**I hope everyone's summer is fun so far!! I got the job I wanted so yay for that!! Anyway, long chapter, oops. See more notes at the bottom.**

Lyla stood in her empty room, arms resting uncomfortably at her sides as she tried to steel herself against her nerves.

Her reflection in the looking glass was familiarly polished; her blonde hair once more swept off of her bare shoulders. She had chosen a lilac-colored gown; full-skirted, with loose sleeves and corset-laced in the back. The silk sparkled slightly when she moved, and it complimented her blue eyes.

It was almost lovely enough to mask the butterflies in her stomach.

In all the excitement, Lyla had somehow forgotten that she would be seeing everyone again. Her aunt, her cousins... her mother.

For all they knew, she'd been missing for months. What would she say? "Hey everyone, apologies for disappearing so suddenly. Truthfully, I hate being here. Sorry."

Lyla had spent so long outside for the first time in her life; she was almost grateful she didn't have to return to the Apreuna palace just yet. The whole experience would be no doubt surreal and only serve to stoke the conflict within her.

Her first priority was rescuing Tristran, and it was a worthy distraction from her anxiety. He needed her help.

Lyla returned her gaze to the mirror with a sigh. At least she looked like a noble, and not like someone who had spent the morning helping Ari clean the fish tanks.

A soft knock came at her door. "Are you ready?"

Aveline opened the door before Lyla could respond. Her gown was a deep violet blue, the bodice clinging to her figure, and her hair was up save for few wisps of curls near her cheeks. Her amber eyes sparkled and her lips were a deep red, and Lyla thought with Aveline's natural beauty and openness she would be the envy of everyone at court.

Jamie stood stiffly next to her in a maroon dress, hiding her hands in the endless layers of folds of her skirt and looking nothing like a poor girl from Diviel. Her neckline was bare save for a small choker, highlighting the smooth alabaster of her skin.

"You're lovely," complimented Aveline, offering Lyla her arm. "Like a Lady."

Lyla accepted it, smiling. "Everyone is going to ask who my mysterious friends are."

"Hopefully not," Ari said dryly from behind his first mate. His curls were soft and damp; matching his dark eyes and olive skin. Without his leather and dirty cheeks, Ari looked like some beautiful, mysterious prince from a kingdom Lyla had never heard of. She had no doubt that he would gain lots of admirers that evening; which would annoy him immensely.

The thought made Lyla giggle, covering her mouth with a gloved hand.

Eli was among them, wearing a forest green overcoat and a black doublet with matching pants and boots. His fair hair was freshly washed and shone like a golden crown on his head. His eyes twinkled as he held the door open for her.

"We have to treat you like a Lady now, I suppose," Jamie teased.

Lyla laughed as she followed her out into the hallway. "Please don't."

It was a clear night, the ocean fog absent in the star-dotted sky. Inez and Henry skipped up to them immediately as they went up on deck.

"Hurry up and board the ship somewhere conspicuous," Ari ordered them. "I want to get out of these ridiculous clothes as soon as possible."

"It's a ball, Captain." Henry shifted the sail in his arms. "it's not going to kill you."

"We'll see."

Other guests were beginning to arrive as they stepped onto port, docking in white kingdom ships and quaint sailboats. Eli gently clasped Aveline's waist, lifting her down off the rocks, and Lyla hid a smile.

Fairy lights wound up the lighthouse in strings, and small lanterns lit the trail up to the entrance, illuminating pretty slippers and men's boots as the guests made their way up the path.

Lyla forced herself to deepen her breathing as she led her companions up to the doorway. The Marquess was all-smiles as usual as she greeted her attendants.

"Lady Lyla! You look magnificent!" She bounced forward to give her a kiss on the cheek, and Lyla blinked. Had anyone even noticed that she'd left? "I haven't seen you with your mother lately."

"I've been traveling," Lyla said through her teeth.

"Ah." The brunette's eyes roamed curiously to the group behind her. "And who's this?"

"I brought a few extra. I hope you don't mind." Lyla knew she wouldn't; she'd indubitably be delighted to have beautiful foreigners at her ball.

"Of course not! Welcome to Apreuna."

The inside of the lighthouse had been fashioned into a small ballroom; clad in pink and gold. The freshly dusted chandeliers gleamed brightly, with precious crystals dripping from their tracework. Fresh garland looped from each banister on the winding staircase, candles alighting on the edges of each step and newly picked deep rose petals scattered across the marble. Silver chairs lined the edges for tired dancers to retire when exhausted. An orchestra was already prepared in the far side of the room, their instruments freshly tuned and shined.

Every corner in the room glowed in a way that Lyla imagined must have been magnificent to her cohorts, but the scene only sent nervous shivers down her spine. She instinctively snatched a goblet from a passing attendant's platter, bringing it to her lips with an impatient hand.

