Chapter 13
Evander froze, his hand on the door handle. “Sabine.” His voice sounded gruff. “What are you saying?” His eyes searched hers.
She blinked, trying to think about why she’d told him to wait and what it meant. She wanted him but couldn’t have him. The alcohol was making her bold.
“I…” He left the room, closing the door behind him.
If he’d stayed, Sabine had no idea what she would have done. If she would have kissed him. Covering her face with her hands, she let out a groan. She needed to pull it together. Grabbing her bag, she withdrew her night clothes and quickly changed. She climbed into bed, pulling up the covers and turning her back to the door, not wanting Evander to see the tears in her eyes.
A few minutes later, the door opened and closed. Evander didn’t say anything. The room went dark—he must have snuffed out the candle. Then it sounded as if he’d laid on the floor. It was probably best if they didn’t share the bed. At least not tonight.
Lying there, Sabine listened to Evander’s breathing. She imagined rolling over and joining him on the floor. Her hands taking the hem of his shirt and pushing it up, running her fingers over his torso, kissing his neck.
His hands gripping her around the waist, his mouth on hers, him flipping her over so he was on top of her…
These thoughts had to be from the strong ale. She pinched her eyes shut, trying to banish the images before she ended up doing something stupid that she couldn’t undo.
* * *
Sabine awoke. Her arm was extended over the side of the bed, her hand clasping Evander’s. His eyes were closed, his breathing even. He looked so peaceful sleeping there. Not wanting to wake him, she remained there watching him sleep.
It was easy to envision waking up to him every day. Picturing their life together, she saw it filled with laughter, talking, and pushing each other to be a better person. It would be a fulfilling life. But that was not her path. Even if her sister hadn’t been murdered, Evander’s parents wouldn’t have chosen her for their son. Their paths never would’ve crossed.
Pulling her fingers from his hand, she sat up.
A dull light came in through the window, indicating it was time for them to be on their way. Peering back at Evander, she was about to wake him when his eyes opened, looking right at her.
“Morning,” he said as he sat up, rubbing the side of his neck. “What’s the matter?”
She wanted to say nothing, but that would be a lie. “We’ll talk on the boat.”
He nodded, not pushing the matter.
After they dressed and packed their things, they exited the inn. Even though Sabine didn’t see any of Evander’s friends, she noticed him make a few hand signals indicating that at least one of them had to be nearby.
They made their way to the docks, neither one of them speaking. A light rain fell. Evander led her to a boat, and Sabine climbed in, sitting on the front bench.
The boat drifted along, past town after town. Then the scenery abruptly changed. The buildings stopped and trees lined both sides of the canal. Most were so tall and thick that the branches hung out over the water, almost forming a canopy of sorts.
The boats became less and less until they were the only ones out on the water.
“Are you going to talk to me?” Evander asked, his voice gentle.
Sabine twisted on the bench so she could face him. “I want to talk to you about the assassin.”
Evander closed his eyes for a minute before nodding.
“In Lynk, a man tried to kill me.” She quickly told him about the whistle she heard, the dog running away, the assassin entering, her fending him off, and then the hunt for him which resulted in him escaping.
“I can tell you two things. One—he isn’t very good at his job and for that, I’m thankful. And two—he’s not from Avoni.”
She’d gathered that. “Do you know if Lottie hired Ex? Or did this man from Lynk hire Ex?”
“I don’t know.”
She licked her lips, trying to decide how to ask about the other night. There was no easy way, so she’d just have to come out and say it. “But Ex, the man you killed, he was from Avoni.” It wasn’t a question, but she needed confirmation.
Evander nodded.
Now for the question she feared the answer to.
“How’d he get into the palace?” She kept replaying the conversation she’d heard between Evander and his sister over and over in her mind. While she knew the guards had been called back so Evander could exit the palace without being seen, she didn’t understand how Ex knew where and when he could slip past them to get into the compound. And then once he was in, how he got past so many skilled assassins. Like the assassination attempt back in Lynk, something wasn’t adding up.
Evander sighed. “I was hoping you wouldn’t ask about that.” He ran his hands through his hair.
She didn’t respond. Instead, she patiently waited for him to explain.
“I’d rather not share anything with you. At least not until I’ve sorted it all out.”
She was about to protest when he held up his hand, so she kept her mouth shut.
“What I can tell you is that someone let the assassin in. It was planned perfectly with my sister pulling the guards so I could sneak out.”
“Does that mean you have a traitor?”
