Chapter 3
“Why did Rainer do that?” Sabine asked. They didn’t have the League’s permission to marry yet.
“He did it to ensure your safety,” Anton replied, looking at Evander as he spoke. “No one would dare harm a king or queen. If someone did, there’d be major ramifications for such an act.”
“Does Rainer know what really happened to me?” She wondered if someone from the Avoni delegation had told him Evander took her.
“No, he doesn’t,” Anton said, his focus going to Sabine. “He declared to everyone at court that you’re in bed. Most assume you’re with child and that’s the reason for your confinement.”
She couldn’t figure out how any of this made sense.
Anton reached out, placing his hand on her arm. “My brother thinks you’ve run away, and he’s worried about you.”
Evander snorted.
“I thought he’d find me missing and be ready to raise his sword against the other kingdoms,” she said. “Not because he cares, but because it’s a good excuse to go to war.”
Anton sat there observing her. “I guess your interpretation of events depends on what you’ve seen and been told.” He turned his attention to Evander. “I’m assuming you’re the one who convinced Sabine to leave her husband and come here?”
“I have not left my husband,” Sabine said. “I am here to see my brother.”
“That’s right,” Otto said. “I was concerned because my sister hasn’t responded to my family’s numerous letters. Something seemed amiss.”
“My brother has given you a fortnight to return,” Anton said. “I’ve been tasked with coming here to speak with the League to see if by chance you came here for clarity, safety, or some other misguided notion.” He squeezed Sabine’s arm before letting it go. “I really hope that what you said is true. If he discovers otherwise, if he even thinks you’ve been taken, they’ll be no stopping him.”
Sabine didn’t think this had anything to do with Rainer caring for her. But rather, this was him making sure he didn’t lose his crown. Since they were married, he had a very limited timeframe to produce an heir, or Lottie would inherit the throne.
“Now that we know Rainer and Sabine are married,” Evander said, gaining everyone’s attention, “any hope of keeping Bakley and Lynk from uniting is gone. If the League doesn’t approve, it’ll be like we’re declaring war against Lynk. We have no choice but to consent to the marriage.” He rested his elbows on the table.
“I agree,” Thad said. “Let’s give our official approval and move on. We need to decide how to stop Lynk from invading the other kingdoms.” He looked to Sabine, as if he didn’t know if he could say more in front of her.
Sabine rubbed her temples, a nasty headache starting to form. “I will do everything in my power to prevent my husband from going to war against another kingdom.” She tried to speak as strongly as possible so these men would know she was serious. She looked at Anton. “I need to speak with you privately.” She stood and left the kitchen, heading straight for the door and going outside without looking to see if he followed.
The sun had set, and the air was turning cold. She strode down the steps of the porch and went a few feet from the house, not wanting anyone inside to overhear her conversation. Anton joined her a moment later. She folded her arms, trying to stay warm.
“I know you married my brother and were crowned, but?—”
“No,” Sabine interrupted him. “You don’t get to speak right now. I am your queen.” She glared at him, trying to make him cower. He didn’t. No matter, she would still act strong, even if she didn’t feel it. “I don’t know whose side you’re on, but I’m going to do what’s best for Lynk.”
“I’m loyal to Lynk as well,” he insisted.
She tilted her head to the side, considering him. Since he wasn’t the previous king’s blood, she wasn’t certain if his loyalties were to the royal family or not. Rainer’s father had Anton’s mother, the queen, and his father, the queen’s guard, killed. “Your sister hired the assassin who murdered Alina.” She waited for him to speak, wanting to know if he was aware of Lottie’s treachery. She had no idea how close the twins were to their sister.
“Lottie wants the throne?” he asked, his breath coming out in a puff of white in the cold air.
“I overheard her with the assassin. She sent him after me. I am the assassin’s next target.” Out here in the dark night, her words came out crisp and clear, cutting through the air.
Anton cursed. “I need to get home. With you missing, who knows what she’ll do.”
His response seemed reasonable. And if he cared for Rainer, going home to warn him would be the right thing to do. But she had a few more issues she wanted to discuss with him. “Rainer knows.”
