Hey guys, I hope you're doing well! Just a heads-up that this chapter has tons of swearing because Alexei is super pissed. Read on for an infamous Gralexei scene ;)

Gonna reply to reviews on the previous chapter, thank you so much for the love and to everyone who reviewed! I really appreciate each and every single one, as they make my day :)

Melissa: Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed that chapter, particularly with seeing Alexei's thoughts, since I always strive to make it accurate with what's in the books. I definitely wanted Dominic and Mikhail to be father figures to Alexei but that's a great point you brought up, about how they teach him to be a better person. It wasn't something I had considered before but it totally fits. And thank you for your kind words, I'm touched that you like my writing! ^-^

Guest: I looked up that part in the book again after reading your review and it made me laugh. But in all seriousness, I really wanted to create that narrative in Alexei's head where he thinks Grace has moved on, making him all cold-hearted and angry.

ggk: Thank you for your kind words! I hope this chapter finds you well. One helpful tip is that when I post the date range for when the next chapter will be out, most of the time, it'll be out on the last day of the range (or very close to it). You can also follow my IG (smartiegirl800) as I make a story or feed post when a new chapter is up and try to keep my bio updated with the latest chapter that's out. And if you have a account, you can follow this story to get email updates whenever I post a new chapter. I'm glad you've really enjoyed my writing and feel that I've captured Grace and Alexei's relationship well ^-^ I wanted it to be accurate with what's in the books but with another layer added, to explore the emotions more. In terms of what happens after, the last two chapters of this fanfic will be scenes that take place shortly after where the books end (with the squad all sitting on the wall). They will be non-canon but they're more to tie things up for Alexei's storyline. The first one will include Grace but the second one may or may not (depending on where the chapter splits end up). I'm not sure if that's what you were hoping for but that's what I currently have planned (and don't think I'll write anything else beyond that).

Disclaimer: I do not own the Embassy Row series and all the characters (except for Tanner and Jordan and Alexei's Moscow friends, who are my own creations). They belong to Ally Carter. I am merely using her characters and plotline to create this fanfiction. I have no intention of profiting off the Embassy Row series in any way. This fanfiction is purely for entertainment purposes and would not exist without Ally Carter's wonderful works.

The events that happen in this fanfiction are not meant to be representative of real life. Any similarities to any real-life events or fictional works is purely coincidental and not intentional (with the exception of the original Embassy Row books by Ally Carter since this fanfiction is literally Take the Key and Lock Her Up but from Alexei's, not Grace's, perspective). The character's actions may not always reflect my own opinions or views. Based on what happens or is mentioned in this chapter (spoiler alert), I do not condone underage drinking, murder, or kidnapping.

Content warning: moderate
This fanfiction is rated M, for explicit and suggestive themes (such as mental health and abuse), language, and violence. This chapter contains extremely strong language, crude relationship banter, explicit depictions of underage drinking, and mentions of death, protesting, kidnapping, murder, and mental health. Please read at your own discretion.

Chapter Thirty: Second Chances

For a moment, the crowd was still, as everyone processed what had just happened. Seconds later, madness ensued. The crowd broke out in a riot, protesting the unfair death of the king.

I immediately grabbed Grace's arm, to take her someplace safe. It was almost an instinct really, as she had her prince and a whole convoy of palace security guards to protect her. But I still didn't really trust them.

She gave me a dirty look as she pulled free, running against the throng, going deeper into the palace. I tried to follow her but the mob was too thick. I got swept up in its madness as Grace drifted farther away from me into God knows what. For all I knew, there was another death trap waiting farther inside the palace. I didn't want to lose her, not where there'd be less eyes. But I didn't have much of a choice, not if I wanted to risk my life. Besides, she clearly didn't want me saving her anyways.

