Chapter 2 #2
“It’s nice to meet you, Drew. Since I know Lieutenant Markis, I am making him the head of my guard while he’s here in Lynk. You will be his second in command. Once he returns to Bakley, you will resume your position.”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” Drew responded, about to replace his mask when Markis reached out to stop him.
“I’d like to make a change,” Markis said. “Everyone, remove your masks. I need to see your faces.” The men did as he said. “Good. Queen Sabine, please take a look at these men. These are the only men who I entrust your safety to. No one else.”
She looked each one in the eyes, trying to memorize their faces.
“When you are on duty, you will no longer wear a mask,” Markis instructed. “Queen Sabine, please address any concerns you have regarding your safety.”
She took a deep breath, then began. She told her guards everything, starting with her perspective of the assassination attempt in the seamstress’s room, then how she married Rainer at the castle to gain protection, followed by what she overheard between Lottie and the assassin during the masquerade.
She explained that she’d left the palace that night out of fear—fear that Rainer knew the truth and hadn’t confronted Lottie.
When she was away, an assassin had hunted her, but he was dead now.
Once Sabine had received word that the missing children from Bakley had been found and were in Lynk, she returned with her brother to ensure the children made it home safely.
“So while we don’t know if there are any active assassination threats against the queen,” Markis said, folding his arms and pacing near the table, “Lottie is an issue. She wants the throne and isn’t afraid to hurt the queen to get it.”
“We didn’t know Princess Lottie was involved before,” one of the guards said. “Now that we do, we can be better prepared.”
“And no one who isn’t vetted will be allowed near you, Your Majesty,” another said.
She nodded, still standing near the window. “I suppose that’s all we can do for now.”
“Maybe the king wishes to perform an investigation first,” someone suggested. “Just to make sure it’s his sister who’s behind this before he arrests her.”
“Regardless,” Markis said, “laws are laws. The princess can’t be given endless chances to kill our queen. She’s already struck once with Princess Alina. We can’t allow her to succeed a second time.”
Sabine shivered despite it being warm.
“Tell me, Drew,” she said, “does the queen of Lynk traditionally have no say here in this kingdom?”
He shifted his weight as if uncomfortable. “We haven’t had a queen in over fifteen years,” he said. “But traditionally, our queens are more often considered an art piece, looked at rather than heard,” he replied. “I’m sorry.”
“I asked for the truth.” She took a seat at the table, drumming her fingers on it.
“However,” Drew continued, “we have laws. Laws that must be obeyed by everyone—royals included.”
And that was what Sabine had been counting on.
“We’ll do whatever we can to keep you safe,” Drew added. “But if I’m being honest, I’d like to do a little reconnaissance. I want to ask around and see what I can discover about the situation.”
“I think that’s wise,” she answered. “Then it won’t just be my word you have to go by.”
She glanced at Markis who nodded his approval. Everything seemed to be going according to plan. That should have been her first clue that things were about to get messy.
Rainer burst into Sabine’s bedchamber without knocking or being announced. “We need to get a few things straight,” he said, not bothering with pleasantries.
Sabine remained sitting on her bed, petting Harta, waiting for Rainer to get to the point of this conversation. Or rather visit since she doubted there would be much conversing going on.
“I want to make one thing perfectly clear. You do not have any authority whatsoever over my family.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re saying that in Lynk, the princes and the princess have power over their queen?” That was ludicrous.
“No, that’s not what I’m saying.” He folded his hands behind his back. “You are the queen, but Anton, Axel, and Lottie are my siblings. I will take care of them—not you.”
She continued to stroke Harta’s head. “And what about once we have a child? Will I have no say in how that child is disciplined?”
He mumbled something under his breath as he came farther into the room, heading to one of the archways leading to the balcony, his back to her. He stood there, unmoving. “Speaking of my heir,” he said, his words clipped. “We will not be sharing a bed until I am certain you are not pregnant.”
“In case you forgot, we haven’t consummated our marriage.” There was no way she could be carrying a child.
He peered over his shoulder at her. “Exactly.”
Shock rolled through her at his implication. “I didn’t know it was possible for a virgin to suddenly become pregnant. How does that happen?”
Rainer turned to face her. “I have it on good authority that you’ve spent time with another man.”
Her heart beat rapidly. There was no way he could know that she’d traveled alone with Evander. “I’ve been with my brother,” she said slowly. “Surely you’re not implying anything untoward?”
“No, not Prince Otto. Someone else.”
“Why don’t you tell me who you think I’ve been with?” Even though she had traveled alone with Evander, she’d remained true to Rainer—regardless of how difficult that had been or how much she wanted to be with Evander.
“Let me ask you this. Who did you leave with the night of the masquerade?” His eyes remained watching her every move.