Anton stilled. “That’s why he married you,” he said, realization dawning on him.
She nodded, kicking the tip of her shoe against the ground, the only sound in the still night.
Anton let his head fall back as he chewed on his bottom lip. “I knew it was someone close to him, but I didn’t know it was Lottie.” An owl hooted in the distance. “You running away and wanting to see your brother makes more sense now.” He sighed.
“I need you to be honest with me,” she said. “Do you know who’s responsible for the raids at Bakley’s border and kidnapping the children?”
His eyes narrowed. “Why don’t you tell me what you know, and I’ll say if you’re right or not.”
“Just answer the question.” She knew Anton helped run Lynk’s network of spies. He had to know.
“I can’t tell you anything,” he said. “I swore an oath to Rainer.”
“It’s Lynk, isn’t it?” she demanded. “This was all an elaborate plot to get Bakley’s food and land.” Tears filled her eyes.
“That’s what you think?” he asked, stepping closer to her.
“It’s what I know.”
He stared at her a full minute before saying, “The situation is more complicated than that.”
She noticed he hadn’t denied anything.
“You know, as well as I do, that both kingdoms gained something from this marriage,” Anton said. “And why do you care anyway? It’s not like it’s a love match.”
She wiped the traitorous tears that slid down her cheek. “I care because my kingdom is affected. People I’m sworn to protect.”
“And which people would that be?” he asked, his voice low. “Lynk? Or Bakley?”
“Both.”
He nodded slowly. “I think it best if I let Rainer explain everything.”
“How could you let this happen?” Had he no heart? No morals or values?
“No one lets Rainer do anything,” Anton said, a sharp edge to his voice. “Rainer does what Rainer wants. He always has.”
“And you blindly follow him.”
Anton lifted his hands, palms facing her, before turning and walking a few feet away.
“We’re not done,” Sabine said, her voice cracking. This entire time, she thought Carlon was the enemy, not the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with. “I’m going to be ill.” The land around her seemed to spin.
Anton chuckled, the sound humorless. He approached Sabine, taking hold of her arms to steady her. “Are you okay?” he mumbled.
As if he really cared. “I’m fine.”
He leaned in and whispered, “I’d ask if you’re swooning because you’re pregnant, but I’m guessing you’re not.” He looked pointedly at her, as if he knew her marriage hadn’t been consummated.
She looked into his eyes but didn’t say anything.
“Let’s get you inside. You need to go to sleep. We have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow.”
The gravity of his words sunk into her mind like boulders being hurled into a lake, plummeting to the bottom. She started pacing, needing to move so she didn’t vomit. She couldn’t return to the palace knowing all these things about Rainer. “I want some more time. I’m not ready to go back yet.” She needed a few days to gather her thoughts and come up with a plan.
“When you disappeared, I assumed you’d left with Evander. No one else could have gotten you not only out of the palace, but out of the kingdom. I told Rainer you confided in me. You said you were homesick. I recommended you discuss the matter with him and said perhaps one of the women from the Avoni delegation could escort you to see your brother who was visiting nearby in Nisk.”
A bold lie. “And what did Rainer say?” she asked, chewing on her thumbnail—a terrible habit she tended to do when nervous.
“He assumed you’d gone through with your plan without discussing it with him. However, he was furious you managed to leave the palace without your guards—a feat he can’t figure out how you accomplished. And…he was hurt you didn’t talk to him about it. Axel laughed and said you had no reason to confide in him. That only upset Rainer all the more.”
“How long have I been gone?”
“Five days.”
Longer than she’d expected.
“When Rainer finally calmed down, he bid me to go after you. I’m bringing you home. I told him it would take me roughly a fortnight.”
Which was why Rainer had given a fortnight as the deadline for her return. She eyed Anton, wondering if he was being truthful with her. If he could so easily lie to his brother, what was to prevent him from lying to her?
Grabbing her braid, she pulled it over her shoulder, removed the tie, and started undoing it. “I can’t go back to the palace with Lottie there.” Rainer knew his sister was responsible for killing Alina. However, instead of telling Sabine, he’d kept it a secret. He’d chosen to hasten their marriage, assuming that would protect her. She glanced at the ring on her finger. It felt like flimsy protection to her.
