CHAPTER 19
Katy
S
he’s gone!”
Katy jolted upright as their bedroom door crashed open. Axel rushed through, his brown eyes wide with panic.
Pushing a mass of curls out of her face, she blinked at him, willing her brain to wake up. “Who’s gone?”
“Helena. She’s been at the archery field the last three mornings, but no one has seen her today!”
“Calm down,” Katy soothed. She swung her feet over the side of the bed. “Perhaps she decided to sleep in this morning.”
He shook his head, pacing the floor. “You know my sister. She would have her bow in hand every waking minute if Father hadn’t forced her into the classroom.”
“Have you at least checked her suite?”
Pausing, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Not yet. But I did send someone to tell Father.”
“We’ll find her.” Katy stood slowly, giving her stomach time to adjust to the change, then crossed to her husband and set her hands on his shoulders. Meeting his eyes, she said firmly, “She’ll be fine.”
“But what if she isn’t?” His eyebrows scrunched, and the frantic light returned to his eyes.
“What if Lord Ulrich or Fabian got to her? Fabian already cursed her once, he’s planning to steal our child, and they considered killing me five years ago.
The extra council meeting is in a few days. What if—”
“Axel.” Katy gripped his face in her hands. Not knowing how to protect someone could wind him up, but he’d also been on edge since sending Otto away three days ago. “Breathe for a minute!”
He took a deep breath, held it, and lowered his forehead onto hers.
When he spoke again, he sounded normal. “Sorry, Katy. I had a terrible dream last night of Lord Ulrich sneering at me through flames in his hands. Then Bertram couldn’t tell me anything about your cousin, no one had seen Helena since last night, and I guess I lost it for a minute. ”
“It’s fine. You worry because you care.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “But it will work out. We’ll find her, and if Lord Ulrich had anything to do with it, we’ll have the evidence we need.”
“Yes.” Resolve hardened his voice. “We will.”
~
After a maid verified Helena’s suite was empty, King Steffan ordered a full search of the castle, then a subtle one of the city. Katy and Axel had been ushered into the king’s study for their protection while they waited. Queen Carina had draped herself across a sofa and cried.
The morning was almost past, and they still hadn’t heard anything. Katy set a hand on Axel’s knee to stop its bouncing. “Relax; winding yourself up won’t bring news any faster.”
“Sorry, my love.” One side of his mouth twisted up. “I don’t mean to disturb you.”
“It’s better than your pacing; that was making me dizzy.” She patted his leg before moving her hand to his back.
He leaned his elbows on his knees and buried his hands in his hair, but the tension in his muscles began to release as she rubbed his spine. “That feels quite pleasant. Thank you.”
Pleased to help, she turned to work on his shoulders with her other hand. He sagged forward, his head slipping from his hands and hanging between them instead.
At a knock on the door, he shot back up. But when the king called for the visitor to enter, a blonde servant stepped in instead of a guard.
Axel started to slump, but the servant snapped a stiff salute. “Your Majesty. I have not located Fabian, but Lord Ulrich has been at his home since last night. While he could have hired someone, I believe the princess left under her own power.”
“And who are you?” King Steffan frowned, leaning back in his chair.
The king may not have recognized him, but Katy did. Her jaw dropped as she stared at him.
“Otto! Where have you been?” Axel exclaimed, flying out of his seat.
“Following your orders, Your Highness,” Otto calmly replied. He executed a shallow bow. “That’s how I know Lord Ulrich hasn’t left home.”
“Hasn’t he noticed you hanging around?” Katy blurted out. “And what are you thinking, going near him unarmed?”
The king glowered at her, but one side of Otto’s mouth pulled up. “Servants are invisible, as are my weapons. Don’t worry, Kat; I’m being careful.”
“My daughter,” the king demanded. “Why do you think she left?”
Smoothing his expression, Otto turned back to his sovereign. “There is no sign of a struggle in the princess’s suite, but her bow and quiver are missing, along with two of her dresses, according to her maid. Her horse is as well.”
“Then where is she?”
“I don’t know, but I have an educated guess.” Otto grimaced. “A number of servants have heard her asking about the road to Daraigh. One observed her looking at maps in the library.”
“She didn’t,” Axel groaned. Collapsing next to Katy, he dug his hands into his hair again. “Please tell me she didn’t.”
“I don’t know, Your Highness. I haven’t spoken with the guards at the city gates, assuming she passed them.” Otto kept his voice professional, but his eyebrows pulled together.
He’d guessed that Axel and Gunther were the same person. Katy was willing to bet he was correct in this instance as well.
“Would you like to trade sisters, Katy?” Axel asked without lifting his head. He had a joking lilt in his words, but they sounded weary. “I’ll even take grumpy Adele.”
“You believe she followed Prince Michael home?” King Steffan’s eyebrow twitched. “After I ordered her not to?”
“She always did whatever she wanted, Father,” Axel muttered. He shook his head, then froze. Slowly lifting his head, he turned to look at Katy with wide eyes. “She’ll miss the council meeting. Unless we catch her on the road, she won’t make it back in time.”
A cleared throat pulled their attention back to her cousin. “Her maid said the princess went to bed early with a headache. She probably slipped out yesterday with the last of the day’s visitors.”
King Steffan’s pale skin was turning an alarming shade of red. “Call the guard outside the door. If we can catch her before she reaches Hartford, we will.”
“Father, I’ll—”
“No, Axel.” The king planted his hands on his desk and pushed out of his chair. “If she makes it to Hartford, I’ll send you after her. But I need one of my children at that council meeting. You’ll have to stay until then.”