He looked at her for a long moment before saying, “No. It means I have someone close to me trying to manipulate the situation. Like I said, I’m not ready to tell you everything quite yet. But I do want to apologize for letting him get that close to you.”
It made sense if someone found out about the delegation. She understood someone letting the assassin have a go at her for retribution. What she didn’t understand was Evander not wanting to tell her everything. “Why keep it a secret from me?”
“Because I’m still trying to figure it all out.”
A vague, noncommittal answer. It hurt her that he didn’t want to be completely open and honest with her. Perhaps they weren’t as close as she thought they were.
“Sabine.” The way he said her name sent a jolt straight to her heart.
“Sometimes I don’t know who or what to believe.” While he may not want to be honest with her, she wanted to be honest with him. Tears filled her eyes.
He reached forward and took both her hands in his. “You shouldn’t trust anyone completely—not even yourself. That will keep you alive.”
Then she didn’t want to live. Not like that. A life without trust, love, or understanding was no life at all. “That sounds lonely.” Having grown up in a large family, she couldn’t imagine living the rest of her life alone, never trusting or depending on anyone.
“But you’ll live.” He squeezed her hands.
“You can’t possibly live without trusting anyone.”
“I do.”
“What about your friends?” The ones they’d met last night who’d kept watch.
“Not even them.”
“What about your family?”
“No.” It felt as if his hands shook ever so slightly.
It saddened her that he felt that way. “I trust my mother and father along with my brothers.”
“Don’t.”
“I can’t go through life that way. I have to believe that my family loves me and wants what’s best for me.” She wanted him to understand that trusting someone was part of loving someone.
His eyes darkened. “You’re married to Rainer now. That changes how your family sees you.” He let go of her. “You need to protect yourself.” He rubbed his hands on his pants. “For the first time in my life, I find myself afraid.” He glanced away, as if embarrassed to admit something like that.
“What are you afraid of?” She reached out, placing her hand on his knee.
“I don’t want you to return to Rainer. I’m afraid for you.” He looked back at her, his green eyes intense.
“You have nothing to worry about. Right now, Rainer needs me.” Granted, once he had an heir, things could change.
“I hope you’re right. I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to you.”
“I’ll be fine,” she assured him.
“You may be fine, but I won’t.”
“He’ll never find out about the kidnapping. I promise.” She would make Rainer understand that Evander kept her alive from an assassin Lottie had sent after her.
He shook his head. “That’s not what I meant.” He leaned his elbows on his thighs. “Sabine, I care for you. I don’t know how I’m going to live knowing you’re sharing another man’s bed.” His voice came out gruff. “The mere thought makes me sick. I want to ram my dagger straight into his heart.”
She didn’t know how to respond to that. “Evander…”
“Don’t say anything. I know you’re married, and I can respect that. But it doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
His jealousy surprised her. She didn’t think him capable of such an emotion. Putting herself in his shoes, she imagined him marrying Lottie and sharing her bed. The thought of him touching Lottie, putting his hands on her, and kissing her, seemed vile. Repulsive. Especially since he’d never be friends with someone like Lottie—they were too different and had nothing in common. Lottie didn’t deserve him.
“Sabine?”
She understood what he’d meant by not being fine.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She shook her head. Suddenly, everything felt different. It was hard to breathe. Sadness filled her. If felt like she’d been tossed into a dark lake, boulders tied to her feet. She sunk, unable to free herself. Unable to change her fate.
And then she remembered the plan she’d been considering. “Evander, do you want to be with me?” Or was he simply attracted to her like she was to Rainer? She thought they shared a connection, but she needed to be absolutely certain.
“What I want is irrelevant.”
She understood, all too well. “What if I told you I have an idea? And if it works, we could be together?” She was curious to hear his response, knowing his parents probably wouldn’t support the match.
“What is this idea of yours?” he asked, moving to sit beside her on the bench seat.
More than once, she’d thought about telling him what she had in mind. If anything, he could help her come up with a solid plan on how to enact it. And she could trust him—he wouldn’t tell anyone. But her gut told her no one could know, not even Evander. In order for this to work, she had to do it all on her own, and no one could see it coming. “I can’t tell you.”
He took her hand, drawing circles with this finger on her palm. “Avoni has a plan as well.”
“What is it?” she asked.
“I can’t tell you.” He smiled wryly, still drawing circles on her palm. “What if we worked together?”
She shook her head. “I have to do mine alone.” It was the only way.
“Please tell me you don’t intend to commit treason because if you do, you can be killed.”