“You don’t need to worry about Lottie,” Anton assured her. “If she’s after the crown, Rainer will stop her.”
Evander opened the door and came outside, jogging down the steps and joining them. “I hate to break up this family reunion, but I’d like to remind you that Lottie hired an assassin to kill you. I’m guessing if Anton came looking for you, the assassin is probably following Anton to get to you. It’s not safe for you to be exposed like this.” He nodded his head to the surrounding land.
Sabine scanned the horizon, not seeing much under the dark night sky. She shivered.
“There could be someone hiding in the nearby forest,” Evander said. “He could have an arrow trained on you right now.”
Sabine shoved past him and ran into the house, moving away from the window. How was she supposed to live knowing someone was hunting her?
Anton and Evander came inside the house, closing and locking the door.
Otto, Seth, and Thad were sitting on the sofa near the fire.
“I must return home tomorrow,” Seth said. “Sabine, does the League officially have your word as the queen of Lynk that you will do what you can to prevent our kingdoms from being invaded?”
She nodded. “I don’t want to see my family involved in a war.”
“And which family is that?” Seth asked. “Your husband?”
She understood what he was saying. Her Bakley family was no longer her family now that she’d married Rainer. “I will do what I have to in order to maintain peace.”
“That’s all we can hope for at this point,” Seth said as he stood. “I’m turning in for the night since I’m leaving at first light. It was nice to meet you, Sabine.” He bowed his head then went upstairs.
She sat on the sofa Seth had vacated.
“Thank you for your support and reassurance.” Thad stood. “I am going to bed as well. I hope all you say is true.” He left the room.
“Are you leaving tomorrow?” Sabine asked her brother.
He nodded. “There’s nothing left here for us to discuss. If anything, I need to get home to let Mother and Father know you’re well and to warn them of the state of things.”
She reached out and took his hand. “Let our parents know all that has transpired—all of it.” She looked pointedly at him, knowing he’d understand what she wasn’t saying out loud. She didn’t want anyone else to know her marriage hadn’t been consummated. “Tell them I love them, and I’ll find a way to fix this mess.”
He stood and kissed her forehead. “I’m not sure you can. Just try and be safe.” He left the room.
“We’ll leave tomorrow after breakfast,” Anton said to Sabine. “I’m going to retire for the night.” He turned and headed toward the staircase.
“I’m not going with you.” Sabine clasped her hands together, not looking Anton’s way.
He stopped at the bottom of the steps and opened his mouth, about to argue with her.
“I will return to the palace.” She finally looked at him. “Only, I won’t be returning with you.”
“I don’t think it’s wise for you to travel alone,” Anton said.
“She’s not,” Evander said, coming farther into the room. “I’m escorting her.”
“Rainer won’t like that,” Anton said, looking between the two of them.
Sabine knew Rainer wouldn’t like her traveling alone with another man. He’d been upset when she’d traveled with Markis on her way to Lynk, and she’d seen firsthand his insecurities with her guard. “I’ll write a letter to Rainer, and you can give it to him explaining everything.”
“I can’t allow this,” Anton said.
“Then it’s a good thing it’s not up to you,” she said as she stood. “I have an assassin after me. I’ll be safest with Evander as my escort.” She went into the kitchen, wanting a cup of tea to calm her nerves before she went to bed.
Alone in the kitchen, the events of the day pressed down upon her. Everything was a complete disaster—and she didn’t know how to fix any of it. The life she’d originally wanted had been stripped from her the moment Alina had left for Lynk. Then it changed again when that man murdered Alina. And then yet again when Sabine chose to take her sister’s place. And now, any hope for a quiet life with a loving husband was out of the question. She’d married a soldier king who commanded a massive, brutal army. She’d have to use everything in her power to try and maintain peace between the kingdoms. Any sort of future that she wished for was irrelevant. All that mattered was protecting her people.
She heard mumbling coming from the living room. Curiosity got the better of her and she moved closer to the kitchen door, pressing her ear against it and listening.
