Chapter 10 #2
Growing up, she’d never heard her father speak about her mother in such a way. “I am your wife—not your property.” Her hands started to shake as anger took root. “And the last thing your wife wants to think about is her husband with another woman.”
“I had an agreement with Alina,” he said, as if that made it okay.
“I’m not Alina.” She pulled back farther. “How would you feel if I had a man I shared a bed with whenever I pleased?”
His eyes narrowed. “Don’t forget, when I am with you for the first time, if you’re not a virgin, I’ll kill you myself.” His words held a promise to them.
“I know.” She was a virgin and had nothing to fear.
He must have seen the truth in her eyes. “Sabine.” He took a step toward her.
She backed up, hitting the wall.
He released her wrist, his hands now splayed on the wall on either side of her head, trapping her in. “We’re married,” he said. “You will let me touch you.”
She shook her head. “I’m not ready.” Especially since she’d seen Evander last night and he’d stirred up emotions that she’d been trying to bury.
“You need to let me help you get ready.” He leaned down, his lips pressing a kiss against the corner of her mouth, trailing down to her neck. One of his hands lowered to her waist, his calloused palm against her soft skin.
Sabine had a feeling that if she pushed him away, he’d retaliate.
The last thing she wanted to do was upset him so he forced himself on her.
Rainer was doing this to show her he held the power—and if she wanted to win, she needed to let him think he had it.
Her right hand came out, laying flat against his chest as she tilted her head, giving him better access to her neck.
“Your Majesties,” Gunther said. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but your guest has arrived.”
Rainer pulled back, his eyes searching hers for something. “We’ll finish this later,” he whispered as he straightened.
Releasing the breath she’d been holding, she pushed off the wall, thankful for the timely interruption. She smoothed her dress, trying to still her shaking hands as she did so.
“Let’s go,” Rainer said, holding out his hand to Sabine.
She took it, and they exited the royal suite.
“Who’s here?” she asked as they made their way through the palace.
“One minute,” Rainer said, ignoring her question. “Gunther, have my brothers been informed?”
“They have, Your Majesty. The rest of your family should already be there waiting for you.” Gunther pulled a door open, revealing the antechamber to the throne room.
Sabine stepped inside and froze. Anton, Axel, and Lottie were there, all finely dressed, their heads bent close together as they spoke in hushed whispers.
“What’s she doing here?” Sabine demanded. Lottie was supposed to be sequestered to her bedchamber, not out and about in the palace.
Rainer ignored her and went over to Lottie, placing his hand on her shoulder while whispering something in her ear.
Axel approached Sabine. “Never a dull moment. Hope you have a dagger hidden on you.” He looked her over. “Though, I have no idea where you’d hide it.”
She didn’t bother answering him because she was too upset by Lottie’s presence. Even though Evander was here to collect the princess, it didn’t mean she should be given free rein of the palace.
The door opened, announcing Princess Lottie, Prince Anton, and Prince Axel. The three siblings exited the antechamber.
“Why is your sister here?” Sabine asked again.
“Now is not the time.” Rainer took her hand, leading her to the doorway.
Before Sabine could argue, the herald announced, “His Majesty King Rainer Manfred, and Her Majesty Queen Sabine Manfred.”
Rainer moved her hand to his arm as he led her into the throne room. The couple dozen people in attendance all bowed.
At the top of the dais, Rainer said, “Rise.” His siblings all stood on the lower step, fanned out on either side of the king and queen.
“Thank you all for coming on such short notice,” Rainer began. “A special guest has arrived here at the palace. I want to introduce you to him, and I have a wonderful announcement to make.”
Movement at the back of the room caught Sabine’s attention.
Evander had arrived. He stood at the end of the aisle, a handful of Avoni guards with him.
He wore a dark green silk tunic and matching pants, each embroidered with gold stitching.
He also donned a sword and cape. The entire ensemble made him look like the assassin-prince he was. Sabine found it hard to breathe.
“I want to officially welcome Prince Evander Botoko of Avoni to Lynk.” Rainer lifted his hand, gesturing for Evander to join him.