Jamie gave a little gasp. "Are all royal balls this grand?"

"Yes," replied Lyla glumly. How many times had she hidden in the corner at one of these events, nursing her tired feet and hiding from tenacious suitors?

Too many to count.

Ari looked like he had swallowed a whole lemon. "How are we supposed to find the Queen in all of this, this... glitter?"

"I think it's lovely," Aveline retorted.

Lyla didn't have time to respond as one of the Count's sons hurried up to her, his black hair bouncing with each step.

"Lord Vega," she acknowledged. Julius Vega was one of the least annoying of the royal court, in her opinion. His face was pale as he reached her.

"Lyla, where have you been?!"

Ari stepped forward as if to respond for her, but Lyla stopped him with a raise of her hand. "None of your business, Julius."

"But everyone's been searching for you-"

"Have you seen the Queen?" She interjected.

Julius looked puzzled, eyeing her escorts suspiciously, but didn't question her. "She's in here, somewhere, with her children I'm sure."

"Fine. What about my mother?"

"Your mother is back at the palace."

That was good, really; one less person Lyla had to face.

She pushed past the boy, followed by her companions. "If you see Her Majesty, please tell her I need to speak with her immediately."

"Uh... alright. Lyla, who are they?"
But she had already gone.

Lyla slammed her glass down on another platter before stalking up to the front of the ballroom where the Queen would usually greet her subjects. The area was empty, save for one lingering noble that Lyla instantly recognized.

"Lady Lyla?" It was the Viscount, confusion morphing into recognition as he took in her companions, and relief poured through her. He would know where the Queen was.

Viscount Remington handed his wineglass off to one of his attendants and appraised her. Finally he raised his index finger- it was long and pale like the rest of his tall, skinny frame. "Weren't they hired to rescue the prince?"

"Yes," Lyla replied shortly. "We must request an audience with Queen Rowena immediately,"

The Viscount's face changed. He peeked surreptitiously around the room and lowered his voice. "Have you found him?"

Lyla opened her mouth to respond, but Aveline smoothly interrupted her.

"Unfortunately that information is for the Queen's ears only."

Lord Remington's eyes narrowed. He drew his head back steadily.

"The Queen is quite distressed. She hasn't been taking visitors."
"She'll talk to me. I'm her niece."

He hesitated. "You vanished shortly after the prince went missing."

Lyla stopped short. "Excuse me?"

Ari and Aveline, on either side of her, both went rigid. Suddenly the room seemed to be very quiet; even though the sounds of the ball carried on around them.

Upon evaluating her expression, the Viscount backed off.

"I'll speak with the Queen," he mumbled, shuffling backwards. "In the meantime, I'd suggest you enjoy the ball. We wouldn't want to spoil it." The way he said it sounded pronounced, which confused Lyla further. Had she not made it clear enough how important her news was?

But before Lyla could question the Viscount further, he had disappeared, flanked by his stone-faced servants.

The noises of the crowd returned. Distantly, Lyla could hear laughing and clinking of glasses.

"That was strange," Eli remarked.

"Which part are you referring to?" Ari replied acidly. "That some court snob practically flat-out denied us from seeing the Queen or that he subtly accused Lyla of being in league with the kidnappers?"

"Both?"

"He has no authority over me," Lyla fumed. "Stay here and wait for the Viscount in case he comes back. I'm going to find the Queen on my own."

"Lyla, let us go with you," Ari began, but she had already turned on her heel, her dress swishing at her feet.

"It's fine. I know these people. It's fine, I'll be fine."

Jamie looked at her uneasily. "You said that already."

Lyla pressed her lips together. "I'll be back."

She picked up her skirts, stomping down the marble floors of the room, and they didn't stop her.

"Excuse me," she mumbled, slipping past drunk party guests as she went. Where was the royal family? The seats usually reserved for them at the front of the room were empty. But Julius had said they were here. Had anyone even seen them?

Now Lyla caught herself wishing her mother was here. She'd be helpful, at least in this circumstance. Queen Rowena was her sister, after all.

Lyla thought of marching back to Viscount Remington and demanding to see the Queen. But some part of her held back. Lyla rarely caused trouble; she was practically invisible to the rest of the nobles. She could use that to her advantage. Causing a scene now didn't seem wise.

Lyla dodged a row of dancers and ducked past the servants into the hallway. Places like these were where she'd hide when she wished to escape the crowds. Perhaps Queen Rowena felt the same.

She awkwardly tiptoed around a couple who were huddled closely together and turned another corner. A small figure tottered primly along the length of the dimmed corridor, his familiar boots plodding into the marble.

Lyla released a long breath. It was the crown prince; Oliver.