“She can’t go with you,” Anton said. “It’s out of the question.”
“I understand you have orders to bring her home safe and sound to your pretty little palace on the mountaintop,” Evander said. “However, it’s best if I accompany Sabine.”
Anton mumbled something Sabine couldn’t hear.
“Your sister has set an assassin after Sabine. Do you think yourself so adept with a sword that you can keep the queen of Lynk safe? From a trained Avoni assassin?”
“Then why don’t you come with me?” Anton said. “The three of us can travel together.”
“If we’re traveling together, then you’re coming with us,” Evander said.
“Why?”
“Because my ship isn’t far from here. Once we reach it, it’s a quick sail over to Lynk.”
“Ship?” Anton said. “I can’t sail. I get violently ill.” There was a long silence. “It’ll take the same time whether it’s by land or sea.”
“I travel roads I know. That’s the only way I can be sure I’m not taken by surprise and I can keep Sabine safe.”
“Fine,” Anton said. “We’ll travel separately. But I want a letter from Sabine explaining why I’m showing up without her. And you better have a good explanation as to why you are.”
“We very well may arrive before you,” Evander pointed out. “But I’m sure she’ll write a letter for you. And I plan on letting your brotherknow I’m accepting his offer—I’ll marry Lottie. I assume he’ll want me to take her to Avoni immediately to be wed. This saves me a trip.”
“Fine.”
There was a shuffling noise. “Out of curiosity,” Evander said, “has anyone told Lottie about this proposal?”
“I doubt it. Lottie is a problem Rainer needs a solution to. It seems you’re it.”
Yes, Sabine thought dryly, what better way to get rid of Lottie than forcing her to marry into a family of assassins. At least Lottie couldn’t hurt anyone in a kingdom known for killing. If anything, she’d fit right in.
* * *
Sabine found Otto packed and ready to leave when she came downstairs in the morning. Her chest tightened at the thought of staying goodbye to him. But it had to be done.
“Evander is in the kitchen and Anton is still upstairs,” he said as he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her in a hug. “Thad and Seth have already left.” He held onto her tightly. “Be safe.”
“I wish things could go back to the way they were,” she whispered. She didn’t want to return to Lynk but knew she had to. Not only was she married to Rainer, but she had to stop a war from breaking out.
“I know,” he said as he released her. “I miss Alina—even if she was a pain in my ass sometimes.”
For Sabine, it was more than that. While she missed her sister, she felt as if she’d lost her entire family since she no longer lived at home. She wanted to be with them, and she longed for the days when she had no responsibilities. Or people trying to kill her.
“I need to be on my way,” Otto said. He kissed her cheek before shouldering his bag and heading out the door.
She went over to the window, watching him walk away.
The stairs creaked as someone descended. “I’ll be heading out as well,” Anton said from behind her.
“I wrote two letters,” she said, still watching her brother’s retreating back. “One for Rainer, and one for Markis.” The letter she’d written to Rainer had been simple and to the point. She figured saying less would be more effective and not get herself into trouble. With Markis’s letter, it took her far longer to write since it was in code. She had to make the letter appear normal, casual, as a royal speaking to her guard and nothing more. All the while she needed to tell him what happened, where she was, and who she was with. Markis was going to be furious. She tried to reassure him as much as possible knowing he’d feel responsible for her kidnapping. Which he wasn’t.
“Are you certain you don’t want to go with me?” Anton asked.
“Yes.” She didn’t trust Anton to keep her safe. Granted, she didn’t trust Evander all that much either. However, between the two, the assassin-pirate-prince seemed the better, safer option. He could protect her, and she felt no attraction, friendship, or loyalty to him. And right now, that seemed the best bet.
“Are these the letters here on the desk?” Anton asked.
“Yes.”
“Please be careful,” he said.
“I will.”
“Hang on,” Evander called from the kitchen. He emerged a moment later, drying his hands on a towel hooked to the waistline of his pants, a young woman following him. His sleeves were rolled to his elbows, as if he’d been cooking. The tips of his fingers were dark green and black. A red tattoo wrapped around his wrist.
