Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Sabine stared at Lottie’s door, willing herself to find the courage to confront the woman responsible for Alina’s death. The injustice of it burned—Lottie resting comfortably in her opulent bedchamber watched by only two sentries.
“Shall I knock for you, Queen Sabine?” Drew asked.
She shook her head, shifting her weight from foot to foot, trying to get her thoughts in order.
Trying to keep her temper under control.
The second she passed the threshold, her defenses had to be up.
The purpose of her visit was twofold—get the princess to confess so Sabine’s guards could overhear and try to understand why Lottie had Alina killed.
With Rainer’s imminent return at any moment, Sabine couldn’t wait any longer. Lifting her arm, she knocked.
The door flew open. “Oh,” Lottie said, jerking back, away from Sabine.
“I thought you were a servant delivering my food.” Lottie wore a simple green dress, setting off her dark hair which hung in waves down her back.
“What do you want?” The door remained only partially open, blocking Sabine’s view into the room.
“Is that any way to greet your queen?” Sabine asked.
“What do you want, Your Majesty?” Lottie’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
“We are now sisters,” Sabine said. “Funny how that works. I had a sister, one I loved very much, and you had her killed. I was sister-less. Then I married your brother, and now you and I are sisters-in-law.” Sabine stared into Lottie’s cold, emotionless eyes.
She clutched her hands together, afraid she’d reach forward and strangle the woman.
“Are you here to gloat?” Lottie asked, one hand on her hip, making no move to invite Sabine inside.
“Gloat? That I’m alive and the assassin you hired didn’t kill me?” This woman was delusional if that was what she thought.
Lottie shrugged. “I suppose it doesn’t matter now.
” She peered at the guards standing a respectable distance away.
A slow smile spread across her face as she leaned forward and whispered, “I’m going to marry an assassin.
Maybe I’ll have him teach me the art of killing so I can finish the job myself.
” She straightened and folded her arms across her chest.
Red flashed across Sabine’s vision—not for the threat to her life, but for the reminder that Lottie was going to marry Evander. She suddenly found it hard to breathe.
Lottie chuckled. “I heard stories from my contacts.” She leaned against the doorframe. “I can see they must be true based upon your reaction. Interesting. I’m glad I said something to Rainer. He has a right to know you’ve been unfaithful.”
Cold dread filled Sabine. “You’re the one who told Rainer about…” She didn’t finish that sentence since her guards could hear every word spoken. “I have not been unfaithful to my husband.”
“You keep telling yourself that.” Lottie suddenly straightened. “I’d ask you to come in, but I neither like you nor want to be in your company any longer than necessary.” She started to close the door.
“Wait,” Sabine practically shouted. “I just want to know why.”
Lottie stopped, the door half concealing her body now. “Why what?”
“Why did you have Alina killed? Why send an assassin after me?” Not that having a reason would justify or make it better, but Sabine needed some sort of closure and for it to make sense. Some explanation other than power.
When Lottie didn’t respond, Sabine took a step closer and said, “Are you jealous that your brother rules over Lynk instead of you?”
Lowering her voice, Lottie said, “You don’t deserve to wear Lynk’s crown. You’re not even from here.”
“I can understand that sentiment. But why de-throne your own brother?”
Lottie smiled, as if Sabine had told her a juicy tidbit of gossip. “That’s for me to know and you to find out. Good luck.”
The door slammed shut in Sabine’s face, causing her to jump back in shock. The guards all looked to one another, not sure how to respond to the blatant form of disrespect.
Sabine addressed the sentries posted at Lottie’s door. “Is the princess allowed to have visitors?”
“No, Your Majesty,” the one on the right answered.
“Has anyone attempted to see her?”
“The princes have both visited her, Your Majesty.”
“Does someone bring her food?” she asked.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Who inspects it?”
“Sorry?”
“Once the food arrives, do you or whomever is on guard check the tray for weapons, letters, or poison?”
He blinked, as if the thought had never occurred to him.
“The princess is in there because she killed Princess Alina and sent an assassin after me. Someone needs to be checking anything going into or coming out of that room in case she’s trying to contact another assassin.” Fury filled her because no one seemed to be taking this threat seriously.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I will see that things are inspected from here on out.”
