In that subterranean cavern, where the atmosphere was more like a tomb, Inari discovered a distant acquaintance could provide more comfort than she imagined. Elias had felt strong and steady under her hands, his body absorbing her weight like it was nothing. In times past, she’d been dismissive of him. Immune to his roguish smiles and charm. Perhaps it was because he was so sought after in their teens—but no. He was more sought after now than ever.

What had changed? Age? Experience? Maturity?

She wasn’t sure.

All she knew was that being around Elias this past week had been pleasant and engaging. In a time of distress, he had not backed down or backed off. He’d shown admirable compassion, a stalwart disposition, and hadn’t balked at accepting her into his embrace.

As they topped the final stair to the main floor, Inari set aside her thoughts of Elias and concentrated instead on her sick sister.

She refused to give up hope. Refused to consider, for one second, that her beloved sibling would not live to see tomorrow.

Caspian met them in his private parlor some minutes later, expression grim.

“I’m sorry, Inari. Your father expressed his desire for you to remain under Imatra’s protection. He did say that if Lisbet declines again, or her . . . death  appears imminent, he will send for you,” Caspian said.

Inari struggled against annoyance, frustration, and outright fear. The annoyance was not to do with her father, but the entity who had put them all in this situation. The bastard who had so brazenly attempted assassination in a crowd of people, who had somehow tainted a drink right under the king’s own nose.

“All right. Thank you, Caspian.” Inari knew she would not be sleeping tonight. The small nap she’d recently woken up from would have to see her through until morning.

“Chef has dinner waiting. How about we have a private meal in here, just the three of us?” Caspian said, gesturing to the parlor.

Inari had forgotten all about food. Her queasy stomach protested the idea of a meal, yet the rational part of her brain demanded she eat to preserve her energy. She might need the strength later if another phone call came.

“I think that’s an excellent idea. Thank you, Caspian.” Inari knew he’d suggested the private dinner on her behalf. She glanced at Elias, who stood near the fireplace with his hands in his pockets, to see if he intended to join them.

“I’ll stay,” Elias said, not breaking eye contact with her.

Inari had the idea that Elias meant he would stay for more than the meal. There was a hint of longevity to his reply, a meaning other than the obvious.

You’re looking for things that aren’t there, she chided herself.

Caspian exited the parlor and returned five minutes later. “Dinner will be here shortly.”

Inari looked away from Elias first. She had to. Heat had begun to creep from her throat to her cheeks, a telltale sign that her emotions were rising. She should not be so susceptible to Elias’s apparent determination to see this situation through to whatever end. His willpower and steadfastness impressed her, soothed some of her inner turmoil. In his presence, she felt anything was possible.

Elias took a seat beside her at the small, intimate table. Close enough that their shoulders nearly touched.

She didn’t mind.

“All right, then,” Caspian said as he settled in. “Let’s talk game plan while we eat. The faster we get rid of the threat, the better.”

Elias said, “Actually, I already have an idea.”

---

“Erick has been looking through public photos and has found someone of interest. This person—a man, clearly—shows up at the parades, charities, and other events, even in other countries. I think we should draw him out. Not by using Inari as a sacrifice,” Elias said with a pointed look at the princess. “I’m not a fan of that tactic. But staging a few more ‘royal’ events should lure the man out. We’ll position cameramen all around the area to snap as many pictures of the crowd as they can. We leave the involvement of the royal family ambiguous, so the stalker won’t know if Inari will be there or not. I think it’ll draw him out, make him curious. Anyone actually involved in the parade can be armored up, just in case this nut job decides to start firing. I don’t think he would go for anyone other than Inari, however, so I believe everyone else will be safe. We’ll run the photos through the correct software, have people examine them in person, like Erick has done, and nail the bastard. This is all under the assumption we don’t get any other leads from the poisoning or shooting attempts.”

Caspian set down his fork and dabbed at his mouth with his napkin. Elias knew by Caspian’s intent look that he wanted to use their group, the secretive cadre of princes, to apprehend the culprit. It was what they did, after all, out of the public eye.

This mission was right up their alley.

Elias did not mention that he planned to go undercover at these events to scout the crowd himself. He thought to position Erick and Jeremiah as strategic lookouts, and though the chances of actually locating this man were slim, it was proactive, and Elias rarely backed down from a challenge.