Sabine and Anton exchanged glances—he seemed as confused as she did.
“For all intents and purposes, this is Sabine,” Evander said, gesturing to the woman now at his side. She had similar brown hair and was about the same height as the real Sabine. “She will accompany you,” he said to Anton. “You will call her Sabine and treat her as you would your queen.”
“Is this necessary?” Anton asked.
“It is.” Evander went over to the closet and withdrew a cape. “Here.” He handed it to the fake Sabine. “Put this on.”
Sabine watched the young woman. “Do you understand what you’re doing and why?” she asked her, hoping Evander hadn’t found some innocent person who had no idea what she was getting herself into.
“I do,” the woman replied. “I am your decoy. You can trust me to do a good job.”
“Don’t worry,” Evander said. “She’s being paid handsomely for her services and time.”
The fake Sabine tied the cape around her shoulders. The bottom portion of her dress, along with her boots, still shone. The woman reached up, pulling the hood on before making sure a strand of her hair escaped beneath it.
“Perfect,” Evander said. “You have the dagger?”
“I do,” she answered.
“Good luck.”
Anton rubbed the back of his neck. “Fine,” he said with a sigh. “Let’s go.”
The woman joined him, and they exited the house.
“Stay away from the windows,” Evander said. “In case the house is being watched. I don’t want anyone to suspect you’re still here.” He went back into the kitchen.
Sabine went over to the hearth. The fire was just about out. She squatted, trying to warm her hands with what little heat there was. She couldn’t help but wonder when Evander had left the house to find a woman to pretend to be her. Granted, it would make her journey back to Lynk much safer. However, it emphasized the fact that Evander was a trained assassin. She would need to keep her guard up around him. She also hoped that woman made it safely to Lynk with Anton. If the assassin killed her, Sabine would never forgive herself.
Banging came from the kitchen. She wondered what Evander was doing in there. She was just about to go in there to find out when he opened the door, heading toward the staircase.
“Do I even want to know what you’ve been doing?” she asked.
The right side of his lips curled into a half smile. “Probably not.”
She stood and folded her arms.
“I have a few things left to pack then I’ll be ready,” he said. “I have to grab something from my room. If you go into the kitchen, do not touch anything.” He ran up the stairs.
Curious, Sabine went into the kitchen, wondering what he’d been cooking. She opened the door and froze. It was a disaster. Pots and pans were strewn all over the counters. On the table, there were half a dozen piles of crushed leaves and powders.
Evander returned, stepping around her. He placed several containers on the table and began packing the piles using spoons, being careful not to touch anything with his skin.
“Are those poisons?” she asked, remembering when her mother had taught her to identify the most basic of poisons. She thought she smelled one or two of them right now.
He paused what he was doing and glanced up at her. “Why are you asking me a question you already know the answer to?”
Seeing Evander like this—an assassin—terrified her. She shivered.
“Why don’t you go and pack,” Evander said. “I’ll be ready in fifteen minutes. Take enough clothes with you to last a week. I put a bag in your room to put everything in. Make sure you dress in pants and tie your hair back. I want you to try to look like a man.”
She nodded and backed out of the kitchen. Her sister had died from poison. She clasped her shaking hands together and ran upstairs. The more she learned about Evander, the more she realized she didn’t want to know him. This assassin-pirate-prince.
* * *
Sabine and Evander headed toward the town they’d arrived in. While she didn’t mind walking since the weather was pleasant, she would much prefer to be riding a horse. She hadn’t ridden in weeks and missed it.
“Everything okay?” Evander asked, walking at her side.
She nodded. “I was just thinking that I hope Rainer isn’t furious with me for leaving.” When she showed up alone with Evander, he’d at least be suspicious.
“I’ve been thinking,” Evander said. “It might be best if we arrive in Lynk with a handful of royal Avoni guards.”
She peered over at him, her eyes narrowing.
“What?” he asked. “You don’t like that?”
“No, I think that is a wise idea.” It unnerved her that she’d been thinking about that very thing.
“Then we’ll need to make a slight detour on our way there,” Evander said.
