Chapter 9 #2
She’d seen enough from her brothers to know that sometimes it took more than a couple of tries, sometimes even a few months, to become pregnant with a child.
A realization dawned on her along with the feeling of a cold snake slithering up her leg, along her back, and to her shoulder.
Rainer could kill her. That was what happened to Alina with no consequence.
This was probably why Rainer was so willing to forgive his sister—he planned on doing the same thing to Sabine.
With her hands on her hips, she started pacing. While originally thrilled she didn’t have to share Rainer’s bed right away, now she feared what would happen if she didn’t.
“At least you seem to finally realize the stakes,” Rainer said, sitting on the edge of his desk.
“I’m surprised you’d make any sort of alliance with Avoni.” She noticed he hadn’t said anything about invading that kingdom. She couldn’t imagine King Kai sitting back and allowing Rainer to rule over Carlon, Nisk, and Bakley without putting up a fight—or a few assassinations.
“And why is that?”
“Well, for one, sending Lottie to the land of assassins seems rather dangerous when she likes to employ them. The last thing anyone needs is for her to become one herself.”
He shrugged as if he couldn’t care less.
“And I’m shocked you’d even consider King Kai’s proposal since you killed his entire delegation.” As soon as she spoke the words, she realized her mistake—no one knew Rainer had slaughtered the people on the Avoni ship.
“How do you know about that?” He stood, coming closer to her.
“My brother told me. I assume he knew from the League.”
“Hmm.” He didn’t say anything else.
She wasn’t sure the League even knew. All Rainer would have to do was ask Anton. Wanting to change the subject, she said, “I don’t understand why you want to invade and take over the other kingdoms. You’re the king of Lynk. Isn’t that enough?”
“The real question is why not. The three kingdoms to our south have weak rulers and barely an army. Instead of the League having the power to make choices and laws, it’ll fall to me.”
“What about my parents? My brothers and their families?” She feared he planned on killing the other ruling families.
“That remains to be seen. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have matters to attend to.” He went and sat at his desk. He looked at her, waiting for her to leave.
Pursing her lips, she started to walk toward the door.
“Oh, and Sabine?”
She paused and glanced over her shoulder at him.
“Stop using my money to buy things in town. That money is for my army. Not for you to waste.”
She nodded and left. It was a good thing she’d already bought all those outfits.
Since Sabine’s efforts in town seemed to be going so well, she decided to apply the same technique here in the palace.
She spent the day wandering around, making sure to go everywhere typically deemed unnecessary for royals.
Starting in the kitchen, she met the people who worked there.
Then she went and spoke to the guards. Afterward, she introduced herself to those who cleaned the palace.
Lastly, she met the people responsible for tending to the gardens.
Now, any time she passed one of the servants, she’d smile and acknowledge that person by name.
That evening, Sabine attended Lady Karmen’s event.
The invite didn’t say it was a party or a get-together, it simply stated it was an event that couldn’t be spoken about.
Having no idea what to expect, Sabine showed up and was pleasantly surprised to find tables had been set up in Karmen’s suite, a different game of cards at each one.
The candles burned low, alcohol flowed freely, and everyone seemed to be gossiping.
“I’m so glad you came,” Karmen said with a curtsey.
“Thank you for having me.” She glanced around, chuckling. “Now I understand how you always know the latest court gossip.”
Karmen looped her arm with Sabine’s as she led her over to one of the tables where a card game was taking place. There was a mixture of men and women here. “We don’t use titles,” Karmen murmured. “That way people feel safe to speak. Nothing leaves this room. Understand?”
“This is borderline scandalous,” Sabine whispered. “I love it.”
“I figured you would. And I thought you could benefit from a few more strategic contacts.” Karmen winked.
“How often do you do this?”
“Every week.” Karmen handed Sabine a glass of wine.
“Why is this the first time I’ve been invited?” she asked curiously.
“Not just anyone can come,” Karmen explained.
“It takes a level of trust and a vote of at least half of those you see here. We weren’t sure which side you were on until recently.
Take a seat. Join in, and have some fun.
” She patted Sabine on the shoulder before heading over to another table to talk to someone else.
Sabine took a seat and watched the card game unfold.
Once she understood the rules, she asked to be dealt in.
Unfortunately, she lost the first game. However, the conversation flowed and she found herself enjoying her time with the people around her.
When a whistle sounded, the three men from each table stood and moved to an open spot.
Once the vacant seats were filled, they began again.
“It’s so nice we finally have a queen,” the woman to Sabine’s right, Ginny, said.
“Yes,” another one of the women, Sarak, said. “And one who is not only stylish but exceeding all expectations by setting new trends.”
“We’ve been in dire need of a queen for far too long,” Ginny said.
“If only the queen could tame the king,” Sarak said.
Sabine didn’t know how to respond to those women.
