A/N: Fair warning, I may have wandered very slightly towards "M Rated" territory near the end of this chapter.

"Oh, Riley, there you are!" Hana rushed up to me with a smile on her face and a small parcel in her hands. We were in the lobby of an opera house in Paris, waiting for the King's Guard to clear the building for the court. "I've been looking all over for you."

"Well, you found me! What's up?"

"At the tea party yesterday, I overheard the Queen Mother complain that there were none of her favorite pastries. I bought one from a local bakery; I thought if you are going to talk to her today, it might help to butter her up with a religeuse first." She handed me the parcel, and I peeked inside to see a fluffy, creamy pastry.

"Hana, you're amazing! What did I do to deserve a friend like you?" I gave her a big hug, and when she pulled away, her dark olive skin was tinted pink with a blush.

"It's the least I could do, really," she insisted.

Just then, Maxwell joined us, sidling up like he was trying to be sneaky. "Sorry to interrupt," he said, "But, the Queen Mother is waiting over there, alone. Now's your chance."

I nodded and took a deep breath, looking to Hana first, and then Maxwell for encouragement. They gave me confident smiles, and I gripped Hana's parcel tightly as I prepared to head over.

"Wait," Maxwell hissed, making me turn back to him. "I almost forgot. Liam also said to tell you, he'll be waiting in box five if you want to see him before the show."

I laughed. "Oh, okay. Thank you, Messenger Maxwell." He gave a salute, and I turned towards Regina again.

"Pardon me, your Majesty," I said as I approached the former Queen. "May I wait with you?"

"Oh, Lady Riley, hello." She had been people-watching, and seemed startled to see me, but she gave a warm smile and gestured at the chair next to her. "By all means."

"I was sorry to miss the tea party yesterday," I said as I sat. I smoothed out my dress and crossed my legs at the ankle.

"I'm afraid you didn't miss much, it was rather a disappointment."

"I heard you were missing your favorite pastry, so I wanted to bring you this..." I handed her the parcel, and she opened it. Her face lit up as she saw the religeuse inside.

"How thoughtful!" she said as she held up the pastry. She took a big bite, and a smile spread across her face. She closed her eyes, savoring the flavor. "Absolutely delightful," she sighed.

"I'm glad you like it." I looked down at my hands, folded in my lap, wondering where to go from here. "So..." I started, my mind racing for the right words.

"Lady Riley," Regina said, saving me from myself. "While your guiles have improved since you first arrived, I have been around long enough to know that you are seeking more than my company."

"Wh-what do you mean?" I asked, surprised by her bluntness.

"You're investigating me, aren't you?"

"What? I..." I sighed. There was no point denying it. "Yes," I said at last. I looked carefully at Queen Regina, but her countenance was neutral.

"I know nothing about this alleged plot against you. To be quite frank, a part of me wanted to see you succeed in winning the crown."

I raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "You did?"

She smirked a little. "A small part, but it was there nonetheless."

I returned her smirk. "Well that's more support than I thought I had from you. But, how did you know I was investigating you?"

"I may no longer be the Queen, but I still have eyes and ears throughout the court to keep me apprised of all goings-on. In any case, regardless of my feelings toward you personally, I could see how much Liam cared for you. I made no secret of my favor for Madeleine, but had she not been a contender, you would have had my support."

"Really? Even over Olivia?"

Regina frowned, the lines around her mouth deepening. "I know, more intimately than most, the leaden weight of the crown. When Liam's brother abdicated, Constantine was more relieved than disappointed. My feelings were...more complicated. We both knew that Liam was better suited to be king, but that didn't mean it was what he wanted."

"Liam didn't want the crown?"

"It's difficult to say what he wanted. He wouldn't open up to anyone after his brother left." Her frown softened a little, her eyes glossy in the far-off memory. "Not until the brothers Beaumont appeared at court one day with a hopelessly naive young woman from New York in tow."

"Hopelessly naive?" I was halfway between amusement and offense.

"So we thought. But it was clear that Liam saw something else."

I smiled briefly, but then frowned and asked, "Then why did you favor Madeleine?"

"Do be practical, Lady Riley. My utmost responsibility is to Cordonia, not to Liam or to you. Who would you have chosen? A foreign newcomer just learning the ways of court and governance, or a woman born and bred for the role? However, compromise is one of the regency's best tools. Your scandal provided an opportunity to teach Liam that lesson. That's why I pushed him to accept the...arrangement that Madeleine had proposed."