While petting the dog, she thought back to what Anton had told her he’d said to Rainer. “No one. I left by myself.”
“How did you get out of the palace unseen?” He raised his eyebrows.
“That was weeks ago,” she mumbled, still stroking Harta’s head. “I was frantic that night. Terrified. I don’t remember all the details.”
“Which way?” he asked again, clearly annunciating each word.
The best answer would be a combination of truths infused with lies in order to protect Evander and Avoni. “That was the night I learned of Lottie’s treachery,” she said. “I was so scared.”
Rainer rubbed his face and sighed. “Let’s try another question. How did you discover this supposed treachery?”
She leaned back against the headboard, Harta moving her head to rest on Sabine’s legs.
“The night of the masquerade, I snuck into the servants’ passageways.
I went to the Avoni delegation’s suite. There, I overheard Lottie with a man whom I assume is an assassin based upon what he said.
I rushed to find you, but you were gone.
No one knew where you were.” It was the night Rainer had been on a mission of his own.
“Then what did you do?”
“I ran into Anton,” she said. “He mentioned something about a League meeting, and I knew my brother would be there.” Her family had sent her letters, but she hadn’t received any of them.
She suspected Rainer was responsible for destroying them.
“Since I hadn’t heard from my family in weeks, I thought something must be wrong.
” His shoulders stiffened ever so slightly.
If she hadn’t been looking for it, she might have missed it.
“So, between me being terrified for my life and worried about my family, I was frantic and not thinking clearly. I assume I went out the way you showed me, but I’m not sure if it was the same way or not.
Like I said, it was late, dark, and I was frightened—especially when no one knew where you were. I needed you, and you weren’t there.”
“And you did this alone? With no one helping or guiding you?”
“Looking back, I wish I’d taken Lieutenant Markis with me. But like I said, I was afraid and not thinking clearly.” The more she spoke, the easier the lies came.
“And once you exited the palace? Then what did you do?”
That was a very good question, and here was where things would get tricky.
“I headed to the water where I found a boat. It was small. I have no idea who it belonged to. I’m so sorry if I stole someone’s boat—I wasn’t thinking.
I used it to travel along the coastline.
When day came, I found a dock. After tying the boat up, I traveled south on a road to the League’s house in Nisk.
” In truth, she never would have been able to make it on her own back then.
Now, she probably could thanks to everything Evander had taught her.
“And you did all of this alone?” He sounded skeptical.
“Yes, alone. Without the aid of another person.” She folded her arms, annoyance setting in.
“Why not travel with Anton?”
“The thought never crossed my mind.”
“Even though he’s the one who told you about the League meeting?”
She shrugged. “All I could think about was getting away from your sister and the assassin. I needed protection, and I went to the League and my brother for that.”
“You are the queen of Lynk, and I will protect you.” His words sounded cold and lifeless.
“Then Lottie is in the dungeon where she can’t hurt me?”
“I ordered for her to be locked in her room, and two men are guarding her. She won’t hurt you.”
Sabine pursed her lips, unconvinced that locking Lottie in her room would prevent her from scheming to seize the crown.
“Speaking of which,” Rainer continued, “I’d like for you to remain in here as much as possible.”
“Why?”
“It’s the safest place for you.”
She didn’t respond because she had no intention of hiding in her room all day.
Instead, she said, “Now that I’ve answered your questions, I’d like you to answer mine.
Where were you the night of the masquerade?
Why couldn’t I find you in the palace?” As soon as she asked the question, she realized her mistake.
If she’d escaped from the palace on her own and found the boat as she claimed, she would have run into Rainer and his men.
Evander had a decently sized ship, so he hadn’t traveled along the coastline. That was how he made it undetected.
Regardless, Rainer wouldn’t admit what he had done that night. He would never reveal that he assassinated the Avoni delegation.
“Do you know Prince Evander?” He moved to the foot of the bed.
“Yes. I met him at the League’s house.” She needed to tread carefully. “I also met the League members from Carlon and Nisk.”
He tapped the footboard. “Until you’ve had a bleeding and I can be certain you’re without a child, we will not be together as husband and wife.”
A strange sense of relief filled her. “And once I have my cycle?”
“Then you will do what needs to be done to ensure I have a proper heir.”
“Then you better make sure neither Lottie nor an assassin harm me. Otherwise, you’ll be without an heir, and Lottie will take your throne.”
He stilled. “You honestly think my sister is trying to overthrow me?”
“I don’t think—I know.”
A smile slid across his face. “How little you think of me to believe my own baby sister could outsmart me. I pray you don’t make the same mistake.
” He sauntered to the door and paused. “I’m leaving first thing tomorrow morning.
I won’t be back for a few days.” Without waiting for her to respond, he left, closing the door behind him.