“That’s fine.” She was in no rush to return to Lynk. She still needed to come up with a plan on how to handle Rainer and what to do with all of the information she’d learned.
“Plus,” Evander said, “I have to take Lottie to Avoni with me. Having guards will make the engagement look more official.”
While Sabine knew she should keep her mouth shut since it wasn’t any of her concern, she couldn’t refrain from asking, “Why’d you agree to marry her?” Curiosity really could be difficult to overcome sometimes.
“Honestly?” He glanced sidelong at her.
She nodded.
“Two reasons. One, to save my own ass. I’m hoping Rainer won’t question why I left with you in the first place if I not only return you to the palace unharmed, but I also manage to solve a problem for him.”
She supposed that made sense. “And the second reason?”
“If Rainer declares war and raises his army against other kingdoms, I’m hoping he’ll leave mine alone since his sister will be residing within its border.”
Again, another reasonable answer. “Do you really think Rainer will be satisfied being king of all kingdoms except for yours?”
“That is a problem for another day.” As he walked, he kept his focus on his feet. After a moment, he looked at Sabine and said, “Who knows, maybe you’ll stop a war from happening.”
“Maybe.” While Sabine would do everything in her power to try to stop a war from breaking out, they both knew it was a long shot. Whatever plan Rainer had, he’d set in motion a long time ago. It would take more than Sabine, a mere woman, the sixth-born child, to stop Rainer.
They walked in silence for a few minutes. The sun warmed her skin, making her smile. As much as she hated to do this, it had to be done. “Thank you.”
Evander almost tripped, coming to a halt and facing Sabine. “Did you just thank me?” he asked, his eyebrows raised.
“Yes,” she replied with a forced smile, trying to remain polite instead of punching him like she wanted to.
“For what?” he asked, seeming genuinely confused.
“For escorting me back to the palace. I didn’t want to travel with Anton.” She resumed walking, hoping he wouldn’t press the issue.
Evander caught up to her. “Why is that? Anton is a decent fighter. He seems like a good guy.”
“I can’t explain it, but it’s a feeling I have.” Ever since her sister’s death, she’d learned to trust her instincts even when they didn’t seem rational.
He tipped his head back and laughed. “So you’re saying that you feel safer with me, the man who kidnapped you, than you do with your own brother-in-law?”
When he put it that way, it didn’t sound good. But yes, that was how she felt. She chose not to respond to him. There was no point trying to explain it.
“You know the Lynk border is only about fifty miles from here? Which means Anton could have had you safely behind its walls in two days.”
“Maybe I’m tired of being confined,” she said, keeping her attention straight ahead and not once looking at the man next to her.
“It’s about time,” he muttered.
She chose not to respond to that, but she happened to agree with him wholeheartedly.
“Out of curiosity, what did you tell Rainer in the letter you wrote to him?”
“Not much. Just that I didn’t feel safe there with his sister trying to kill me, so I left. I told him I’d return once it was safe.”
His eyes widened, and he started laughing. He held up a finger to her, so she waited. But he kept laughing. Harder and harder.
“I don’t understand what’s so funny,” she said.
“You stood up to him.”
“No, I didn’t.”
Evander nodded. “You implied he couldn’t protect you,” he pointed out when he finally calmed down. His face turned serious as he looked at her. “He commands a large, lethal army. And you point blank told him you didn’t feel safe in his home. I’m not going to lie, that was a bold move on your part. Rainer won’t like being made to feel incompetent. I hope you’re prepared for the consequences.”
She hadn’t intended to make him feel that way. She’d only been trying to have a reasonable explanation for leaving. “He needs an heir,” she said, her voice soft. “Until I give him one, I’m safe.”
“Why go back?” Evander asked. “Why not run away for good?”
She shrugged. “Because I have to find a way to save those Bakley children. I have to stop Rainer from going to war.”
“And if you can’t do either of those things?”
“Then I’ll die trying.”
“You’re not at all who I thought you were.” Evander placed his hand on her lower back, gently urging her on.
The two of them resumed walking.
She turned his words over in her head, realizing she wasn’t the person she thought she was either. She was stronger than she realized. And she would make it through this.