“I will not break any laws,” she said. Quite the opposite. She would live by the law. “If my plan works, if I pull it off, we could potentially be together.” Although she wasn’t going to do it for that reason. She was doing it for all the kingdoms.
She looked into his eyes, wondering how her view of him had changed so much over the course of the past couple of weeks.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he said. “I’m trying to keep myself from tearing your clothes off.”
“Then you shouldn’t be so close. Your eyes, your smile, and even your smell make me want to devour you.”
The corners of his lips rose even more. “One day.”
She nodded, knowing nothing ever went according to plan. While she would do her best to end Rainer’s reign, being with Evander had to be secondary.
* * *
When Sabine awoke the next morning, she found herself tucked on the floor of the boat, her head resting on Evander’s folded cloak. Sitting up, she saw him on the rear bench seat, scanning the water around them.
“Is everything all right?” she asked.
He nodded.
She slid onto the front bench. A thin fog hovered above the water. As the boat floated through the fog, it parted, like a curtain being pulled aside for them. The trees began to thin on either side of the canal. Every once in a while, a tendril of fog reached onto the land, between the trees, like an extended arm, pointing to something.
Sabine remained quiet. Something about the fog unsettled her. Evander didn’t bother with conversation either. As the day wore on, the fog lightened until it eventually disappeared all together. They hadn’t passed a single boat all day.
Her stomach made a growling noise.
“Was that you?” Evander whispered.
“Yes. I’m hungry. And why are we whispering?”
“You should have told me you’re hungry. I have food.” He reached into one of the bags and withdrew some bread, handing it to her. “It feels wrong to speak loudly when the weather is like this.”
She took the bread. “I agree.” Even though the fog was gone, thick clouds covered the sky, promising rain. After eating the bread, she shivered. It felt as if it were getting colder as the day wore on.
“We’re almost there,” Evander said.
The thought of seeing her brother again excited her.
“Just so you know, this meeting is going to be an official one.”
“What does that mean?” She’d assumed they’d meet somewhere discreet like before.
“It means we will each be as we are supposed to be.”
“What does that even mean?” It felt as if the closer she got to her brother, the farther Evander was getting from her. She hated the space growing between them.
“You will act as the queen of Lynk should, your brother the prince that he is, and the same will go with me. Titles will be used, and guards will be present.”
Then this meant everything was about to change.
“There is something for you in the bag,” Evander said. “Something my sister assured me would be appropriate for someone of your station.”
She opened the bag and found a dress folded neatly at the bottom. “Am I supposed to change in front of you?” she said in a teasing tone.
“Oh Sabine, trust me, the thought of watching you undress has crossed my mind more than once.” He twisted on the bench seat, facing away from her.
Sabine quickly changed into the blue dress. It reminded her of something she’d wear in Bakley rather than Lynk. “It’s safe for you to look.”
Evander twisted around. “I was hoping for something more along the lines of what you wore in Lynk.”
She raised her eyebrows. “It’s a little cold to be half naked.”
“There are ways to keep you warm.” He smirked. “Okay, my turn.” He motioned for her to face the other way.
She gracefully put her legs on the other side of the bench, her back now to him. She heard Evander remove his clothing. Unable to help herself, she glanced at the water, hoping to catch his reflection. There wasn’t one.
“When we arrive, please don’t think I’m being indifferent to you,” Evander said. “I want to make it clear nothing is going on between us. We each have our roles to play.”
Pretending they weren’t friends would be difficult, but she knew it was for the best.
“I’m decent,” he said.
“I’m going to remain facing this way,” she said over her shoulder. It was time for her to start preparing herself for what was to come. Not even her brother could question her relationship with Evander. She started chewing on her bottom lip, trying to decide how she wanted to act and treat Evander. He was an acquaintance. Someone who’d kept her safe from an assassin. That made them friends. She needed that to come across. But any sort of attraction had to be concealed. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly. She was the queen of Lynk. It was time to start acting the part.
They came around a bend in the canal. Straight ahead, roughly a dozen boats blocked the waterway.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” Evander said. “They’re here for us.”
All of the boats were black with a red mark on the side. It made sense Prince Evander would want the protection as they made their way to meet Sabine’s brother. After all, they were officially themselves now.
“Are you ready for this?” he mumbled.
“Yes.” Having been raised a royal, she knew how and when to hide her true feelings and emotions. While she wasn’t ready for what she was about to face, she knew it was time.
The boats moved apart, making a path for them. As they got closer, she saw two uniformed men or women in each boat. Without a word, the boats surrounded them, escorting them along the canal.
