CHAPTER 20
NATASHA
Istared out my window at the streets of Lyonestra. Traffic filled them as people bustled about even though the sun had yet to crest the horizon to start a new day.
My fingers absentmindedly drummed against my forearm as my mind raced, my thoughts centered on Kyle.
He’d accepted who I was, at least so far. Would he accept everything else?
I considered slipping into the secret passage and visiting him, but I worried that I’d make things worse.
What if after a good night’s sleep, he’d reconsidered. I didn’t want to find him packing his bags. Would it be better to know or to merely get the news second hand as Alex Stone’s jet whisked them away from Belvaria and all of its drama.
I slid my eyes closed, forcing my heart to stop its frantic beating. I wasn’t certain I could bear it if he walked away, but perhaps it was better now than later.
Sucking in a deep breath, I crossed the room, my eyes lingering on the sconce that opened the secret panel.
My fingers wrapped around the cold brass, and I slid it sideways. The panel popped open, and I stared into it, my heart hammering harder. With a shake of my head, I shoved it closed.
I couldn’t sneak to his room right now. Instead, I had another secret matter I wanted to attend to. I’d been away from Belvaria for longer than I’d liked, been away from what truly mattered.
I slipped into my closet and crossed to a large wardrobe. Pulling the drawer open, I removed the simple black, hooded cape. With it settled around my shoulders, I tied it and pulled the deep hood over my hair.
With the sun still not risen, I could easily slip into the streets unseen.
I pulled the cloak tighter around me as I hurried from the closet, hesitating as I passed the secret panel again. Every fiber in my being wanted to hurry through the passage, let myself into Kyle’s bedroom, and throw myself into his arms where I felt safe and secure.
But I had other things to attend to.
I passed it, crossing my sitting room, and reaching the double doors. I pressed my ear against one, straining for any sound.
Hearing none, I cracked the door. Two guards stood outside, dutifully. I eased the door closed and twisted the lock. Despite their constant protection of me, they had no idea of the secret I shared with Nadia and a select few of her team.
My cape flowed around my ankles as I crossed the sitting room toward a stick chair placed against the wall. I shifted it aside and pressed on a slightly worn spot on the wallpaper. A spring-loaded panel bounced back toward me.
I pulled it open, slipping inside. With no cell phone, I had to move through the darkness by memory, but it was a path well-known to me.
I navigated it with ease, arriving on the opposite end without trouble. After a bit of fiddling, I opened the panel and stepped into a hallway at the back of the palace.
My breath caught in my throat as I peered out, finding it empty, even of servants.
I stepped out, sliding the panel closed before I darted down the hall toward the door leading to the back garden.
Cool morning air swept past my skin, and I pulled the cape tighter around me as I skirted around the shrubs to a locked gate leading to the streets of Lyonestra.
I input the code and let myself out among the general populace. With my head down, I moved among the early risers without anyone recognizing that I walked among them.
I hurried through the streets, one destination in mind: Lyonestra Memorial Hospital.
The large ten-story structure sat less than three blocks from the palace, making it easily accessible. I rounded the corner, spotting the rectangular structure.
I craned my neck as I approached it, staring up at the stone facade. Medical professionals bustled about as the shift change approached. I waited in the shadow of the neighboring building until an unsuspecting doctor arrived, using his keycard to gain entry to an employee-only door.
As it slowly closed behind him, I dashed across the alley and grabbed hold of the handle, slipping inside behind him.
I sucked in a steadying breath as I pulled the hood further down around me and lowered my chin, hurrying to the service elevator at the end of the hall.
Jabbing at the call button, I danced around from foot to foot as I waited an agonizingly long amount of time before the doors whooshed open.
