CHAPTER 20
Mallory
Mallory walked beside Jakob through the dark forest and pretended to be calm while every nerve in her body screamed.
The path back to the castle felt longer than it had on the way out, as if the trees themselves were leaning closer. She kept her eyes moving between the snow-covered ground, the shadows beyond the trunks, the narrow ribbon of moonlit trail.
Somewhere out there, someone had been waiting for her. She was sure of it.
The text had been clear: come alone. One hour. Don’t be late.
And she had almost done exactly that.
If Jakob hadn’t shown up when he did and caught her working up the nerve to make the final distance to the meeting spot, she would be standing at that isolated service road right now with her heart pounding and praying she was about to see Meg for the first time in two years.
Instead she was walking safely back toward warm lights and thick stone walls with a man who had no idea how close she’d come to disappearing into the night.
Mallory hated lying to him. She hated it so much it made her stomach ache. But she hated the idea of something happening to Meg even more.
So she kept her shoulders straight and her expression neutral and forced herself to act like nothing at all was wrong.
Jakob stayed close beside her the entire way while one hand hovered near her elbow as if he expected danger to leap out at any second. His tension was obvious, from the tight jaw, the alert eyes, or the coiled readiness of someone who trusted nothing.
It only made her feel guiltier that he was worried about her. And that first chance, she was planning to sneak around behind his back again.
When the castle finally came into view, it glowed warm and safe against the snowy mountains, Mallory let out a breath. Back to square one trying to find her sister.
Inside, the familiar scent of polished wood and burning fireplaces wrapped around them.
“I’ll walk you to your room,” Jakob said.
“You really don’t have to,” she replied quickly.
“I do,” he answered.
There was no arguing with that tone.
They climbed the staircase in silence and every step echoed too loudly in Mallory’s ears. By the time they reached her door, her nerves were stretched so tight she thought she might snap.
“Well,” she said awkwardly, “thanks for coming to get me.”
“I’m glad I found you,” Jakob said quietly.
Guilt twisted again. He lingered in the doorway after she opened it, clearly reluctant to leave. She wanted to invite him in, get lost in his arms, and just enjoy the safety he presented. But Meg was still out there somewhere.
“You’re safe now,” he said. “But please, no more late-night hikes or whatever that was.”
She ignored the blatant insinuation that he didn’t believe her story. She managed a weak smile. “Promise.”
He studied her for a long moment, as if searching for cracks in the story she’d told him. Mallory forced herself to meet his gaze.
“I’m really tired,” she added. “It’s been a long night.”
Jakob hesitated.
“I could stay,” he offered. “Just until you fall asleep.”
Her heart squeezed.
Part of her desperately wanted to say yes and just let him stay with her and make everything feel less frightening.
But she couldn’t risk it, not when she needed to contact the unknown number again.
“I’m okay,” she said with more force. “Really. I just need to be alone.”
He looked a little hurt and disappointed, but he nodded.
“Lock the door,” Jakob said. “And call me if you need anything. Anything at all.”
“I will.”
Another lie. It was becoming a habit when she talked to him.
He stared at her for a moment before he brushed a gentle kiss across her forehead and finally left.
The moment the door closed, Mallory sagged against it. Her whole body trembled.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered to the empty room.
Then she pulled out her phone. Her hands shook as she opened the message thread.
No new texts.
Panic fluttered through her chest as she typed quickly.
Please. I’m sorry I didn’t come. He stopped me. Give me another chance. I’ll be there. I swear.
She stared at the screen and waited. And waited. And waited.
Nothing.
Mallory sat on the edge of the bed and tried again.
I’ll do whatever you want. Just tell me where and when. Please don’t hurt her.
An hour later, still nothing.
The silence felt heavier than any reply could have. Finally the fear she’d been holding back all night broke loose.
Mallory curled up on the bed and cried. Quiet, desperate tears that she didn’t dare let anyone hear soaked her face. She cried for Meg, for the years of not knowing, for the impossible situation she was trapped in, and for the man down the hall who only wanted to protect her.