“Thank you.” She turned and strode away, irate for a host of reasons.
The most illogical one was Lottie’s betrothal to Evander.
Deep down, Sabine knew that Rainer agreed to the union to get rid of Lottie so he wouldn’t have to put her on trial for treason.
It wasn’t fair. And, perhaps, a deeper part of her heart was torn because she had grown rather fond of Evander.
While she knew she was married to Rainer and nothing could ever happen between her and the prince from Avoni, she cared for him, loved him even.
And Lottie—the woman who’d had Alina killed—was going to get to marry him.
The unfairness of it gutted Sabine, making her want to scream.
When she reached the corridor leading to the royal wing, a handful of guards ran by. Drew stepped forward, next to her, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered, afraid to move or raise her voice.
Drew dropped his hand. “Those were King Rainer’s men. My guess is he’s either been spotted in town or he just arrived at the palace. His men are going to greet him.”
With an irritable and heavy heart, Sabine couldn’t face Rainer tonight. If she returned to her room, he would easily be able to find her. If he found her, he’d want to talk to her. She didn’t have the energy for that right now.
Instead of turning toward the royal rooms, she headed the opposite direction to one of the smaller courtyards. Only, when she arrived, several couples were sitting in alcoves or on benches, not affording her the peace she craved.
As she turned to leave, she spotted Axel with his arm draped over the shoulder of a young woman. They were heading across the courtyard to one of the arches leading to the royal wing. Sighing, Sabine exited through a different archway, not wanting to run into Axel and his dalliance.
Back home in Bakley, one of her favorite things to do was ride her horse late at night through the fields when thousands upon thousands of stars dotted the sky.
It had always soothed her soul and made her feel content.
Lynk had no fields and only a few horses used mostly by the military—but it did have stars.
“I wish to go to the turret with the rooftop,” Sabine said to Drew. “Can you take me there, please?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” He led the way along several corridors, bypassing the royal wing, until they came to a steep staircase. “Please wait here.” He ran up the stairs, returning a moment later. “It’s all clear.” He stepped aside and gestured for her to proceed. “We’ll wait here.”
It surprised her that he was giving her a reprieve from her guards.
Instead of questioning it, she ran up the stairs to the top of the turret.
The stars shone brightly in the sky. A light wind made a few strands of her hair dance across her face.
Tipping her head back, she smiled. It was so beautiful and peaceful up here that she could almost imagine she was at home in Bakley.
Gazing at the stars, she wondered what Evander was doing right now.
Maybe he was even looking up at the stars like she was.
Then she chuckled, remembering that Avoni had a constant cover of clouds.
Most likely, Evander was off on some mission or maybe even at a tavern meeting with members of his assassin guild.
She’d mistakenly hoped being here in Lynk with Rainer would have made it easier to forget about the Avoni prince.
However, with each day, she felt his absence more acutely.
Going over to the railing, she leaned her arms on it, staring out toward the ocean in the distance.
“I thought I’d find you up here,” Axel said from behind her.
She didn’t bother looking over her shoulder at him. “What do you want?”
He came and leaned on the railing next to her. “I had nothing to do, so I came to check on you.”
At that, she looked at him sidelong. “I thought you’d be busy with that beautiful woman I saw you with.”
His lips curled into a smile and he shrugged, not bothering to give her an answer.
“Why are you really here?” He wouldn’t have sought her out without a good reason.
“Rainer is back.”
She nodded. “I know.”
“Are you up here avoiding him?”
She chuckled because she was, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. “Have you spoken with him?”
“No.” He turned, his back leaning against the railing as he folded his arms across his chest. “Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask.” She didn’t know if she’d answer.
“What are you planning?”
“What do you mean?” She needed to tread carefully.
“Did your brother and Markis both leave?” He tilted his head, looking at her for confirmation.
“They did.”
He nodded slowly. “Behind Rainer’s back?”
Technically, yes. “I can’t help it if he’s not here when decisions need to be made.”
He chuckled, looking up at the stars, as if they held the answer.
“So what are you planning to do?”
“Who says I’m planning anything?” He’d done nothing to earn her trust or confidence.
“Can I offer you some advice?” he said.
“You can offer.”
“Be careful.”