The crowd parted for the paramedics but it was far too late. The king was beyond saving, as Dominic had rightly proclaimed. The only thing left to save was the rest of the Adrian royal family, before they were ripped apart by all the secrets and lies. But where they had all gone, including Grace, was anyone's guess. And quite frankly, I didn't give a shit about any of them right now.

With that, I set out to find the rest of the squad. Tanner was easy to spot as he was right beside the kitchen. That didn't surprise me, as that was the prime spot for getting first dibs at all the hors d'oeuvres and drinks, if the full glass of champagne in one hand and plate full of food in the other was any indication.

"Come on, man, party's over, we're getting you home," I said, dragging him with the throng, despite his drunken complaints. I kept an eye out for the rest of our friends but didn't spot them in the swarm of people. I sent a message to the group chat, asking everyone to meet near the side door where Tanner, Jordan, and I had arrived.

Tanner and I got there first. Rosie showed up a few moments later.

"You okay, Rosemarie?" I asked, taking in her small frame.

"Don't worry about me, I'm fine," Rosie dismissed, with a wave of her hand. No doubt she had easily been able to weave her way through the masses. "If you really want someone to be concerned about, then consider Grace or Thomas. But I doubt you'd want anything to do with them." Yeah, no. As far as I was concerned, Grace was doing just fine with her shining prince. He could man up and take care of her.

"Have you seen the others?" I asked Rosie, glancing around nervously. There were still tons of people streaming out of the palace but no signs of the rest of the squad.

Rosie shook her head. "I couldn't keep tabs on all of them."

"Okay, we'll stay here and look out for them." After a while, Lila and Megan showed up. Finally, Noah showed up with Jordan.

"Man, it took forever to get out of there. The crowd was nuts." Noah shook his head.

"No worries, glad you made it safely." I did a quick head count, making sure everyone was accounted for.

"So now what?" Tanner asked, biting into a shrimp ball. "We aren't just going to stand around all night, are we?"

I shook my head. "No, we need to get out of here before the crowds get worse."

Jordan looked at me hesitantly. "I hate to burst your bubble, bro, but those crowds are already nasty." I looked out the floor to ceiling windows. Sure enough, it was an absolute madhouse on the streets, as protests raged outside the palace gates. The palace staff had more or less been able to get everyone under control but outside the safe confines of the regal building, anything was fair game. Screams and chants were punctuated by the clinks of hurled bottles and the cracking of smashed glass windows. And through it all, crackling fires lit up the dark night sky, casting the mobs in eerie, smoky glows. This was worse than the Night of a Thousand Amelias, easily. The political unrest had been simmering under the surface for a long time but it had started picking up in recent months, between the new prime minister, Spence's death, and my fugitive status. I feared the king's untimely death was going to push things over the edge, sparking a revolution. And with that, Adria would never be the same again.

I clenched my jaw. "We need to get moving." I started walking but my friends all stayed put.

"What about Grace and Thomas?" Rosie asked.

"They'll be fine. Let's go." I turned away from the group but still, none of them were moving.

"Speaking of Grace, where is she?" Noah asked. We all looked around uncertainly. With the masses this out of control, it'd be impossible to find her. It was anyone's guess as to where she had gone.

"You know, with all the crowds, now might be a good time to stage a heist and get your girl the hell outta here," Tanner said. We all turned to look at him. Whether that was extremely genius or idiotic, I couldn't tell.

"What, just saying." Tanner seemed unbothered as he gulped his champagne.

"Even if we were to find Grace, what would we do with her?" Megan asked. "Where would she stay?"

Tanner turned to look right at me, causing my stomach to roll. "Duh, she'd stay at yours, in the townhouse."

"Absolutely not," I immediately countered.

"Why the hell not?" Jordan argued. "It's the perfect place. It's a quiet neighbourhood where no one would think to look for her. You've got extra bedrooms."

"And, she's close enough for all that makeup sex." Tanner elbowed me, winking. For God's sake, really?

"No, we are not breaking her out of the palace," I said firmly.