I balked. "You mean..." I couldn't even finish the thought; my face was bright red with embarrassment.

"That Madeleine might have Liam's alliance and the crown...and that you might have Liam. In exchange for making the decision to prioritize his kingdom, I would do what I could to bring you back to court, and to him."

"You brought me back to court? So I could be Liam's mistress?" I had often joked with Liam about being his mistress, but this was the first time the word made me feel sick and shameful.

Regina was losing her patience with me. I saw it in her face, and I definitely heard it in her next words. "If that's the word you'd like to use, yes. So, perhaps you should be thanking me for bringing you back to court, rather than questioning me like a common criminal."

I felt deflated, and was ready to end this conversation. But I wanted one more thing from Queen Regina. I wanted to see her reaction when I brought up Bastien; I thought catching her off-guard with his name might cause her to betray some hidden emotion or knowledge. So, I stood up, as if to leave, then turned back. "One more thing, your majesty," I said. "Do you know where Bastien is? I have a message I'd like him to give to Liam."

She didn't roll her eyes, but from the tone of her voice I was pretty sure she wanted to. "Please, Lady Riley. Even if Bastien were willing to assist me in such a trivial task, it would be far from proper for me to facilitate the exchange of secret message between you and Liam."

No, you just facilitate the arrangement of our secret relationship, I thought, but had to let that one go. "Wait, so Bastien wouldn't be willing to assist you?"

"Let's just say, Bastien would be the last person I'd ask a special favor of. The fact of the matter is, Bastien has always been closer to my husband than he has to me."

"Did something happen between you two?"

Regina took a moment to choose her words, smoothing her skirt while she thought. "He was very loyal to Liam's late mother," she said at last. "Although he's been respectful to me since Constantine and I married, I don't believe I measure up to my predecessor in his eyes."

I nodded, trying to give her a sympathetic look, even though I was still less than pleased with her. "I'm sorry to have brought it up." I curtsied low. "Please, enjoy the opera, your majesty."

"And you, Lady Riley."

I walked back to the main atrium, considering Regina's words carefully. I looked all around, but didn't see my friends. They must have already headed to their own seats. I checked the signs, and headed towards box five to see Liam.

After talking with Regina, I still felt strangely dirty sneaking off to meet Liam, even though we had done it so many times before, and in far more intimate places than a public opera house. But, as soon as I saw his smiling face, I forgot all about Regina and her involvement in this so-called "arrangement" of ours.

"Lady Riley. It's always a delight to see you," Liam said. His words were formal, but the look in his eyes was anything but. I rushed to hug him, but then realized I needed to get him caught up on what I had learned. I looked at him with a deep frown, and his smile faded. "What happened? Did you speak with Regina?"

"Yes. And, she wasn't the one who gave the orders to Bastien."

"Are you certain?"

"I'm pretty sure. Maybe you can confirm this, but she made it sound like Bastien isn't overly fond of her."

Liam frowned, nodding slowly. "That's true. He has always been close with my father, and was very loyal to my mother. He and Regina don't have much to do with one another, though." He was putting the pieces together, and I wondered if he had always known this conclusion was inevitable.

"There's only one person, other than you, that Bastien would feel compelled to answer to." My throat stung as I spoke, seeing the pain on Liam's face.

"My father," he finished for me. Slowly, he slumped into one of the chairs in the box.

I sat next to him, resting my hand on his knee. "I'm so sorry, Liam."

Suddenly, Liam became irate, his face twisted with rage. "Why would he do something like this?"

"Maybe he thought I was a threat to you," I said, using my most soothing voice.

"You, a threat? You've been my rock throughout all of this. From the first day I met you, you've been an inspiration. My father should've been able to see that." He paused, looking away from me, out towards the still empty stage. "Apparently he's not the man I thought he was."

"Let's just...wait until we can hear his side of the story," I said. I knew I should be angry, but Liam was angry enough for the both of us, and I just wanted to make him feel better. "Is he here tonight?"

"No. He might not be king anymore, but he still has social and political obligations that keep him busy. We might have to bide our time for a little while. But as soon as we get any chance to confront him in private..."

"We'll take it."

He nodded, looking from the stage to the audience below us, then finally back to me. He ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. "Maybe it's a good thing I'm stuck here for the rest of the night. I don't know what I'd do with myself without the distraction."

"Are you going to be okay?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but then hesitated. At last, he said, "I have so many questions for my father. But, Riley...all that matters to me is that you're safe. We're one step closer to unraveling this scheme against you. And, I know it will be easier for both of us once we have some answers."