Everyone twisted to see the prince, bowing as they caught sight of him.
He strode forward with confidence, his guards in two rows following close behind.
Unlike the prince, they all wore solid black, their tunics and pants covering most of their skin, leaving little exposed to the elements.
As Evander neared the dais, he didn’t look Sabine’s way.
Lottie glanced over her shoulder and smirked at Sabine. “Not my type, but not bad at all. I can make due with that.”
Sabine wanted to rip Lottie’s eyes out.
“I am pleased to announce the official betrothal of Prince Evander Botoko of Avoni to Princess Lottie Manfred of Lynk.” Rainer didn’t release Sabine’s hand as they stood on the dais above everyone.
Lottie stepped forward to meet Evander just as he came to a stop at the bottom of the dais.
“Princess,” Evander said with a bow, “it is a pleasure to meet you. You’re even more beautiful than I imagined.”
Lottie reached her hand forward and Evander took it, pressing his lips to the back of her hand.
Sabine wanted to tear Lottie’s hand away from Evander.
“The wedding will take place next week,” Rainer said.
Shock rolled through Sabine. There was no way she’d be able to see the two of them wed. Evander was hers. And Lottie needed to be rotting in prison.
“No one is clapping,” Axel murmured so low only Sabine could hear.
Rainer continued, “Tonight, my beautiful wife and I will hold a celebration for our esteemed guest. I hope to see you all there.” He led Sabine from the dais to the balcony off to the side. Evander and Lottie followed close behind, Anton and Axel after them.
The throne room began to empty, leaving the royal family alone out on the balcony, the sun shining brightly overhead. A servant approached carrying a tray with goblets filled with wine.
Sabine took hers and turned away from everyone, gazing out at the view before her. As to how she was supposed to stand there and toast to Lottie—the woman responsible for killing her sister—she didn’t know. And Evander…
A hand slid onto her lower back. “Darling,” Rainer purred, “join us.” He guided her around so she faced the group that had gathered in a small circle.
Evander and Lottie stood arm in arm across from her. She refused to raise her eyes and look at either one of them for fear everyone would see her hatred for Lottie and her love for Evander. Hopefully, this would only last a few minutes, then she could get away from them.
“Prince Evander, thank you for making the journey here,” Rainer said.
“You obviously know me from your last visit, and you know Anton since he’s a fellow League member.
” Rainer gestured toward Axel. “My brother, Axel, and my beloved sister, Lottie.” His hand curled around Sabine’s waist. “And my darling wife, Sabine, whom you know from not only your visit here but from the League’s house. ”
Evander raised his goblet. “Thank you for the warm welcome,” he said, not bothering to acknowledge Sabine or anyone else for that matter. The prince’s focus remained on Rainer, never wavering.
When Sabine had been in Avoni, she recalled Markis figuring out she had feelings for Evander after spending a couple of minutes with the two of them.
He’d advised her to never be near Evander when other people were around because he said their mutual attraction was too obvious.
Well, right now, standing on the balcony, Sabine wondered if Evander cared for her at all.
If she hadn’t seen him last night, she would assume she meant nothing to him.
Sabine, on the other hand, had to force herself not to look his way.
Rainer trailed his hand up Sabine’s back, making her shiver.
“I’d like to sit down with you to go over a few things,” Evander said, taking another sip from his goblet. “Is now a good time?”
Rainer turned his full attention to Sabine, his lips pressing against her neck. “Darling,” he murmured, “I know you begged me to spend the day with you in bed, but I need to take care of this. Do you think you can wait a couple of hours? I promise to make it worth your while.”
Dread coursed through her. It took every ounce of her willpower not to look over at Evander to see his reaction.
But that was what Rainer intended—to push her into revealing her feelings for the assassin-prince.
She had no idea what Lottie told him about her time with Evander, but all anyone would have seen was the two of them traveling together.
No one could possibly know they were friends—more than friends.
Evander’s family had suspected their feelings for one another went beyond friendship.
Surely they wouldn’t have told anyone. While they might not care about Sabine or what happened to her, they definitely cared about Evander and would protect him.