She hurried up to the child, nearly grabbing him in her eagerness but stopping herself just in time.

"Your Highness."

He whirled around, nearly splashing the cup of water he clutched in his eleven-year-old boy hands. "Lyla?"

All of the younger princes had preferred Lyla to their maids; so she had usually been the one to calm them down during crying fits. Prince Oliver had always been remarkably well-behaved for his age, dutifully following the Queen around the palace and mimicking her every move. Now he looked serious and regal in his brown doublet, standing as straight as his small body would allow. Lyla knelt in front of him and placed a hand on his sleeve.

"Where is your mother?"

"She's resting. Everyone says she's ill."
Lyla wasn't surprised. Tristran had been missing now for months.

Prince Oliver eyed her. "Lyla, where did you go? The Duchess is very worried."

She decided to be honest. "I went to help find your brother."
His eyes lit up. "Did you find him?"

"I think so. That's why I need to speak with Queen Rowena."

The prince fumbled with the hem on his doublet. "But Viscount Remington said..."

Lyla straightened. "What did the Viscount say?"

"When you ran away, no one knew where you'd gone. He suggested you might have had something to do with Tristan vanishing."

"But..." Lyla trailed off helplessly. "Why would he say that?"

The prince shrugged.

Lyla chewed on her lip. Thoughts were racing into her head more quickly than she could process them.

What did she know about the Viscount? He was one of the Queen's advisors. If he was doing his duty correctly, he would have taken Lyla seriously and granted her an audience with the Queen immediately, would have made sure Rowena heard news about the missing prince as soon as possible. Then why...

Lyla glanced across the ballroom; the Viscount had returned and was speaking with some of the palace guards, gesturing urgently to the crowd. What was he up to?!

"Lyla?"

She started. Prince Oliver was staring up at her with worry.

"I have to leave soon," she told him. "Listen, you need to tell your mother that I found Prince Tristran and all of the rest of the missing royals. They're being held in the Diviel forest, here." She pressed a small scrap of paper into his palm; a haphazard map she had drawn up so she wouldn't forget the location. "Next Wednesday, at sunset, something terrible is going to happen. You have to tell your mother to sent guards to Diviel before then."

The crown prince's fingers closed over the map. "What..."

Lyla nervously returned her gaze to the ballroom; as she did so, one of the guards' heads snapped up at the exact same time. She froze as six fingers pointed in her direction. They quickly began shouldering past the party guests towards her.

She had to hurry. Had they seen the prince? Lyla towed him further into the corner, away from the light.

"Oliver, you have to promise not to tell anyone about this except for your mother. Do you promise?"
"I promise. But the Viscount-"
"Don't tell him anything!" she lowered her voice. "I have to leave now. Please don't forget. Now get away from here, Oliver. They're looking for me."

"But..."

Lyla didn't have time to reassure the uncertain prince. She squeezed his shoulder and jumped to her feet, retreating down the hallway as the guards rapidly crossed the room. Towards her.

Perhaps Lyla could let them capture her, and then explain everything to the Queen.

No. She had to hide. Lord Remington was no longer to be trusted, though she didn't know why.

She hadn't seen her companions in the ballroom and hoped that they would have enough sense to stay hidden. If Lord Remington sent his guards after her, then her friends would be in danger too.

Lyla didn't have time to decipher the meaning behind the Viscount's duplicity as she ran through the corridor, frantically checking behind her shoulder every few steps. Her hair was coming out of its bun, her sleeve slipping down further down her shoulder- so much for looking presentable.

She reached the end of the hallway, halting at the end of the lighthouse stairwell. There were thundering footfalls somewhere behind her, and nowhere else to run but up.

Lyla glanced helplessly at the winding stairs, before lifting her skirts and scrambling up the steps as quickly as she could.

The footsteps grew louder as they traipsed down the hall. Lyla sank against the wall behind the banister, trying to make as little noise as possible. Her chest heaved against her corset; her heart fleeing against her chest in an attempt to escape.

The guards ran past the stairwell, their voices gradually dissipating into the distance, and Lyla closed her eyes in relief.

A deep sense of dread filled her almost immediately after she sat down. What were they going to do now? She didn't need anyone to tell her that placing all of their prospects on an eleven-year-old wasn't a wise decision, but it seemed she didn't have a choice.

Lyla forced her breathing to slow and opened her eyes.

All she could do now was wait and hope her friends could find her... before the guards found them first.

** Okay so the ball isn't going as planned, as I'm sure everyone already guessed it wouldn't lol. We'll see how that goes. Anyway I'm not totally sure but this book will prob have around 45 chapters which means not that many left!! Ahhh!!! However it is not the end of Kings and Thieves as it is definitely going to be a series. I have big plans for the next few books!!**