"Maybe once we find her –" Megan started before my control snapped.

"I had her earlier but she pulled herself free. Clearly, she doesn't want our help," I snarled. I had already tried once, only to be snubbed. There was absolutely no use trying a second time.

"Maybe she had something to do first," Megan said uneasily, as she glanced around the room.

"Like what, fuck her prince charming?" I retorted. All eyes swivelled towards me but I didn't care. I had wasted my time and energy coming here.

"Alexei, we have to do something. Grace is in danger. The crowd is insane. They're looking for vengeance. No one is safe out there, least of all her," Megan pleaded.

"She started this fucking mess. She can clean it up on her own with her prince charming." I turned to look at the staircase where Grace and Thomas had descended, hating the false hope it reminded me of.

"Alexei, cut the bullshit." Lila's harsh tone caught me off guard. She grabbed my shoulder, practically shaking me as her dark eyes bore into me. "I know Grace has hurt you. But she was doing her best to rectify the situation and protect everyone. You and her have history, more than you ever had with me or any of us. Are you really going to give up on her so easily?"

"What's the point? She has her prince and an entire palace now. She has no use for me, or us." I tried to shake off Lila's grasp but she only gripped me harder.

"Yeah, but she doesn't want any of this palace shit either and you know it. Don't tell me you still don't feel something for her." Lila held my gaze, her eyes unwavering. I opened my mouth to reply but stopped myself. Yes, I was upset with Grace right now. But deep down, I knew I would always feel something for her. That was the curse I was bound to live with, like Dominic and Mikhail. No matter what, I would never be able to truly let Grace go, regardless of how much she was pissing me off or breaking my heart by gallivanting with another guy. If there was a chance she could be in danger now, I'd be letting her down if I didn't help her. And if anything happened to her, I knew I'd live a lifetime of regret, thinking of everything I could have done for her.

Lila raised an eyebrow at me. "Point proven. So are you going to do something to help Grace or what?" She had gotten me and she knew it.

"Fine," I clipped, before I could change my mind. I looked at Noah, the most responsible and sober guy in the group. "Noah, can I trust you to bring everyone home?"

"Of course. But what are you going to do?" Noah asked, skeptical. That was usually my job, which I had delegated to him.

I looked around, giving everyone one last lingering glance. "I have a princess to find."

I wove my way back into the palace from the side door. Now that the crowd had thinned, it felt haunted and empty, especially with the knowledge that a rogue gunman was potentially on the loose. The thought that he could be roaming, searching for Grace, was particularly unsettling. Part of me had to make sure she was okay. Even though I had no idea what we were, I wasn't going to break Jamie's promise I had made to him over the summer to keep an eye out for Grace. But more importantly, I wasn't going to let myself down, not while I had this final opportunity to help her.

I didn't know what I'd say to Grace. Perhaps convince her to stay at the townhouse with Karina and I until we could figure out what was going on, like Tanner and Jordan had so eloquently suggested? Regardless, she wasn't safe at the palace any longer.

The hallway was quiet, aside from raucous voices echoing from the kitchen. I bet it was the catering crew. Was Jordan with them too, cleaning up? Or had he already gone home?

A tray of full, untouched glasses of champagne sat abandoned on a table, left behind in the earlier madness. Without thinking, I grabbed a glass, downing its contents in a couple gulps. Its sweet, fizzy taste only burned slightly on the way down. It wasn't exactly the kind of liquid courage I had been looking for but it was better than nothing. Apparently, Tanner wasn't the only one who had turned to substances lately.

Feeling slightly better about myself, I continued down the hallway towards the ballroom. It was dark, its main overhead lights dimmed. All that remained were the gaslights in the sconces, further adding to the eerie aftermath of the earlier chaos.

