology, she closed the door and ventured to her next destination.

She was back in the west wing and found another drawing room. It was empty.

Sasha searched the walls as well and with disappointment went up to the third landing.

Starting to doubt herself after she checked two more water closets and the western drawing room, Sasha proceeded to the eastern wing, the same one where their box was located the last time she saw the opera with Ruby, Jade, and West.

She stopped cold when she saw a familiar figure coming out of the room and she immediately jumped back into the corridor she came from. Her heart racing with her steps, Sasha rushed toward a column and hid in the shadows as a laughing Tanner and another gentleman walked by.

Letting out a shaky breath, Sasha waited until the corridor was empty and moved to the direction of the drawing room, passing by the doors of the upper boxes. The singing from the opera was muffled by the blood rushing to her ears as she reached the door. Pressing her ear against it, she tried to listen. It was quiet inside.

Moistening her lips, Sasha turned the door handle and pushed it a crack. She peered inside. The room was similar to the others.

There was no one inside. Looking to both ends of the corridor, she slipped inside the room. The pounding in her chest was deafening.

But she had to move fast. Anyone could come at any time. Looking around, Sasha realized that something was different in this room. It smelled different, felt different. With hasty steps and blood rushing through her veins, Sasha moved around the room with heightened focus.

And it was then that she saw the mirror against the wall. The hairs at the back of her neck stood and she strode toward it. Her reflection stared back at her.

Tears brimmed her eyes as she recognized the fear and denial in their depths. Squaring her shoulders, Sasha reached out and pulled at the mirror and her heart sank when it swung open, revealing another room.

The sound of muffled voices outside the door made her grab the candle nearest her and jumped into the dark room, closing the mirrored door behind her. Her heart pounding hard against her chest, Sasha lifted the candle higher before her.

She found another candle in one corner and lit it with the one in her hand. She lit to more before returning to the door to press her weight against it, just in case one of the guests outside tried to enter. Taking a slow breath, Sasha calmed herself.

She moistened her lips, chanting in her mind, willing her body not to faint because it would be a very terrible idea.

It was then that she saw it.

She went cold.

Her back pressed harder against the door, a pair of tears falling down her eyes as the light in the room finally showed the portrait of the former king of Sutherland hanging at the opposite wall.

She started to shake as the realization hit her.

Her hand covered the whimper that threatened to escape as she silently sobbed.

The gentlemen at the other side of the room were talking.

"Willoghby? Looking into the prince? Why would the bastard do that?"

"We cannot be certain. The Royal Master is currently at Keene to question the man."

"And you say that the orphanage suspects the prince? After everything it did to make certain Louis gets where he is?" came the scornful reply. "I say Eaton should allow us to question this woman from Belcourt."

"Eaton knows what he is doing," said another gentleman. "He got us this far when we all thought his idea insane, did he not?"

Sasha shuddered and clasped her hand tightly over her mouth as more tears flowed down her face. Something powerful was twisting and clenching at her chest.

Sasha looked around the room, her vision blurred by the tears. She blinked them away. The men had diverted their topic as more guests entered the room, now discussing the pathetic opera outside.

Their words echoed in her head.

Eaton knows what he is doing...

Sasha stared at Reginald's portrait. The man's dark blue eyes were staring back at her with knowing. His mocking smile showed over a perfectly trimmed mustache, telling her that he knew more secrets than her, that she should have known that she was a pawn all along. The crown on his head reminded her of just how big and powerful the players of the game were.

Her lips pressed in a thin line as anger slowly rose to her throat. The back of her hand wiped the tears as her eyes traveled to the golden lion seal over Reginald's painting.

Words surrounded the seal. As she read them, her heart stopped beating all at once.

For we shall be soldiers for none but the one true king.

She blindly looked around and found the table, all the while fully aware of the men outside.

There was nothing on top. But inside the drawer lay hundreds of the same red envelope she found in West's study in the villa and Everleigh. Some were blank while others had words written on them with different dates, plays, and opera.

She found the seal of the envelope on another drawer.

At the last drawer, Sasha found a round gold pendant. Her hands shaking, she opened it and to the right found a miniature painting of a man. To the left were the words that read:

Addison Blackwood

Royal Master, father, and hero.

Sasha closed the pendant and let out a shaky breath.

She walked back to the door. The gentlemen were still there, and Sasha sank to the floor and wrapped her arms around her legs, burying her face in them.

Then she silently sobbed and waited for the men to leave.