Chapter 11 #2
Off to the side, Sabine spotted Lottie leaning against the railing, talking to Anton.
Without overthinking it, she headed that way.
Since she’d returned to the palace, she’d made it clear Lottie should be locked up.
If she allowed this evening to pass without making a small scene, then people might think she was okay with Lottie now that the princess was leaving the kingdom, and that was far from the case.
When neither noticed her approach, she cleared her throat.
Anton glanced over his shoulder and upon seeing Sabine, he straightened and turned to face her. “Your Majesty.” He nudged his sister in the ribs.
Lottie slowly turned around, eyeing Sabine.
“Do you need something?” Anton asked.
“I just came over to see what the protocols are for Lottie,” Sabine replied. “I assumed she’d have a guard and would return to her room once her dance with Evander was over.”
“I believe she is no longer confined to her room.” Anton shifted uncomfortably.
“Are you saying she will not be punished for the part she played in Alina’s death?”
Lottie smirked. “What bothers you more? That I’m not in the dungeon or that I’m marrying the man you’re in love with?”
Sabine’s eyes widened in shock. “What did you say?” There was no way Lottie could know Sabine had feelings for Evander.
Lottie took a step closer to Sabine. “I knew you’d traveled with him,” she said, her voice low and containing a threat rumbling through it. “Enough people saw the two of you. What I didn’t know was that you’d fallen for him.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Sabine’s body prickled with heat.
Lottie took another step closer. “You’re young and innocent. Prince Evander probably didn’t even have to lure you to his bed. You probably offered yourself willingly. Pathetic.”
Fury filled Sabine. “You are out of line.” Her hands balled into fists.
“You’re only upset because I speak the truth.”
“The truth?” Sabine sneered, trying to keep her temper in check so she wouldn’t say something she’d end up regretting later. “The truth is you’re responsible for Alina’s death. You tried to have me killed. You want your brother’s throne.”
“Keep your voices down,” Anton said, moving to stand between the two women.
“You’re just jealous I’m marrying Evander,” Lottie said, leaning around Anton to look Sabine in the eyes. “When you’re in bed with Rainer, do you imagine he’s Evander?”
Sabine wanted to hit her.
“That’s enough,” Anton said, twisting to face Lottie. “Like it or not, Sabine is your queen. You will treat her with respect.”
“She’s just jealous,” Lottie mumbled.
“Is there a problem?” Rainer asked as he joined them, looking at Sabine.
Sabine didn’t know what to say.
Rainer gently gripped her elbow. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing.” She forced a smile on her lips. “It’s just—”
“Are you all right?” Evander asked as he came to stand next to Sabine.
“This is ridiculous,” Lottie snapped. “She’s a grown woman and can take care of herself. She doesn’t need to be doted on by every male in the vicinity. Unless…” Her eyes focused on Evander.
“You’re wrong,” Anton said, garnering everyone’s attention. “Sabine is our queen. Everyone’s focus should be on her—including you, sister.”
“Whatever,” Lottie mumbled.
Sabine rolled her shoulders back, trying to regain her composure. “I’m sorry to have caused a scene at this lovely ball,” she said, her focus on Rainer as she spoke. “However, you know how I feel about the woman responsible for my sister’s death. I am finding it difficult to be around her.”
Evander reached a gloved hand out to Lottie. “Let’s have one last dance. Then I’ll escort you to your room for the night.”
“I’d love that,” Lottie cooed. “Then we can spend some time together. Alone. It’ll help us get to know one another better.” Her eyes darkened as she took Evander’s arm, leading him over to the dance area.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Anton said before hurrying away.
Taking a deep breath, Sabine leaned against the railing, gazing out at the stars without really seeing them. “I’m sorry. I should have ignored Lottie.”
“She’ll be gone soon,” he assured her, tucking her hair behind her ear.
Sabine had to force herself not to flinch from the touch. “I still don’t understand why she doesn’t face the same laws as every other Lynk citizen.”
“She’s my sister,” he said, as if that explained everything.
“And Alina was mine.” Why didn’t he understand that simple fact?
“Let me ask you this,” Rainer said as he came to lean on the railing next to her. “If the tables were reversed, could you condemn one of your brothers to die? Or would you find a solution that worked for everyone involved?”