One of the gaslights on the far side of the room flickered, casting a flash of light on the painting of King Alexander II and his family. They were the ideal of Adria and everything it stood for. However, that had visibly been shattered tonight, crushing Adria's flawless image of its royal family. Could it ever be recovered? Or would it become yet another one of the secrets swept under the rug by the dutiful women of the Society? I wasn't sure which outcome would be the lesser of two evils.

At first glance, the only other person in the ballroom appeared to be a janitor vacuuming the carpet. But when I stepped farther inside, quiet voices echoed from the other end of the room.

"It's not your fault." The familiar feminine voice caught my attention. Grace. She was here. But she wasn't alone. Her blue dress floated out around her, as she held someone in her arms. The gaslight flickered again, illuminating the other person's face.

I hurled the champagne glass against the floor, getting mild satisfaction from the sound of it smashing into a million pieces, like my poor, ravaged heart. In an instant, the couple guiltily broke apart. The shock and guilt on Prince Thomas' face was magnified a hundred times on Grace's. Like she really felt that though. I had been very wrong to think she wanted anything to do with me. Everyone had. The fact that she had run back to her prince after this mess started proved that.

I turned around, heading back towards the hallway. Clearly, I was no longer welcome, my work here done.

"Alexei!" Grace's voice yelling my name made me want to punch something. I had to get out of here, before the palace ruined me too. But more importantly, before I could destroy something else or, worst of all, myself.

I wove my way as fast as I could through the palace, until I reached the side door. Once outside, I picked up the pace to a full-out sprint. The cool night air burned my lungs, the wind whipping my hair in my face but I didn't care. This felt good and it was exactly what I needed. I kept running as fast as I could, glad to escape the palace and all its fake pretenses.

"Alexei!" I turned briefly. Grace was chasing after me, looking pathetic as she trotted along in her heels, her dress hiked up around her legs. Did she seriously think she could change anything? I forced myself to keep going faster, despite my muscles burning and begging for reprieve, to get as far away from this mess as I could.

"Alexei, stop!" A hand grabbed mine, forcing me to slow down. I spun around, finding myself face to face with Grace.

"Go back to your prince, Gracie," I growled. What the fuck was she doing here, when she had her knight in shining armour waiting for her in the palace? What could she possibly want from me, when she had him?

"He's not my prince!" Grace snapped. "I never wanted him to be my prince."

I huffed. "I thought this was your birthright. I thought you were born to be a princess." Hadn't she been spouting that bullshit this whole time? And to have the nerve to suddenly contradict herself to me. I didn't think she'd stoop so low as to gaslight me but here we were.

She stepped closer, grabbing the lapels of my tux. My breath caught, as it took everything in me not to recoil from her touch, remembering what happened the last time we were this close. "I lied. I do that." Yes, she did that very well.

I looked down at her. Up close, she looked like a trainwreck, her makeup smeared under her eyes, her hair flying all over the place. Yet, somehow, she managed to be both extraordinary and infuriating all at once. And in that instant, I saw the hurt and fear in her eyes, the stress on her face. Maybe she hadn't wanted this after all, despite what she kept telling everyone around her, but most of all, herself. I realized just how vulnerable she was and how much she had been lying, not just to us, but to herself. And she had almost done a convincing job of it, until now.

"Yeah. You do." My voice was soft as I looked into her weary, tired eyes. For a second, it was easy to forget about everything around us as we stood together, being reminded of all the history we had shared and everything that could become of us. Yes, we had both been hurt by the other, but perhaps, there was still a shot at reconciliation, of restoring what we once had.

"So the prince seems … nice," I started. Awkward as hell but nice.

"He is nice," Grace replied.

I raised an eyebrow. "You don't sound happy about it."

Grace looked up at me. "Nice guys are overrated."

I couldn't help myself from sliding my arms around her, pulling her close to me, holding her tight. Was this what true love was supposed to be like, to love someone with all your heart, with all your soul, regardless of what they did to you or how badly they hurt you? No matter what had happened between us, Gracie was all mine and I was all hers, through the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.

