She wasn't sure what part to play when she was escorted to the grand dinning room later that evening. Was she the gracious guest or the better treated hostage? She was going to have to calculate her moves from now on, and the answer to that question seemed like a good thing to know.
The king and his older son stopped talking the moment she stepped inside the prettiest room she'd ever seen—Copeland's magazines didn't hold a candle to it's grandeur. Astoria knew full well that she wasn't supposed to have noticed their abrupt ending to the conversation, so she didn't let on. It felt just like the bunker again.
The table itself could seat at least twenty-six people, if not more; however, the royal family was seated at one end of the table, with the king at the head.
"Ah, Tori. Have a seat."
Gracious guest it was, Astoria thought as she sat next to the king's older son.
"Now, there are some things we need to address," The king said. "Like how much you know."
"Well—"
"You know nothing. I know that much." The king smirked at the stunned expression on Astoria's face. "You can fool a dozen or so soldiers, I'll give you that. You can single-handedly keep your companions alive, but you can't lie to me."
"I wasn't lying. There is a way to kill all of you."
"But you don't know how. None of you do."
He had her, and he knew it.
"So what?" she said nonchalantly. "There are people who do." It was a subtle reminder to him and his family and the guards stationed around the room, that all of them could easily lose their lives just like she could. And they would fall harder than she would.
He smiled as if he had thought this through and was waiting for her to say that. "Of course. And until that time, you and your companions will be dealt with appropriately."
There was no doubt in Astoria's mind that Alan and Alex had at one point or another had accepted the fact that at any given moment they could be killed. She was sure her own father had known that too. But she didn't want to be the reason any of them died.
"Dealt with?" she asked. "How so?"
"I'm glad you asked."
With a single gesture the two guards by one of the doors pulled the doors open to reveal Alan and Alex, both wearing uniforms identical to all of the other guards in the rooms. Their faces remained uncovered, however, and neither of them had any type of weapon.
"The two newest members of my private guard," the king said proudly. "I'd introduce you, but you already know them."
Astoria looked between her two friends and the king, wondering what was going inside his head.
"Of course, the other one will be joining as soon as he's able. I heard he'll make a fine recovery thanks to you."
"Why?" Astoria wondered. "Why have three enemies guarding you when you know they could easily put a bullet in your head or put something in your drink?"
The king made a tisk sound. "You're not as quick as I thought. I'd love to have seen the look on your face when you figured it out. No matter, this will be just as satisfying.
"You're two friends here let it slip that there are more of you, and I have a feeling they'll do whatever it takes to return all of you alive. When they see you and your friends they'll certainly come for you. And when they do, we'll ensure no one leaves."
It was just like Mike and Vic again. Except this time they were the bait, and they couldn't talk themselves into be killed.
"What about her?" Alex asked.
The king studied him for a moment. "She's your persuasion. She asked what's stopping you from killing me, well, if any of you attempt an assassination on me then she'll be finding a bullet placed in her pretty little head. Or maybe she'll finding something unfriendly in her morning drink."
Blackmail was a powerful thing, and here was the most powerful form of it. One wrong move for any of them and someone would be dead.
"They won't come for us," Alan said.
"But they'll come for her."
And how he knew that, no one would ever guess.
"So. I'm supposed to sit here all pretty like a pig on a table? Would you like an apple in my mouth too?"
Everyone except for Alex and Alan laughed—they were probably cursing her mentally. But if she was doomed to die anyway, she figured she could have some fun.
"Ah. She's quite a delight, don't you agree, son?"
"Of course, father. She'll make a fine companion."
And in that moment Astoria swore her hear stopped. "Companion?"
"How else will we keep you glittering in the spotlight unless we parade you around as one of us? Yes, you'll be introduced to the kingdom as my son's future wife in a few days time, and you will go through with it. . . . After all the lives of your friends are counting on it."
Astoria didn't react how she assumed she would. She figured she'd be kicking and screaming, running down the hall in tears or going completely numb. However, as she took in the cynical smile of the king, she couldn't help but return it with just as much confidence.
They'd just walked into dangerous territory, and she wasn't the pawn they assumed her to be.
"Of course, your Majesty."
And with grace and confidence, Astoria rose from the table, curtsied to the king, and glided out of the room.
Back in the simple room she'd been taken to earlier that day, Astoria changed into her old clothes and sat by the window. A storm that had been brewing in the distance had finally hit, and the pounding rain lulled her to sleep.
