*******
The moment Alexander returned to his study, he summoned Gregory through their private signal...a specific way of adjusting the curtains that Gregory watched for constantly.
Gregory appeared within minutes, slipping through the servant's entrance.
"Your Highness?" Gregory said, immediately reading the tension in Alexander's posture. "What happened?"
"Victoria knows," Alexander said bluntly. "She knows Emily is alive. Knows she's in Cloud City. Knows I've been in contact with her. And she's given me an ultimatum: help her kill Emily, or she goes to Marcus and I'm executed for treason."
Gregory paled. "Your Highness, we need to...."
"She's not waiting until morning," Alexander interrupted. "I saw it in her eyes. The moment she leaves here tonight, she's going to Uncle Marcus. She'll tell him everything. And then Emily dies."
"Then we need to warn Princess Emily immediately," Gregory said. "Use the emergency transmitter, tell her to run..."