The game ended, Sabine lost, and the whistle blew. The men stood and switched tables again.
When Sarak noticed Sabine watching those moving, she said, “It helps keep conversation going by making the men move.”
“That makes sense,” she said.
“So tell me,” Ginny said, “how are you getting along with the king?”
Sabine leaned back in her chair. “We are still trying to get to know each other,” she answered carefully.
“I’m sure it’s hard when his mistress is hovering around all the time. You poor thing.”
She felt her face warm but decided not to say anything. The point of tonight was for her to gain as much of the palace gossip as she could, not add to it by speaking negatively of her husband. He could ruin his reputation all on his own.
The new round began. The men spoke about sending reinforcements south to the army camps.
“When you say reinforcements,” Sabine said, “do you mean soldiers or supplies?”
“Both,” one of the men, Jemes, answered, eyeing her, as if trying to discern her intentions.
“Forgive my questions,” Sabine said, trying to sound meek, “but I know so little about the army. Now that I’m queen, I wish to know more so that I may better serve you.” Her gaze didn’t waver.
“I appreciate that.” Jemes laid down his cards, winning the round. “I am going to end on a good note,” he said. “Besides, I have to run an early training session tomorrow morning. I am going to retire for the evening.” He stood and bowed. “It was lovely to meet you, Your Majesty.”
“No titles!” Karmen called out from across the room.
Sabine chuckled. “I’m not sure how she heard that.”
“Karmen seems to hear everything.” Jemes bowed again.
Ginny reached out, placing her hand on his arm. “Before you go, I heard there were more murders.”
He nodded. “You heard correctly.” His eyes darkened. “It’s the same as the last three incidents. It happened at night, and only captains and lieutenants were targeted.”
“Who do you think is doing it?” Ginny asked, her voice low.
Jemes shrugged. “I don’t know. If I had to guess, I’d say an outsider. I don’t think our own men are committing the murders.”
Ginny nodded absently. “Thank you.”
Jemes bowed again then left.
“Forgive me for asking,” Sabine said, “but what murders?”
“You don’t know?” Sarak said, leaning in closer and dropping her voice.
Sabine shook her head. “The king doesn’t confide in me.”
A new card game started.
“My husband said that everyone is scared. In the army camps, when they go to sleep, people are being murdered. It’s like a ghost. No one has seen or heard anything. But only the officers are being murdered. My husband thinks it’s someone who wants to prevent Lynk from going to war.”
Dread filled Sabine. It didn’t sound like a ghost—it sounded like an assassin.
The card game ended and the whistle blew. When the men stood to switch tables, Sabine stood as well.
“Are you leaving already?” Karmen asked as she came over to Sabine.
“I am. I have a lot to do tomorrow, and I’m exhausted. Thank you for inviting me.”
“I hope you’ll join us again,” Karmen said, walking her to the door.
“I will.”
Out in the hallway, surrounded by her guards, Sabine couldn’t think straight.
Instead of even trying to sort it all out, she rushed to her room and dismissed Harper for the night.
Once she was finally alone with only Harta for company, she let the memories bombard her.
King Kai had told her he’d sent a unit of assassins to Lynk along with the Avoni delegation.
He’d also explained that though the delegation had been murdered, his assassins were still in the kingdom.
Missing and possibly stuck. Then she recalled both Evander and Kai telling her that their kingdom had plans of its own and that things were already in motion.
She wondered if this was it. Kai had insisted he’d stop at nothing to prevent Lynk from going to war.
Sick to her stomach, Sabine changed into her nightclothes then went out onto her balcony, gazing up at the full moon and letting the cool air caress her clammy skin.
If, as she suspected, there was a group of assassins in Lynk, she wondered what their specific orders were.
While Kai ruled over Avoni as its king, Evander ruled over one of the kingdom’s assassin guilds.
If these men belonged to Evander’s guild, then he would be the one calling the shots.
She rubbed her temples, realizing she was in over her head.
How she thought she could handle this on her own was beyond her.
It seemed as if there were a dozen different plots going on at the same time, and each plot had a different puppet master. Given the stakes, this was not a game she could afford to lose.
A light thump sounded behind her. She turned, expecting to find Harta, but a man stood there dressed in solid black. Harta began sneaking up to him from behind. Sabine reached down for the dagger she normally strapped to her thigh, only to remember she’d taken it off.
“Are you going to call off your dog so I can properly greet you?” a familiar voice asked.
A little cry escaped Sabine’s mouth, and she gave the command for Harta to hold. The dog stopped advancing.
Evander pulled off the mask covering his face. It was the most beautiful sight Sabine had ever beheld. She ran at him, throwing her body against his, her arms coming around his neck.
Evander kissed her cheek, sending a jolt of warmth through her.
“You’re here,” she whispered, clutching onto him.