Chapter 2
JOHANNA WASN’T SURE how she made her way out of that room. She walked with Li Fai back to the hallway, with the back of her hand still tingling from his touch. She ached to reach for his hand and tell him that she wanted him to stay, too, that it didn’t matter what his or her father said, or the King’s Council, and that she didn’t believe that he or his father smuggled guns or would do anything else that might cause harm to her position. But there were guards watching and while they could probably not hear the conversation, they would see everything.
Soon the rumours would be flying. The queen has a lover. And right now, in her situation, that would not look good.
So she felt very awkward walking next to him, not quite knowing what to do or say, and worrying that not saying an
