Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted novel Chapter 456

Chapter 456: Lisa: Reformed Bratitude (II)

LISA

Thousands?

If Pip is right about the strength of their forces, something doesn’t add up.

"If your rebellion is so vast and organized, how did they fail to evacuate Jericho’s camp in time? How did they miss a massive attack?"

Her face falls. "I... I don’t know. Communication breakdowns happen in war."

"Hmm. A convenient breakdown."

"It’s not—" she starts.

"And how exactly did you get recruited? Royal princess, surrounded by guards and court protocol. How did the rebellion just waltz up to you?"

She fidgets with the chain on her wrist. "It was at the Summer Solstice Ball. A server slipped me a note while refilling my drink. Said to meet in the eastern garden if I wanted to save my father."

My skin prickles. Something’s hinky. I’ve read plots like this, and they never go the way you think they’re going to. It’s always a way to foreshadow the twist later. "And you just... went? Alone? To meet a stranger based on a cryptic note?"

"I’m not stupid," she snaps. "I brought protection."

"Let me guess—they neutralized your protection."

Her silence confirms it.

"And instead of seeing that as a red flag, you decided to trust them?"

"They had proof!" she insists. "Photos of my father’s advisors meeting with known New Order operatives. Documents showing policy changes that benefited the New Order. They knew things only insiders would know."

"Or things they orchestrated themselves," I mutter.

"What?"

My mind is racing. Something feels off about this entire setup.

"So this rebellion recruits a princess—a valuable intelligence asset—by threatening her father’s safety, then neutralizes her protection, then convinces her to become a messenger between cells who conveniently don’t know about each other?"

"It’s for security," she says defensively.

"Yeah? Then how do you verify orders? How do you know the messages you’re carrying are legitimate?"

She blinks. "They... they have codes. Verification systems."

"That only certain people know?"

"Yes, exactly."

I rub my temples. "And these codes change regularly?"

"Every fortnight."

"Who gives you the new codes?"

"Corvus."

"And if Corvus were compromised?"

She stiffens. "He’s not. He’s dedicated his life to this cause."

"Humor me. If he were, how would you know? Who verifies Corvus?"

Her mouth opens, then closes.

"The leadership team," she finally says, but her voice lacks conviction.

"The ones you’ve never met."

She doesn’t answer.

I lean back, a sinking feeling in my stomach. The fancy Rebellion with its cell structure, its mysterious leadership, its too-perfect intelligence on the New Order. The way they specifically recruited a royal princess, then used her as a messenger between isolated groups who can’t communicate directly.

I know I’m just a college student who works minimum wage jobs and lived a life of relative leisure under the indulgence of her parents, but... really?

Really?

Her eyes dart to the side. "We’re gathering intelligence right now. Building our network." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

I mean, shouldn’t she have a little more spunk than this, if it’s all legitimate?

"He’s going to find out anyway," I continue, keeping my voice light. "Might as well get it over with now."

I stand up, making a show of heading toward the door. One, two, three steps—

"Wait!"

I pause but don’t turn around.

"I..." Her voice cracks. She clears her throat and tries again, stronger this time. "No. Never mind. I’m not saying anything more."

The defiance in her tone doesn’t match the fear in her eyes when I turn to look at her. She’s standing now, chin lifted, and posture too rigid. Her shoulders are too high, like she’s bracing for a blow.

"You told me before that not all prisons have bars," I remind her. "Are you sure you know which side of those bars you’re on?"

She shakes her head, the purple strands of hair falling across her eyes.

"I know what I’m doing," she insists, but there’s less conviction behind it now.

I walk back to my chair but remain standing, looking down at her. "Do you? Because from where I’m standing, it sounds like you’re being used to shuttle information between isolated groups who have no way to verify if what they’re being told is true. Pretty convenient setup for someone who wanted to manipulate a whole bunch of desperate people, don’t you think?"

Her hands clench into fists against the blankets.

"I’m. Not. Saying. Anything. More."

I smile sweetly at her, the kind of smile I’d give a troublesome customer at Beaniverse when I knew they’d already lost the argument.

"That’s fine, Princess. You’ve said enough anyway."

I glance pointedly at her book, still in my hands. The half-naked man on the cover stares soulfully back at me. I toss it onto the floor by her feet.

"Enjoy your book. At least in fiction, it’s easy to tell who the good guys are."

Pip snatches the book and clutches it to her chest like a shield, her hands trembling with the force of her grip. For all her chains and rebellious purple hair, she suddenly looks very small and very alone.

"For what it’s worth," I say more gently, "I hope I’m wrong. I hope your rebellion is real and fighting the good fight. But maybe consider this—if the New Order has infiltrated your father’s court so completely, what makes you think they couldn’t infiltrate a resistance movement too?"