Jakob lay spread-eagle on his stomach in the middle of the plush mattress, though she couldn’t remember just when she’d fetched him from his crib. She unbolted the lock and cracked the door open, rubbing her eyes. “Yes?” “Regent Xhum and Mother Elsbet wish to speak with you about a matter of some urgency,” the young Blood Guard said. Behind her, Lynnae yawned and rubbed her own eyes, also pulled too soon from bed. Jin pulled the door open. “Very well. I’ll be with you shortly.” Lynnae slipped past the guard, and Jin closed the door behind her. “Damnation,” the younger woman said. “It’s barely light out.” Jin glanced to the window on her way to the dressing room. Beyond the gauzy curtains, a gray sky slowly moved toward pink. “I wonder what’s afoot?” Lynnae walked to the bed, a smile pulling at her mouth as she saw the little Gypsy Prince sprawled out.