But Grace's hands pushed against my chest, forcing me away from her. "I have to marry him." I looked down at her. She refused to look at me, keeping her eyes focused on my chest.

"I thought that I could stop it," Grace continued. "The king knew. That's what I was trying to tell you guys. He was going to stop it. So they killed him. No. I'm not sure the Society knew in time, but Ann did. Ann knew. So she killed him. She'll kill anyone. She will. She'd kill you."

Suddenly, her beautiful brown eyes, fraught with fear and desperation, met mine. "She would kill you."

I couldn't stop the smirk from creeping onto my face as I suppressed the urge to laugh. "She's welcome to try." The thought of the crown princess of Adria personally trying to kill me seemed almost ridiculous. Besides, there was no way I'd be going down without a fight and she would not fare well in a fight against me. I wasn't going anywhere anytime soon and I wanted Grace to know that.

I pulled Grace closer. Her hands slid up to my shoulders as she eased into me, leaning against my chest. I cherished this moment, knowing it wasn't going to last forever and that it could really, truly be our last.

"I have to marry him," Grace repeated. "This was a warning as much as anything. If they can kill the king … I have to marry him."

I pulled her tighter, reminding her of this moment, of the present, of what we shared right here, right now, in light of the uncertain future looming before us. "You're not married yet."

I leaned down, pressing my lips to hers, weaving my fingers through her hair, loosening what remained of her stiff updo. She froze for a second, hesitant at first before fully giving into the kiss. However, she pulled away all too soon.

"Gracie …" I started, pushing her hair out of her face.

"There's something I have to tell you."

"No. No more talking," I said, kissing her hard. She relented as I deepened the kiss. There was nothing but us as we stood locked in this moment, frozen in time in this one kiss. Despite everything Grace said about the prince, I bet he didn't have the guts to kiss her like this. And Grace knew it, returning my kiss with passion as we explored each other's mouths.

Eventually, the kiss ended, leaving me with an adrenaline high. But Grace quickly killed it.

"Is your mom really lucid?" Grace asked.

"Gracie, don't." I didn't want to talk about Karina, not when there were more pressing things to deal with and especially not after everything we had just shared.

"Don't what?"

"Don't get your hopes up." Karina was never going to be fully lucid and well again, despite all the therapy and medication in the world. Just like so many other things that may never happen again. Like this moment.

"Do you honestly think I'm capable of that? Well, I'm not." Grace's voice was lifeless as she pulled away from me, taking a step back. "Don't worry. I will never get my hopes up ever again."

"Shh, Grace." I pulled her in tight, gripping her hard, to keep her from running away from me. I wasn't going to let her go so easily, not when I had just gotten her back.

"She killed the king," Grace repeated. "She killed the king." It was like she couldn't get over it, what the crown princess was capable of.

"I know," I said, smoothing her hair. Although she seemed on the verge of giving up, maybe I could grant her this one moment, to find the answers she had been looking for all along. I let her go, but not before taking her hand in mine.

"Come on."

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Next chapter will be up between July 22 and July 30. I had thought about potentially trying to post it earlier in July but realized it might be tight, between my call schedule and moving. But I appreciate everyone's patience with my slow upload schedule (especially since this story has gotten dragged out longer than Falling for You and On the Run).

And the Gralexei makeup scene has officially happened. This was a pivotal chapter so I hope I did it justice. I'm sure you all know which chapter is coming next ;)

Update (July 30): Hey guys, as you may have guessed, the next chapter won't be coming out today. Things have been even more busy than I've imagined with work, moving and settling into my new place, and all my other work responsibilities (like being on call, seeing my psychotherapy patient, and helping with planning the social events for my resident group) that I haven't even had a chance to look at the next chapter to start the editing. But now that things have settled down a bit, I'm hoping to start the editing today and get the chapter up in the next couple weeks. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding and I'll see you guys soon with the next chapter :)