A new plan

"What?" Trace's voice rose beyond what he intended, and he grimaced.

Be the princess's double at the coming out ball? A ball where, by all reports, rich men from all over the kingdom, and many from others, would dance with her and fawn over the Princess? Risk execution if caught by the king?

"I don't want to do it," Anaisa's eyes hardened, "but I'm playing along for now because I'm terrified. If the king discovers… I'll be in terrible trouble. I'm in over my head. Can you use whatever special skills you have to wrap this up quickly and maybe your blackmailer can get us out of here?"

Trace took a deep breath. The innocent suggestion that they become servants in the palace to find out information more quickly had spiraled far out of control. His side of the bargain was going as planned, with him maintaining a low profile and gathering information as it came.

Anaisa's, on the other hand…