“I like it,” Caspian said.

“Anything to put whoever this man is behind bars. Before he finds another way around security and succeeds on his third try. Because there will be one,” Inari said.

Caspian’s phone rang.

Elias set down his napkin with a nod. It was settled, then. As Caspian excused himself to take the call, Elias turned his attention solely on Inari. She’d picked at her food, but had at least eaten enough to keep her energy up.

“We’ll keep going through regular routes as well. Your father’s men are doing everything they can to find this guy, I’m sure,” Elias said. He studied the fine sweep of Inari’s brow and the frown that had settled there.

“I know everyone is doing everything they can. It just doesn’t seem like enough, soon enough. You know?” she said.

“There’s only so much they can do until they, or we, find the lead we’re looking for. Erick is still scouring photos, and now we’re going to set up surveillance at the venues this man frequents. We just have to be in the right place at the right time,” Elias replied.

A look of distress crossed Inari’s features. Elias curbed a desire to reach out and cover her hand with his own. After a moment, her gaze finished panning the room and landed on his eyes. He didn’t think he mistook the flicker of longing he saw in the midst of her turmoil. Longing for what? For the situation to be over? For more physical contact? He might have asked, even parted his lips to do so, when Caspian returned to the table.

“I got another call from your father,” Caspian said, looking at Inari.

Elias snapped his attention to Caspian at the same time Inari did.

“What’s the news?” Elias asked. His body tensed in anticipation of Caspian’s reply.

“Lisbet has improved. Her stats are looking better than they were and the doctors think she has a real chance to survive. It’s good news,” Caspian said.

Inari covered her mouth with her hands as if to catch the quiet sound of relief that slipped past her lips.

“They also found the source of the poison,” Caspian said. “The cinnamon sticks were laced with it.”

“Which means the contamination could have come before the cinnamon sticks arrived at the palace,” Elias said. “We need to trace the purchase back and interview the proprietor of the shop where the sticks came from.”

“Or send someone proficient in our stead, since our faces would be too easily recognized in Somero,” Caspian said. He sounded disgruntled.

Elias disliked being contained by his status when he felt they were on the right track chasing down the culprit. He wanted to be hands-on—except this case was particularly public. A disguise would be necessary to immerse himself into the crowds, which would be a nightmare for his security team and likely cause discord if his father found out.

“Caspian’s right. If there are faces that will be recognized, it’s both of yours. Women will know immediately, even before the men,” Inari said.

Elias glanced from Caspian to Inari. Tension shivered through his shoulders at the desire to act, to follow up on the natural leads they were presented with. He was not a man who liked to give up the chase when he was clearly ahead of the pack.

Still. He recognized the wisdom of handing off the issue of the cinnamon sticks, though he fully intended to show up at the next royal event in which Somero was ‘scheduled’ to attend.

“We should call Thane’s team and suggest our plan. I’m sure they’ll trace the purchase back and ask all the right questions,” Elias said, with a specific look at Caspian. “Otherwise, we should start making plans to attend these staged events and drop hints in the coming days, as Lisbet continues to improve, that the Ascher line will be represented at these functions. If nothing else, the stalker might be puzzled as to why the Aschers might show themselves in public, which should still draw him out.”

“I have one more thing. Can I speak to you in private?” Caspian said to Elias.

“Why can’t you tell him with me here?” Inari said, sounding indignant.

“Because it has to do with another matter entirely.” Caspian winked, as if to take the sting out of his dismissal of her.

Elias knew Inari wasn’t at all pleased, but watched closely as she fixed a neutral expression on her face and rose from her seat. It struck him then that she wanted to be as involved in the process as she could be and still remain safe. She was a fighter, naturally inclined to follow leads to their final end.

They had that in common.

“I’ll go call Father and get my own update while you two . . . discuss things,” she said with a brief tug to her shirt, before pivoting smartly for the door.

Elias tracked Inari until she disappeared from sight. His gaze swung back to Caspian, curious at the information he’d yet to deliver.

Caspian said, “Ivanna called from Paris. And let me tell you, Elias, she’s got a whopper of a story to tell.”