The opera house lights flickered on and off, signalling the show was about to begin. "I hate leaving you alone like this," I said, knowing I should be finding my seat.

"Well, you could always stay here." Liam grasped my hand in his, looking at me hopefully. "We'll have the whole box to ourselves."

"Madeleine isn't joining you?"

"She is indisposed tonight. There was an issue with our travel arrangements, and she insisted on taking care of it herself."

I smiled. "I guess her control-freak personality has some benefits, then."

"Is that a yes?"

I laughed. "Yes, of course I'd love to stay here with you, Liam."

He shot up from his seat, moving to the curtains to speak to the guard out front. When he returned, he had a huge smile on his face. He was also holding two glasses of champagne. He offered me one with a bow. "Shall we start the evening over again, from the top?" he asked.

"Yes, and let's get it right this time."

He winked as he sat down next to me. He turned to me and addressed me as if he were just now noticing me. "Oh, Lady Riley. There you are. I'm so glad you were able to join me in my private box this evening."

"It's so kind of you to save me a seat."

We chuckled and turned to the stage, as the lights finally dimmed for the show to begin.

"Is this your first time at the opera?" Liam asked me, his voice low.

"Yes, and I'm sure I'll have no idea what's going on."

"I can help translate the story for you," he promised. "But if nothing else, I hope the singers' voices will make the visit worthwhile."

"I think the company makes the visit worthwhile."

As we watched, Liam explained the plot. Boy meets girl's mom, boy falls in love with picture of girl, boy rescues girl from evil wizard. You know, that sort of thing. By the end of the first act, I was losing interest. I kept sneaking glances at Liam, and soon realized he was sneaking glances at me, too.

I grinned as we caught each others' eyes. "What are you thinking?" I whispered, scooting closer to be heard.

"It's been about two or three years since I've been to this opera house," he told me, leaning in. His voice was low, but throaty. "If someone had told me then that the next time I sat in this booth I'd be sitting next to the woman of my dreams, I never would've believed them."

"Well, two or three years ago, if someone had told me I'd be sitting in a Parisian opera house with the King of freaking Cordonia, and he'd be calling me the woman of his dreams, I would've told them they were out of their mind. A lot's changed for both of us."

Liam's face grew suddenly sober. "I know that it's been difficult, Riley. I just hope that in the end, the good parts are enough to make the hardships worth it for you."

I placed my hand on his cheek, rubbing my thumb across his jawline. "They already are. You already are. I wouldn't trade my time with you for anything." I looked up at him, biting my lip, eyes begging him for a kiss.

He leaned in slowly then paused millimeters away from my lips, letting me come to him. I reached towards his neck to draw him closer, and nearly slid off my chair. I broke our kiss with a laugh. "I don't suppose these chairs recline," I said, readjusting myself a little.

"Regrettably, no."

"Then let's try this," I said, moving to sit in his lap, draping my arms around his shoulders and kissing him long and hard.

He grinned at me as we pulled apart. He rubbed his nose against mine, then rested his forehead against mine, whispering, "You know, we have at least an hour left of the opera. And I've given my guards strict instructions that no one is to come in here, under any circumstances."

I raised a lascivious eyebrow. "What are you suggesting, King Liam?"

"Just that I'm all yours, Riley. Whatever you want from me."

I nodded, glancing around the small private box, my mind spinning with possibilities. My heart beat fast, so hard that I could feel the beat in my ears. I had never fooled around in public before. But damn, did I want Liam to take me right then and there. I grinned. "In that case," I stood up and nodded to the wall behind Liam. "Move your chair closer to the wall. I might need the extra support."

It was Liam's turn to raise an eyebrow, but he dutifully complied.

I moved closer and unbuckled Liam's belt, dropping his pants and pushing him backwards into the chair. He just watched, a hungry look in his eyes, as I reached under my dress and pulled off my panties. I stood, straddling but not touching Liam's lap, and leaned in for a quick kiss. As I took Liam's bottom lip between my teeth, I slipped my panties into his jacket pocket. Liam groaned as I moved my hands under his shirt, exploring his abs and chest as I moved my kisses to his jaw and ear. "Oh, God, Riley, you're incredible," he panted. His hand was roaming under my dress now, caressing my inner thighs.

"Hmm," I moaned, arching my back and closing my eyes as he touched me. "Don't stop there. I'm incredible and..."

