Chapter 41 #2
Before I can respond, Aubrey rushes into the room, her hair disheveled and her eyes wide with concern. She takes one look at Max’s tear-streaked face before scooping him up into her arms.
“What is going on?” she demands, her gaze snapping to me.
“I found the traitor,” I say, my voice flat and cold.
Her eyes widen, darting to Mavis, who stands frozen by the window.
“Mavis?”
“I didn’t know!” Mavis cries, her voice breaking. “I didn’t know! Please, Your Majesty, you have to believe me!”
Max lets out another sob, burying his face in Aubrey’s neck. “Dad, please don’t hurt her,” he begs, his small voice muffled against her shoulder.
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to regain control of my emotions. My hands are trembling with the effort it takes not to lash out, not to let my rage consume me.
“I’ll deal with this,” I say finally, my voice cold and detached. “Take Max and leave, Aubrey.”
Aubrey hesitates, her eyes searching mine, but she nods and carries Max out of the room. My mother following close behind. His cries echo down the hallway, each one tearing at me as he thrashes in Aubrey’s arms.
“You opened the gates for Rhett. You let him in!”
Her lips tremble, and for a moment, I think she might cry.
“I went to get Jacinta’s and Max’s breakfast when the bell for the gates rang.
I opened the display panel to see the truck, its logos.
I didn’t realize it was Rhett, I assumed it was his father,” she says quickly, her words spilling out in a rush.
“You didn’t think to verify? You let him in! Do you even realize what you’ve done?”
“I didn’t know! By the time I realized, it was too late. They were killing everyone. I used the hidden stairways to get back to warn her, but then…” she wipes a tear that falls down her cheek.
“I heard King Alaric’s voice; Jacinta was arguing with him and Rhett. So, I did all I could. I got Max who was hiding in the cupboard, and hid him in the stairwell behind your walk-in cupboard until you got back.”
Damian wanders in hearing everything, “And your excuse for helping Clyde? For calling Bianca’s parents?” I ask. Her bottom lip quivers.
“I would never betray her, that wasn’t intentional. You think I would kill my best friend? Look at me, Soren, look at what has become of me. I’m dying, I have been since I lost her.”
“That isn’t what I asked. Why did you help them?” I shove my aura over her, flooding her with it, forcing her to answer.
“Because I didn’t want to lose Max! He is all I have left of her. Clyde told me if I didn’t keep him in the loop on what was going on, he would leak the stolen footage of that day of me pressing the intercom.”
“That’s why there was no footage in kitchens,” Damian murmurs.
“I tried to delete it, but everyone came back. Clyde caught me on the cameras and said he deleted the kitchen footage. But had a copy on his phone.”
“So he blackmailed you and you let him?” Damian snaps and she looks away guiltily.
“And you thought that was helping Max?” I ask horrified.
“You would have cast me out or killed me!”
“The second one is correct,” I tell her.
She nods, her gaze moving to the window.
“Not in Max’s room. He doesn’t need my blood spilled on his carpet.
” She turns toward me and starts for the door.
I step aside letting her pass and she moves down the corridor toward the stairs.
We follow her, and Damian seizes her arm quickly as we pass my bedroom.
I follow, knowing Damian will lead her to the dungeons.
Yet once we are down the stairs, instead of turning for the dungeons she turns for the back of the castle where the courtyard is. Damian jerks on her arm.
“I don’t want to die in the dungeons, can we do it outside?” she asks like she is asking for something common, not willingly going to her death. Damian looks at me, I can tell he feels conflicted, this woman has been in our lives for years.
“I’ll allow it, you won’t run,” I tell her, and she shakes her head.
“What would be the point? I wouldn’t get far.”
I swallow, emotion getting to me.
Damian lets her go, and we follow her, maids step into her path as she leaves, she pretends nothing is going on, telling them goodnight.
They realize something is wrong when they notice me and Damian following her.
Mary, one of the kitchen hands is the last to stop her as we pass the kitchen.
She is looking at two packets of chocolate when she spots Mavis.
I know the two women are close. They knit together on Tuesdays; it used to drive Max nuts being dragged along.
“Ah, the perfect person to ask.” She holds up both ingredients and I notice a heap of desserts being made for the wedding.
“Which of these would be best for the strawberry tarts, Mavis?” Mary asks, holding up the bags, one is dark chocolate, the other is milk chocolate.
Mavis stops in her tracks, her gaze lingering on the array of sweets on the counter behind her.
Taking a deep breath, she smiles at Mary.
“The dark chocolate, it has a richer taste which will go nice with the tarts. Just make sure you make a smaller one for Max. He hates dark chocolate,” Mavis advises.
Mary flashes her an appreciative smile as Mavis is about to stride off. “Where are you off to this late?”
“Just going for a stroll.”
“Might want to take a jacket, it is a little chilly outside tonight,” Mary chuckles.
“Will do,” Mavis tells her, and she continues to move toward the castle’s exit when Mary notices us, she stares at us.
“Is everything okay, My King, do you need something?”
“No, Mary, just going for a walk.” I tell her gently. She nods, wandering off back into the kitchen but I see her glance back at the door when she sets the chocolate down.
Upon reaching the large oak doors, Mavis turns around to look at the castle one final time. Her face is calm yet filled with sorrow; there is a defeated acceptance in her eyes that takes my breath away.
“I’m ready,” she whispers.
I can’t deny seeing Mavis like this causes an ache in my heart. However, the damage done was too severe to ignore.
A chilly wind blows through the courtyard where we finally stop.
Mavis takes a slow, deliberate look around, as if trying to etch every detail into her memory, when I feel the mindlink open up.
All staff in a panic, whispers getting around quickly wanting to know if Mavis is okay.
Mavis’s eyes move to the windows of the castle, and I turn to look at the castle, too.
When I do, I gasp, seeing all my staff peering out at us.
Mary comes rushing out the doors, her face tear stricken.
She glances at Mavis and then at me, and I know they all want to know what’s going on.
I turn my attention back to Mavis, knowing I have to end this.
Everyone’s sudden presence makes that incredibly difficult when all my staff love this woman. We all do.
“I loved her, I love Max.” Mavis says, looking up at the moon. “Fear makes people do stupid things. I feared your reaction. I feared losing Max; he is the last part of her,” she murmurs and I nod.
“But it’s okay, My King, as much as I love them, I love you.
” she says, turning her attention to me and my lip quivers as I step forward.
“That is why I won’t allow this on your conscience,” she murmurs before lifting her hand.
When she does, I see her claws are extended, and she slashes her own throat.
Mary screams as blood spurts from her neck, and she falls to her knees.
All I can do is stare at the woman bleeding to death in my courtyard.
Mavis collapses, her blood seeping into the earth.
Her body convulses as life continues to drain from her, but there is no sign of regret on Mavis’s face.
Even as she dies, she carries an air of dignity and acceptance that leaves a lump in my throat.
No words come to me. What can be said at this moment? Mary is sobbing, her hands reaching out desperately toward Mavis, but restrained by Damian.
The courtyard falls deathly silent, save for Mary’s muted sobs. Nobody moves; we are all frozen in our grief over the sudden loss of a woman who had always been part of our family here.
Unable to handle the sight before me, I turn to see my mother step out, her hands go to her mouth in horror when she notices Mavis, then her gaze goes to me. I say nothing, instead I walk back inside the castle trying to hold myself together.