located. “Besides, I’ve been thinking that perhaps it’s not enough to simply take back your crown.”
Edward stared at her. “What do you mean?”
“This country is divided. E∂ians and Verities are at each other’s throats. The people are caught in the middle, and they are suffering for it. It’s one thing to win back your crown, Edward. It’s quite another to win back your country. Your people. You will need both sides to do that. Verities and E∂ians. You must unite them. And to do that, you’ll need the Pack.”
“You’re right,” Edward said.
“You’re crazy, is what you are.” Gracie’s green eyes were filled with worry—though that worry was masked with a practiced expression of annoyance. “If you go to the Pack, you’ll die.” She turned to Jane. “I don’t want to hear a rumor about Thomas Archer wearing a ferret stole come this winter.”
Jane shivered. She didn’t want to be a ferret stole, either. She remembered the danger of the Pack well enough. The gash in her side was still stitched and healing. And she remembered the villagers and their poor cow.
That was just the kind of thing that had to stop if things were going to get better for England. Which meant that Bess was right. I was right, Jane thought, silently congratulating herself for having the idea.
“Thank you very much for your concern,” she said to Gracie, “but I think we should go.”
“What do you mean ‘we’?” Edward turned to Jane, his eyebrows raised in alarm. “You’re staying here to recover from your injuries.”
“Even so, you’re not going. The Pack is too dangerous.”
Gracie straightened. “That’s right, Your Majesty. The key word here is dangerous.”
“Why are you so afraid of them?” Edward turned on Gracie. “I’ve never known you to balk at danger before.”
“I am not afraid!” Gracie bristled. “I just don’t want to . . . see Archer again.”
“Why not?” Bess folded her hands in front of her.
“Because he’s my ex,” Gracie blurted out.
“Ex?” Jane had no idea what that meant.
Bess leaned toward Jane, keeping her voice low. “Former paramour.”
“Oh!” Jane nodded, finally understanding. “They had a romantic relationship.”
“What?” Edward’s face turned bright red as he looked at Gracie. “You had a relationship with him? Archer?”
“My affairs are my own business, Sire.” Gracie tugged a hand through her mess of black curls. “But it does mean I know far more about the Pack than any of you, so you’d best take my advice. Stay away from them. They’re trouble. Especially Archer.”
“Especially.” Edward frowned and turned back to Jane. “All right. I’ve made my decision. I’m going to recruit the Pack. But you’re staying here. So are Bess and Gracie.”
Bess lifted an eyebrow. “I’m not staying here.”
“If you’re going to insist on this fool’s errand of yours, I should go with you, too.” Gracie stalked forward, her hands in fists at her sides. “Archer won’t be reasonable. It’s not in his nature to do anything unless it directly benefits himself. But perhaps I can keep you from getting yourselves killed.”
“No,” Edward protested. “You’re staying here, too. To—uh—guard Jane.”
The Scot’s green eyes shot daggers at Edward. Jane almost felt bad for her cousin. “Oh, and I suppose you’ll let Gifford go with you?” Gracie huffed.
“He’s a strong young man—”
“He’s a horse!” Jane and Gracie yelled at exactly the same time. They paused, glanced at each other, and Jane understood immediately that they were now on the same side. “Allow us to tell you exactly why we’re going with you.” With a quick nod, she indicated Gracie go first.
“I know the Pack, for one. I know their tricks and hideouts. And furthermore, when you lot get hungry and start looking for bugs to eat, I’ll be the one to find something you’ll actually want to eat. Not to mention I’m quick with weapons and the king needs all the protecting he can get.”
“Now stop right there—”
But Jane was ready now. “To complement Gracie’s considerable skills with violence and illegal activities, I have read at least twice as many books as you, Edward. Likely three or four times, which means I’m quite knowledgeable on an assortment of subjects that might come in handy.”
“Just because we’re girls doesn’t mean you have to coddle us,” Gracie said. “The truth is, you need us. You need me, especially, if you want to face the Pack.”
“It’s not because you’re girls.” Edward’s face was red again. “All right, fine. I suppose you’d just follow us anyway and then we’d have to