Dance of Deception

~ DAVID ~

Zara's brows pinched together. "Who's waiting for you?"

"Stark, and Kaspar," I said automatically, but in my head I saw my brother—now in his shirtsleeves—glowering at me about how she couldn't be in the passages. And he was absolutely right. If she was, she might run into him trying to get somewhere and that couldn't end well.

"Zara," I said quietly, looking at her hands in mine, "You can't go into the passages without me—not unless we've made arrangements. Not unless me or Stark tell you to. Unless… unless your life is in danger," I said, then met her eyes. "We have kept the secret of them for generations. We can't risk anyone finding out—not even the servants. Especially not the servants. You don't know your way, you don't know where it is safe to enter and exit. You simply can't."

Zara bit her lip and nodded. "I know. I'm sorry. I won't risk it again."