I felt Liam's lips brush my cheek, then neck, then collarbone, kisses punctuating his next few words, "Gorgeous. Courageous. Magnanimous."

I opened my eyes and pulled his lips to mine for a searing, blinding kiss. Finally, I lowered myself onto him and started moving, slowly at first, and then faster as his hands guided my hips. As we both came together, I buried my face in Liam's shoulder to muffle a loud moan of pleasure.

The end of the opera came all too quickly. Liam and I had collapsed on the ground, sitting up against the wall with Liam's arms holding me close. He kissed the top of my head as the house lights came back on. "Out of time," he said sadly. He helped me up, and then I helped straighten out the collar on his jacket. He grinned at me. "Thanks."

"Any time."

Liam tucked a few stray curls back into my up-do, then nodded in approval. He moved to the curtain, pulling it aside and letting me leave first. He escorted me back to the lobby. Before returning to his security detail, he bowed and brushed a kiss against the back of my hand. "Until I see you again. Sleep well, Lady Riley."

I curtsied back. "Sleep well, King Liam."

Feeling flushed, I ran to the washroom to freshen up before finding my friends. Outside the opera house, I found Maxwell and Hana standing with Olivia, discussing the performance.

"That was amazing!" Maxwell was declaring as I walked up. "I'm feeling so inspired. I'm going to write a breakdance opera! It'll be my magnum opus."

"If anyone can successfully compose and choreograph a breakdance opera, it's Maxwell Beaumont," I said, sliding into the circle of conversation.

"Thanks, Riley!"

"Am I the only one who found the show highly disappointing?" Olivia asked. "Mozart has always been too subdued for my taste. I much prefer Wagner or Puccini. They really know how to compose tragic stories of ill-fated couples and bloodshed."

"That's grim," Hana said with a frown, but I couldn't help but laugh. I was really starting to enjoy Olivia's morbid, slightly frightening brand.

"I would have expected a beheading, at least," Olivia continued.

"A beheading definitely would have spiced things up," Maxwell agreed, pulling out his phone. "I'll jot that down. Keep the ideas coming!"

"At least the venue has charm," Olivia said, ignoring Maxwell. "Did you know that this building is modeled after an ancient Nevrakis castle?"

I looked around appreciatively at the sculpted marble archways and ornate gilded moulding. "Wow, the architecture is lovely."

Olivia beamed. "House Nevrakis is known for our striking and impenetrable construction. It's a very faithful copy, though they left out the fighting pit. Shame."

Maxwell was still typing furiously on his phone. "Ooh, a fighting pit. That could be the backdrop for the big breakdance battle finale!"

Olivia rolled her eyes. "And, I'm officially tired of talking to you people. See you in Shanghai, I guess."

As she strolled off, I looked questioningly at Hana. "We're going to Shanghai next?"

"Yes! We leave tomorrow. It's a bit last minute, but my father will be hosting the court."

I wanted to ask more about meeting Hana's father, but Drake joined us then, saying "Finally, Olivia's gone."

"Drake," I said, "I didn't know you were here. I didn't take you for an opera fan."

"I'm not," he said. "No way in hell I was going to sit through that."

"So, what have you been doing, just sitting in the limo all this time?"

"No! I was enjoying the free drinks. And, you know...walking around, and stuff."

"Walking around the opera house?" Hana asked, a smile forming on her lips.

"Neither seen nor heard?" Maxwell added.

"Almost certainly brooding and scowling?" Hana finished.

"I have a feeling this is going somewhere I'm not going to like," Drake said warily.

I was right on Hana and Maxwell's wavelength, and chimed in with a grin, "I guess you could say he's like a phantom of the opera."

Drake groaned. "Ugh. No."

I needled him a little more. "Come on, Drake. You can't deny it. The Phantom of the Opera is there...inside your mind."

"I'm...going to grab another drink."

"Ooh, I'll join!" Maxwell said, but shrank back when Drake glared at him. "I mean...I'll go write down the plot for my breakdance opera before I forget. Promise you won't tell anyone my idea, though, okay? I don't want someone else to get there first."

"Cross my heart!" Hana promised, and I mimicked her gesture. Satisfied, Maxwell bounced away. Drake stalked off in the opposite direction, leaving me and Hana alone.

"So, I'll be meeting your father?" I asked.

"Yes," she smiled. "I'm sure he'll love you."

"I wish I was that certain," I mumbled. I was pretty sure Hana's parents thought I was commoner trash who was a bad influence on their perfect daughter. I was determined to change their minds when we reached China the next day.