Whisky brown eyes stared back at her from the doorway, eyes she's seen plenty of times . . . eyes she saw each time she looked at herself in the mirror.
The man stepped inside the room and closed the door.
"Patrick was right," he said as he looked her over. Astoria noticed he scowled at the ring on her finger.
"I never wanted this for you. I never wanted any of it. Things were supposed to be so different."
"I'm not mad," Astoria said. "I'm can't be."
He scoffed. "You should be." He shook his head. "You should have me thrown out. They'll make a prize out of me. I'm sure they'll do the same for Patrick—"
"He's safe. They promised," Astoria exclaimed.
"You think they care? You think they'll actually keep their promise?"
Astoria looked at him for a long moment. "I told them Patrick knew how to kill them. I told them he had given that information to as many people as he could."
"No one knows how to do that."
It was Astoria's turn to scoff. "Doctor Ramsay say's he's cracked the code. He's using Josh to test his theory."
"Who's Doctor Ramsay? Who's Josh?"
"Doctor Ramsay was the doctor at the base where Patrick, Brendon, Dallon, Joe, Andy, and Gabe were. He left with as much information as he could and he's been working on something for years. Josh was one of the king's men, but him and his group of soldiers was captured by some of our scouts and interrogated. Josh showed promise, and Oli liked him, so he stayed. He's one of the turned, so Doctor Ramsay thought it would be best to use him. He'll probably need a born one eventually."
He refrained from all the questions he wanted to ask. Time was running short. The men he left unconscious in the supply closet would be waking up soon.
"Where are they? Do you know?"
"No."
His hope fell.
"But Alex and Alan might. They're going to be guards for the king; I don't know where they are though."
"I can find them. Tell me what they look like."
Astoria gave him a brief description of her friends, and watched as he backed towards the door.
"Is Patrick okay?" she asked before she could stop herself.
He nodded. "I'd call him Vaughn, though."
"Pete," she called once he was in the hall.
Pete turned around to see her smiling at him. "I love you."
And that was all the encouragement Pete needed to find his next destination.
*
"I want to see them," Astoria said the next morning over an extravagant breakfast.
"And who would "them" be, darling?" Joseph asked as he patronizingly took her hand.
With a sickening sweet smile, Astoria turned to him. "William, Anthony, and Vaughn, dear. I miss them all dearly."
Astoria swore she heard Jakob snickering from across the table.
"I'm not—"
"I think it's perfectly fine," the king said.
"Father?" Joseph asked. "Are you certain?"
"I'm sure her friends are worried about her too. And I think it would be a good reminder to our standing terms. Don't you think, Victoria?"
"Of course, your Majesty," Astoria replied humbly.
"Then it's settled. You can meet with them after breakfast. Joseph will escort you. And don't forget you have an interview at eleven; I won't accept lateness."
Astoria nodded and turned her attention to breakfast. She picked her way through the remaining food on her plate while waiting for Joseph. He was determined to go as slow as possible, but once they were out of the dinning room, Astoria was sprinting down the hallway.
"You're going the wrong way!" he called after her.
She doubled back and nearly bumped into Joseph.
"Watch were you're going," he snapped.
"Listen here, you royal prat. Just because you get to see your friend whenever you want, doesn't mean you have to be a bloody asshole about it! Now you can either sod-off or fucking help me." she shouted. Briefly, she thought of Oli and all the swear words he taught her, knowing he'd be proud.
Joseph looked taken aback; Astoria wasn't surprised. Who would expect that kind of language from her? Sure she had a bit of fire to her, but she rarely let lose like that.
"They're this way."
He quickly lead her to a large room with dozens of beds lining the walls. Men were talking among each other as they prepared for the day, all of them stopping at the sight of the royal prince and his betrothed.
"Your Highness," they all said in sync after they had risen and bowed.
"I need William and Anthony," Joseph said in reply.
Astoria felt the curious looks of the soldiers as they tried to get a glimpse of her; she stepped to Joseph's side and brightly smiled at them.
"Your Highness?" Alan said as he and Alex stepped towards them.
Without hesitation, Astoria threw herself at them, clanging their heads together in a less than gentle hug. "You guy's are okay," she sighed in relief.
"Yeah, Tori, we're fine. Mind letting go," Alex grumbled.
She let the two go and turned to Joseph. "Is there somewhere we can talk?"
"I'll show you!" one of the soldiers exclaimed.
"Me too!" a second called.
"I'm coming as well!" a third proclaimed.
In the chaos of the unneeded escort to the abandoned dinning area, Alex slipped a piece of paper into Astoria's dress pocket.
They didn't have much to say, couldn't say what they really wanted, but Astoria was glad to see them nonetheless. They made outrageous promises to make her smile, just like they used to. And when she left to go see Patrick, her heart wasn't as heavy. They were both fine and had made plenty of friends, friends who could help.
"I have to deliver a report to an adviser of mine." Astoria frowned at Joseph's words. She had spent longer than planned with Alex and Alan, and this detour would no doubt give her no time with Patrick.
"If you keep it to yourself, I'll let you go alone. But know there's cameras everywhere."
"I've got nowhere to go," Astoria reasoned. "But thank you."
He nodded. "Down this hall, to the left, second door on the right."