Holding her head high, she kept her focus forward. Her back felt cold, as if Evander were no longer behind her, as if she were all alone in the boat. She gripped the edge, her knuckles turning white.
After they traveled about a mile, the trees lining both sides lessened, replaced by green rolling hills and the occasional house. The farther they went, the more dense the houses became until they entered a vibrant city with buildings two stories tall, lining both sides of the canal. The waterway became crowded with boats. However, as soon as people saw the procession, they immediately steered their boats out of the way, letting them pass with ease.
Peering down the side streets, Sabine saw people crowded on the pathways. One thing she didn’t see were any docks like the previous towns. She was just about to ask when they came to an intersection. Their party turned right, and she realized they’d entered a wharf. It was quite long with dozens and dozens of boats. She supposed this allowed the main canal to transport more boats since it didn’t have to house docks on either side.
Their party made their way to the end where a special spot had been designated for them marked by a handful of guards keeping watch. Evander expertly slid the boat into a slip, and someone hurried over, trying it up for him. All the boats that had accompanied them also docked, the guards all getting out. One of the female guards approached Sabine and bowed. She then extended her hand, helping Sabine step out of the boat.
Evander joined her. “We’re staying at an inn not too far from here. If it’s acceptable to you, we’ll walk there.”
She eyed him, not caring for this overly formal version of Evander. Unable to help herself, she said, “And if walking isn’t acceptable, what are the alternatives?”
His cheek twitched as he fought a smile. “I can get a carriage for you.” He clasped his hands together behind his back, awaiting her response.
She eyed the sky. “Since it isn’t raining, a rarity here in Avoni it seems, we can walk.” The gray clouds looked as if they’d dump water at any moment.
“Very well.” He gestured for her to accompany him.
The guards formed two lines, a dozen in front of them and a dozen behind. The pathways between the buildings were wider here in this city. There were also some main streets, though not many. Sabine still found it strange that there were no horses in this kingdom.
As they traveled along the walkway, Sabine noted that many of the buildings looked like those of the previous towns. “I thought there would be taller structures given that this is such a large city.”
“It’s rare for anything to be above two stories in Avoni.”
“Why is that?”
“Safety,” Evander answered. “If we had tall buildings, an assassin could strike me or you at any moment from above. That’s also why the second levels don’t have windows facing the main pathways.”
It surprised her that she hadn’t thought of or noticed this before. The beds being on the floor she’d picked up on right away, but this was something she hadn’t considered. “Doesn’t it get exhausting?”
“No.”
She could never live in a land of assassins.
The guards escorting them stopped before an inn.
“Let’s head inside.” Evander opened the door for her.
Sabine stepped into a lavish room with gold framed paintings on the walls, plush sofas, and a desk to the side.
A young woman came forward and bowed. “Your Highness, two rooms have been prepared for the both of you. The rest of your party has already arrived.”
“Excellent,” Evander said. “Let’s go and freshen up.”
The woman led them up the staircase.
“I’d like to see Otto,” Sabine said to Evander.
“Can you please let Prince Otto know we wish to see him in the receiving room?” he said to the woman.
“Of course, Your Highness,” she replied as they headed along the hallway. “Your room is here,” she said to Sabine, opening a door on the right.
“When you’re ready, just come out,” Evander said. “A guard will be posted here, and she will show you to the receiving room.”
Sabine nodded and closed the door.
A familiar trunk sat in the middle of the room. She rushed over and threw the lid open, revealing a couple of her dresses from Bakley along with a handful of books and a blanket from home. Her brother must have brought these things with him. Smelling the familiar scent of her castle in Bakley, she closed her eyes and imagined she was there. She could almost feel the stone floor beneath her bare feet, hear the cracking fire in the hearth, and smell the warm embrace of her mother.
She opened her eyes, not wanting to get lost in memories of the past. It was time to face the future. Since there was a wash basin in the room, she decided to wash her face and fix her hair before meeting her brother. The dress she wore would suffice. Once she was presentable, she exited her room and found a guard standing there just as Evander said.
The female guard led Sabine downstairs where she spotted her brother sitting on a sofa beside Evander.
“Brother,” she said.
He stood and turned to face her. She had to stop herself from running to him. When she did reach him, she pulled him in for a hug, holding on tightly.
“It’s good to see you,” he said.
She released him. “You look well.” He was dressed in a tunic bearing the Bakley royal family’s colors and he wore his crown—something he rarely did. Which reinforced they were all playing their parts respectively, and this was a diplomatic meeting.