Somewhere in the middle of it all, exhaustion pulled her under.
When she woke, pale winter light filtered through the curtains. For a moment she forgot everything.
Then from somewhere tangled in the sheets, her phone buzzed. Mallory desperately dug around for it and found it half under her pillow.
A new message. Her pulse pounded as she opened it.
If you fail again, you won’t get another opportunity to save your sister. Will text tomorrow.
Below it was another map pin. This time it was a different place, much deeper in the mountains.
Final.
The word seemed to hang unspoken between the lines. Mallory pressed the phone to her chest.
“Okay,” she whispered. “Okay. I’ll be there.”
She needed to find a heavier jacket and better boots. This hike wasn’t going to be easy if she had to penetrate the mountains. But this time, she would not let anyone stop her.
Not even Jakob, no matter how much that broke her heart.
Despite a sleepless night, by morning she had managed to pull herself together enough to look almost normal.
Her plan to avoid Jakob at all costs disintegrated before she even had a cup of coffee. He waited for her in the kitchen, and she had to wonder if he had waited there all night. He insisted on spending the day with her, as if he were afraid to let her out of his sight.
Despite her protests, she finally caved in when he invited her to the farmer’s market that was held inside the castle courtyard. It was a cheerful winter tradition filled with local vendors, music, and the smell of fresh bread.
Under any other circumstances, Mallory would have loved it. Today, it just made her queasy as she tried to plan her escape to the mountains.
Colorful stalls lined the courtyard walls with everything from handmade scarves, to jars of james, to baskets of pastries. Families wandered between booths while children laughed and chased each other through the snow.
Jakob tried hard to make it feel like an ordinary outing.
“Try this,” he said and handed her a sample of locally made cheese.
“It’s amazing,” she said. She proved that she meant it by reaching for another sample.
Even though he tried to hide it, Mallory couldn’t ignore the way Jakob scanned the crowd over and over again, how his posture stayed rigid, or how his smile never quite reached his eyes.
He was on edge. Watching. Guarding. Protecting her, without even knowing what from. Several times guilt almost made her confess about Meg. She hated to let him think that she was in danger, even though she couldn’t prove that she wasn’t.
His head turned sharply every time someone came too close, but Mallory pretended not to notice.
They were examining a display of hand-carved ornaments when Viggo approached. She watched the tall, broad-shouldered guard for any hint of trouble.
“Your Majesty,” the man said quietly.
Jakob straightened. “Viggo. Any update?”
“Yes, sir.” Viggo lowered his voice. “We were unable to trace the cell phone from last night. Messages were routed through multiple servers. Whoever sent them covered their tracks well.”
Mallory froze. His mention of cell phone messages made her blood run cold. Her stomach dropped as she tried not to be obvious with her eavesdropping. Surely they couldn’t be talking about the texts she had received.
“We also haven’t identified who the receiver was,” Viggo continued. “No name, no number we can follow.”
Jakob frowned. “Keep trying.”
“Yes, sir. We’ve begun checking the hotel staff as well to learn of anyone who might have reported that she was back in town.”
Mallory’s heart slammed to a stop.
She.
Back in town.
They were talking about her and most likely about the people who had Meg.
Her fingers tightened around the ornament in her hand.
“Wait,” Mallory said, cutting in before she could stop herself. “What are you talking about?”
Both men turned to look at her.
Jakob’s expression shifted instantly. “Mallory, please.”
“No,” she said. Her voice rose despite her best efforts to stay calm. “I want to know. Who’s back in town? And why are you checking with the staff about it?”
A flicker of alarm crossed Jakob’s face.
“It’s nothing you need to worry about,” he said gently.
But Mallory was already shaking her head.
“No more secrets,” she said. “I’ve had enough of those.”
Viggo glanced uncertainly between them.
Jakob hesitated just long enough for Mallory to realize something important. He knew more than he was telling her.
“Jakob,” she said, her voice trembling, “what is going on?”
And suddenly the cheerful market around them didn’t feel cheerful at all.