Rainer’s hand slid down her back, far lower than appropriate. This was a dangerous game. While Sabine had no problem pushing the boundaries to get what she wanted, she feared pushing this man would set her on a course she was not ready to take.
She patted his chest. “Do whatever you need to,” she said, her voice low as she peered up at him through hooded eyes.
“I’ll be waiting for you.” After setting her goblet down, she turned and strode from the balcony, not wanting to hear what anyone—especially Axel—had to say about that little performance.
She was halfway through the throne room when someone grabbed her arm and stopped her. Spinning around, she found Rainer there, his eyes searching hers. “What do you want?” she asked, glancing over his shoulder to see if anyone had followed him.
“Why are you upset?” he asked, keeping his voice low. “Is it because Evander is here?”
She rolled her eyes. “Is that what you think?”
“Something has you rattled.”
He wasn’t wrong. “I’m upset,” she said, enunciating each word as if speaking to a child, “because the woman responsible for killing my sister is standing on the balcony, celebrating her engagement. It doesn’t seem fair.
She should be in jail.” She needed to stay focused on Lottie so no one would suspect her feelings for Evander.
Rainer considered her. “Do you know why I agreed to this marriage?”
“To get rid of Lottie,” she answered. “To solve a problem.”
He nodded. “True, but there is more to it than that.”
She raised her eyebrows, wondering if he’d elaborate. When he didn’t say anything, Sabine replied, “Since she is free, she can arrange for an assassin to kill me. I’m scared.” Though, she didn’t sound scared because she was more ticked off than afraid.
Rainer chuckled and leaned toward Sabine, his lips coming to her right ear.
“I know,” he whispered. “Which is why I agreed to the marriage. If any assassin touches you, it will be considered a direct threat from the Avoni throne. King Kai assured me he would guarantee his assassins know that you are off limits—even if Lottie offers them an abundance of money. No one can touch you. Well, no one except for me.” He straightened, watching her, observing her, as if trying to read her thoughts.
“So what you’re saying is that you did this for me?” Sabine said.
“Well, I did it for me. I need you alive so you can have my child.”
“I guess I should thank you,” she said, wanting—needing—to get away from Rainer before she punched him.
“You can thank me tonight.” He smirked as he took a step back. “Oh, and Sabine? Show a little gratitude next time. You don’t need to act like a prissy Bakley bitch.” And with that, he returned to the balcony, rejoining his siblings and Evander.
Sabine practically ran out of the throne room, her heart pounding.
Out in the corridor, she found her guards waiting for her.
“Pardon me for saying this, but you look a little rattled,” Drew said as he came to walk alongside her. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes, thank you.” She kept walking, thinking through everything Rainer had just revealed.
He’d said that Kai had assured him his assassins wouldn’t touch Sabine.
She knew Kai wasn’t in charge of any of the assassin guilds.
Rainer probably had no idea how they even worked.
So while the stipulation sounded good, it was an empty promise.
Entering a courtyard, Sabine ran her hand over one of the rose bushes, the soft petals caressing her skin.
The thought of Evander marrying Lottie made her sick.
It felt wrong. However, while she desperately wanted Lottie to pay for killing Alina, Sabine didn’t want to come across as a jilted lover just wanting to stop the wedding.
If she had any hope of holding Lottie accountable, she’d have to handle the matter carefully. Delicately.
She meandered over to the water fountain and sat on the bench before it.
Her priorities needed to be lined up. First and foremost, she needed to stop the war.
Secondly, she’d seek retribution for Lottie’s crimes.
Sabine needed to remember she was the queen of Lynk and was married to Rainer.
Any and all thoughts of Evander had to be just that—thoughts.
There was no future with the Avoni prince.
If maintaining peace meant that she’d stand at Rainer’s side for the rest of her life to ensure the kingdoms carried on and followed the League of Rulers, she would.
Because all that mattered were her people.
Her heart, her desires, were so far down on her list of priorities that she couldn’t even consider them.
However, that didn’t stop the pain searing through her heart. It didn’t stop her eyes from filling with tears.