“Come,” Evander said, gesturing to a door on the far wall. “I have a private room prepared where the three of us can speak.” He led them into an adjacent room containing a small round table and chairs. “Have a seat.” He instructed the guards who’d been in the receiving room to move closer to the stairway, giving them a buffer so hopefully no one would overhear their conversation. He closed the door, his shoulders relaxing ever so slightly.
Sabine reached out, gripping her brother’s forearm. “How are things at home?”
“Everyone is well,” Otto replied, twisting the ring on his finger, not quite meeting her eyes.
“What’s the matter?” she asked, withdrawing her hand.
Otto glanced at Evander before he said, “Father is upset with your behavior.”
She hadn’t expected that. “Whatever for?”
“Leaving Lynk, acting independently, not consulting your husband. The list is quite long.” He scratched his chin.
Shock rolled through her. She assumed her parents would be proud of her. “I’ve been acting in Bakley’s best interest.” Anger replaced the shock. “And mine.”
“I know,” Otto said. “You don’t need to convince me.”
Sabine leaned back in her chair, staring at her brother. “Has there been any news about the kidnapped children?”
“Funny you should bring that up,” Otto mumbled.
“I don’t see how it’s funny.”
Otto glanced at Evander. “The children have been found.”
Relief filled her. “Have they been returned to their families?” She wondered who found them and how they managed to get them out of Lynk and back to Bakley.
“No, not yet.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “I am on my way to retrieve them.”
“And Rainer has just agreed to hand them over?” She had a feeling she was missing something.
“Yes, because he is claiming he didn’t take them.”
She snorted. “But somehow he has them.” She folded her arms.
“Rainer is claiming he found the children.” He cleared his throat. “In Avoni.” He glanced at Evander again.
Sabine sat there, replaying Otto’s words over and over in her mind. She must have misheard him. “What did you say?”
“Rainer is saying that some of his soldiers spotted boats in Skyfall River. They thought something suspicious was going on, so they boarded and found the missing children. The boats were manned by Avoni sailors.” Otto turned to Evander. “Care to explain?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, so there’s nothing I can explain,” Evander said as he ran a hand through his hair.
“But we saw the children,” Sabine said. “They were traveling on land with Lynk soldiers.”
Otto sighed. “Once the soldiers found the children, they escorted them to Lynk.”
She peered over at Evander, unable to fathom him being responsible for kidnapping children from Bakley. Although, he had kidnapped her.
Evander raised his eyebrows. “You can’t possibly think I’d do something like that.”
She didn’t answer. “What are the children saying?” she asked her brother.
“That they were taken by men from Avoni.”
“Based upon what evidence?” Evander demanded, his voice rising in volume.
“That’s what they were told.” Otto folded his arms. “So it could be a set up.” He shrugged.
Sabine noticed her brother had only been stating facts. “What do you believe happened?” she asked him.
“I think Rainer is ten steps ahead of us.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “I think Rainer sought Alina out and designed the marriage alliance to benefit him. He wants Bakley and our food. I think taking over the other kingdoms is just an added benefit for him. I think he has it all planned out with various scenarios.”
“We believe so as well,” Evander said. “My family is working on stopping him.”
“I have a plan,” Sabine said. “I think I know how to stop Rainer. But I’m not going to have a lot of time to enact it.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re taking this seriously since Father isn’t.”
That didn’t surprise her. King Franz Ludwig rarely took matters of their kingdom’s security seriously. She couldn’t tell if he didn’t know how to handle it, didn’t care, or if he was truly that naive.
Evander stood and started pacing the room. “Where do we go from here?”
“I will escort Sabine to Lynk and meet with King Rainer. Then, I’ll bring the children home.”
“And where does Avoni fit into this now that Rainer is all but ensuring Bakley will want to retaliate?”
“I am going to demand peace. When I meet with the League, I will ask for the same. Whatever it is that Sabine plans on doing to stop Rainer, I hope it works because I fear for our kingdoms if it doesn’t.”
Evander went over to the window, resting his hands on the window ledge and staring outside, lost in thought.
Sabine wished she could ask him what he was thinking. But she couldn’t. Her brother couldn’t suspect anything was going on between them—even a familiar friendship. She cleared her throat. “When do we leave for Lynk?” She needed to start hashing out the details of her plan.
“Tomorrow.”
She thought she’d have at least a day or two. “Very well,” she replied. She’d just have to figure it out as they traveled.
Voices grew in volume on the other side of the door. Someone shouted. All three of them looked to the door as it burst open.