~ ZARA ~
When we reached the healing chamber there were no peepholes into the room, so David forced me to stop so he could listen and make certain Mardie was alone. The passageway door opened directly into her office.
I should have known she would know about the secret passages, but I was still a little surprised when he cracked the panel and double-checked that she was alone before letting me go through.
He stood back like he was reluctant, so I grabbed his hand and dragged him forward as Mardie looked up from where she was hunched over her desk writing into a book.
She startled when she heard us and turned. "What is it? Has the baby—"
"This has nothing to do with the baby, Mardie. Are you alone? We need to talk to you about something… delicate."
Her face went carefully blank as she looked between me and David, and she nodded. "I'm alone. Let me lock the door though to be certain we aren't interrupted."
