"In trade for what?" Bash asked lowly. First England, then Aylee, then his mother's secret breaking free.
Her sly expression was unmistakable. "Nothing I can't live with." She pulled him out of a servant's path. Someone else flickered in his periphery. "She can't control me or you if she can't catch us." Diane continued.
A shadow shot out of nowhere. Diane was pinned against the wall, an engraved dagger to her throat.
"So it was you." Ellyana practically growled.
Bash recognized the tension in her muscles. She was absolutely ready to kill. "Ellyana."
"She's telling you to run, Bash!" She snarled. "And for what?" The dagger drew a red line in Diane's skin, not quite blood. "To save you from the mess she's created? To hide the fact she poisoned a dear friend?"
"I did no such thing." Diane seemed relatively unfazed by the assassin at her neck. "I can show you the bottle I shattered myself. Aylee's plight has nothing to do with me."
The dagger pressed deeply enough to draw the first drop. "But your son's does."
"Ellyana!" Against his better judgment, Bash tore her away from his mother. Her shoulder quivered under his hand. He glanced at Diane. "Forgive me if I don't choose to run away with my mother instead of hiding in the shadows while you seduce my father into giving a damn about us."
Under his touch, the trembling stopped. The assassin was contained. For now.
"Then go on your own. Just swear you'll leave today." She reached to touch his cheek.
Ellyana nearly lunged a second time. Bash forced her to back up with him. A scowl was thrown at Diane's words. "Save yourself."
He had nothing else to say.
As soon as she was gone, Ellyana gave him a plaintive look. "You're not leaving." It wasn't a question.
"Would you rather I risk my life?" He could tell she was choosing to ignore why. He was grateful for it.
"If you haven't noticed, Bash, Sam saved Aylee when she was poisoned. The two of us helped free the castle from its siege." She stepped closer to him. "I stopped Tomas from killing you."
He closed his eyes against the stress of choosing. "I know you feel the safest place for me is here, but what if I don't feel the same?"
When he reopened his eyes, there was a respectable distance between them. He had forgotten how hard her face could become.
"Then I must respect your decision." She sheathed her dagger, finally. "Goodbye, Sebastian de Poitiers. Sam is requesting my help in the investigation."
"Ellyana." His voice broke. She pretended not to hear as she turned away. He just managed to grab her wrist. "You will always be my home, Highness." He whispered. "Don't forget that."
She broke free of his grasp. "Just go."
...
Mary entered the stables dressed for a ride. But the look in her eyes when Bash saw her showed that she had something else on her mind. He readied two horses and approached when Sam called for her.
"Sam?" Mary asked.
"It's about Aylee." Sam waisted no time on greetings.
"Is she alright?" Mary questioned, Sebastian joining her.
"She will be." The brute assured.
"Well what happened?" Sebastian demanded.
"It seems she was poisoned. She's lucky I found her when I did." Sam held the broken cup in his palm. "She's resting with Nostradamus as we speak."
"Thank you, Sam." Mary said. "You've been a valuable asset to my kingdom and France."
Sam nodded once and left the two alone.
"Going somewhere?" Sebastian asked.
"Not anymore." Mary shook her head. "I have to see my lady. Excuse me." Mary left Sebastian standing confused with two tacked horses.
...
"Thank God you're alright." Greer sighed, sitting gingerly on Aylee's bed in Nostradamus' chambers. As soon as they heard the news of her fall, the four ladies rushed to see her.
"It was Sam." Aylee explained. "He caught me. Gave me the antidote. He came out of nowhere. As if he were an angel."
"Sam is no angel." Emilia shook her head. "But he's a master of poisons and antidotes. It's no surprise he knew so quickly what to give you. Saved my life more times than a few."
"Whatever he is," Lola said, taking Aylee's hand. "He saved your life and I will always be grateful to him."
"Aylee?" Mary asked from the doorway. "Sam told me everything. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Mary." Aylee assured. "But we have more pressing matters to attend to."
"Like your wedding." Kenna smiled at her queen.
"You should rest." Mary insisted. "The others can help me for tonight."
"I want to do your hair." Aylee argued, taking a few strands in her hand. "Have you seen the vail yet?"
"Mary's right." Emilia said. "You've just been poisoned. You shouldn't be running around quite yet."
"Fine." Aylee surrendered. "I'll go to my room. But you have to show me what you do to her." She directed her last statement towards the other ladies.
"Thank you." Mary smiled gently.
"We promise." Greer said.
"Now, what about your wedding?" Kenna looked to Emilia.
"We are not discussing that today." The warrior lady shook her head. "We can talk of my marriage once Mary and Francis return from their wedding tour."
"Fine fine." Kenna accepted, surprisingly easily. "We need to get her ready anyway." Kenna and Greer each took one of Mary's arms and led get from the room, Lola following close behind.
"I'll walk you back." Emilia offered Aylee.
"Thank you." Emilia rose and offered her hand to the lady. "I do have a question though. Have you and Marque discussed the wedding?"
"Not much, as we wish to wait until Francis and Mary are wed." Emilia linked her arm with Aylee's. "My father wants us to live at his estate in Scotland." She admitted suddenly. "Once Marque and I are wed."
"You're going home?" Aylee stopped.
"Hopefully he'll understand I can't leave Mary." The girl looked out one of the large windows. "Once her wedding is passed, I'll ask her to write home to my father. He can't dismiss a direct order from his queen."
"Have you told Marque?"
"We haven't discussed it no."
"We can't lose you, Emilia." Aylee shook her head. "Who knows what would happen to Mary if you weren't around."
"I'm aware of the danger this puts Mary in. Which is why I'm doing everything in my power to remain where I am. My father be damned."
The two ladies walked in silence through the castle to their rooms. Both thinking of the outcome of Emilia leaving. Neither thinking anything good. When they stopped at Aylee's room, she gave her a sad smile.
"Everything will be fine." Emilia promised. "I'll make sure of it." Emilia hugged Aylee and left her to rest.
"Emilia!" Marque called from down the corridor. "I've been looking for you. Is Aylee alright?"
"She's fine." Emilia assured her fiancé. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to help Mary prepare for her wedding tonight."
"Speaking of which, would you care to accompany me tonight?"
"I'd love nothing more." Marque pulled Emilia close to him and kissed her.
"Emilia." Greer said, peeking her head out Mary's door. "We need you in here."
"Right." Emilia pulled herself away from Marque, her face red. "Of course."
"I'll be seeing you tonight." Marque kissed her hand. "Greer." He gave a nod to the lady before walking off.
"You're lucky it was only me." Greer laughed at her friends face. "Come on we don't have time to waste. You need to help me with Mary's hair."