“None of my brothers would hire an assassin to kill someone.”
“Are you sure about that?”
She was sure. “Let’s flip that. What if one of my brothers killed your sister? Would you be content to let it go if I found an easy solution that didn’t hold him accountable? Could you live with that?”
He considered her.
Movement caught Sabine’s attention, and she gazed past Rainer to Heather standing on his other side. She stiffened.
“What?” He followed her line of sight. “Heather, I asked you to stay in your room tonight.”
“I went for a walk,” she said, stepping even closer to him. “Then I saw the party. I came in to dance with my husband.”
Heather was impeccably dressed for a supposed walk. And, come to think of it, Sabine didn’t remember seeing Cutler this evening.
“It’s late,” Rainer said. “I’ll walk you back to your room. You and the baby need rest.” The two of them left.
Sabine stood there, dumbfounded. He hadn’t even bothered to say goodnight. Maybe he’d forgotten she was there. Well, she’d certainly had enough of this farce of a party. There was nothing to celebrate.
She made her way past the dancers and to the balcony’s exit. Her guards joined her, and she headed through the palace. At one of the intersections, she spotted Evander coming her way.
“Your Majesty,” he said as he approached. “Can I accompany you somewhere?”
“Where’s Princess Lottie?”
“In her room.”
She wished she was back in Avoni with Evander. Traveling in a boat on one of the canals.
“Sabine?”
“I’m just retiring for the night. It has been a long day.”
“Excellent, I’ll escort you.”
Instead of arguing with him in the middle of the corridor, with her guards mere feet away, she simply nodded, and they began walking.
Evander slid his hands in his pockets. “Is there somewhere we can go to talk?” he whispered, peering back at her guards.
“I don’t think that’s a wise idea.”
“Even though Rainer just left with that other woman?”
“He’s escorting her to her room.” Wherever that may be.
“And she’s pregnant with Rainer’s child?”
“I can’t do this right now,” Sabine said, coming to a stop, her hands on her hips.
“Then leave with me,” he whispered. “Tonight. Right now. Let’s go.”
She wanted to, she really did, but she couldn’t. “I have to stop Rainer from going to war.”
“I told you my family has plans in place.” Plans as in multiple, not singular.
However, she couldn’t count on the Avoni king and queen. She could only count on herself. “I can’t leave.”
“Sabine.” He took a step closer. “Please leave with me. Trust me. Please.”
Drew cleared his throat, garnering Sabine’s attention. When she realized how close the two of them were, she abruptly took a step away from Evander, putting some space between them, just as Rainer rounded the corner, Heather on his arm. Drew’s warning had been impeccably timed.
“What’s going on?” Rainer demanded.
Evander, hands still casually in his pockets, turned to face Rainer. “I just walked Princess Lottie to her room. Somehow, I got turned around and ran into Queen Sabine. She was just giving me directions back to the guest wing.”
“Really?” Rainer asked, coming closer, Heather still clutching his arm. “I find it hard to believe that you, of all people, would get turned around.”
He had a point, but Sabine remained silent.
Evander shrugged. “Everything looks the same around here. And quite honestly, I wasn’t really paying attention to my whereabouts when I walked with Lottie. I had other things on my mind.”
Rainer looked at Sabine, his brows raised.
Since she didn’t know where the guest wing was, it would be difficult for her to give directions. “I told him one of my guards could direct him.” She observed Heather. “However, now that you’re here, perhaps you can escort Prince Evander to the guest wing.”
“Oh, I’m not—” Heather began.
Rainer squeezed her arm, silencing her. He opened his mouth to speak, but Sabine beat him to it.
“Unless you’re not staying in the guest wing because you’re too busy sharing my husband’s bed. If that’s the case, I can escort Evander myself.” Not wanting to hear either of their replies, she spun on her heel and stalked back the way she’d come from.
“Sabine,” Rainer called out after her.
She didn’t stop.
“I can show you to the guest wing,” Rainer said to Evander.
“I don’t need your help,” Evander replied. “I’ll figure it out.”
Sabine rounded the first corner she came to and leaned against the wall, squeezing her eyes shut.