Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
“That husband of yours is a piece of work,” Evander said.
Sabine’s eyes flew open to find Evander standing before her.
He nodded his head to the right. “Let’s go somewhere more private to talk before that idiot comes after you.” Without waiting for her to respond, he headed down the hallway.
Not wanting to overthink it, she followed him, her guards trailing her.
“Captain Drew,” Evander said, waving him forward and surprising Sabine that he knew her guard’s name. “I’m thinking of going to the library. Will that afford us some privacy?”
“I think that’s a wise decision at this hour,” Drew replied, stepping back to rejoin the rest of her guards.
No one spoke as they made their way to the other side of the palace where the library was located. When they got there, the room was dark, lit only by the moonlight filtering in from the tall window at the far end.
“I recommend keeping the oil lamps unlit,” Drew stated as he remained near the doorway. “With the ball still going on, people may pass by. Since privacy is what you desire, lights would only attract unwanted attention and make it easier to see inside.”
“I agree,” Sabine said as she stepped into the room.
“I’ll remain here by the entrance with one other guard,” Drew said. “The rest will stay nearby out of sight.”
“Thank you.” Sabine headed over to the window.
“I forgot how much I despise Lynk,” Evander whispered. “Its climate, its king, and this confining palace.”
Sabine glanced over her shoulder as Evander headed deeper into the library and out of sight.
A few minutes later, he returned, sitting on one of the chairs at the table in front of the window. “I just wanted to make sure no one else was in here. We’re alone. Talk to me.”
“What’s there to say?” The last thing she wanted to do was discuss Rainer and his mistress.
As if reading her thoughts, Evander changed the subject and said, “I’ve been informed that your brother, Viktor, is marrying my sister, Carin.”
She still thought it an odd pairing. “Why Viktor?” Otto would have been a better option.
“I have no idea why my father picked Viktor, but I’m sure he has his reasons.”
Aligning Bakley and Avoni was a smart move.
However, she wished it would have taken place months ago, then maybe all this nonsense with Lynk wouldn’t have happened.
Maybe, just maybe, she could have married Evander to align their two kingdoms. Fate could be so cruel.
Leaning her head against the glass, she kept her back to Evander.
“Do you plan on standing over there all night?”
If she turned and faced Evander, if she stared into his green eyes, she was afraid she’d do something stupid, like kiss him.
“Sabine?”
She loved the way he said her name. Having him here, with her, was harder than she’d expected.
While she’d missed him, being this close to him made her realize she didn’t want to be without him.
If he married Lottie, it would kill her.
Lottie had already taken Sabine’s sister, she couldn’t have Evander too. It wasn’t fair.
“Please talk to me.” His voice was gentle and kind. “I’m not used to you being so quiet. You’re starting to scare me.”
“I can’t,” she whispered, tears filling her eyes.
He came and stood next to her, his fingers brushing hers. It reminded her of that time on the bridge at the Avoni palace.
“He doesn’t deserve you,” Evander whispered. “Leave with me.”
His words felt like a warm blanket on a rainy day. She wanted to wrap them around her forever. However, she couldn’t. “I have to stay. If Lynk invades Bakley, my family will need me to ensure their safety.”
His fingers brushed hers again. “Why is it your job to take care of your family when they sent you here?”
Of all people, Evander had to understand the predicament she was in. He was the youngest of four and knew about duty and obligation. “I can’t do this with you right now.” A tear slid down her cheek.
“You won’t even consider leaving with me?”
“If we ran away together, the consequences would be severe. Rainer would seek retribution. I have no idea what your family would do, and I’d rather not find out given you’re from a kingdom of assassins.”
He sighed. “I’m tired of being a pawn.”
So was she. “That’s just it—I’ve been a pawn, but now I’m a queen with the power to change things.”
“As long as it doesn’t change you.” His pinkie finger hooked around hers. “I like you the way you are.”
It felt as if he’d hugged her soul. While she didn’t want to change, she had to in order to do what needed to be done. She’d already changed so much just to survive this place.
“Let me ask you this,” Evander continued, “if Heather is pregnant with Rainer’s child, why does he need you? Doesn’t that child provide him with the heir he needs to keep his throne?”
“The child must be of royal blood, and Heather is a commoner. Therefore, the child doesn’t meet the requirement.
” But what had been nagging Sabine was this: if the law stated Rainer’s child had to be of royal blood, he had to follow the rule.
However, when it came to Lottie, why could Rainer choose to ignore the law?
It made no sense. Unless Sabine forced him to follow the rules.
“What?” Evander asked. “I can tell you’re thinking of something in that beautiful head of yours.”
She’d considered it before and had planned on throwing Lottie in the dungeon and having her tried for treason.
The problem was that once Lottie was found guilty, then Rainer, Anton, and Axel would be killed as well.
The law was harsh about certain situations.
The point of the blood law was to deter people from committing acts of treason by threatening their relations through blood.
If Sabine invoked the law, she’d be the one left standing and in control of Lynk.
While she didn’t want to be the sole ruler, if it meant getting rid of Rainer and preventing a war, it would be worth it.
The part she found hard to live with was sacrificing Anton and Axel.
However, they were only half-siblings, so maybe they’d be spared.
And if she acted quickly, she might be able to stop Evander from marrying Lottie.
“What is it?” he asked.
“You’ll see,” she replied, not wanting him to know about her plan. If he knew, he might try to stop her.
“Do you want my help?”
“I can do it.”
“I know you can, but you don’t have to do it alone.”
“I should get going.” It was getting late, and she didn’t want to be seen returning to her room so long after having left the ball.
“Will you spend the day with me tomorrow?” he asked.
“I don’t think that’s a wise idea.” Rainer would be furious if he found out the two of them were spending time together. She needed to convince the king there was nothing going on between her and the Avoni prince, not fuel the fire.
“We’ll go somewhere away from here. I’ll take care of everything so the king won’t find out. I need to get out of this palace for a few hours.”
Truth be told, she could use a day out of this palace as well. Allowing herself to finally turn and look at Evander, she whispered, “Yes.”
The corners of his lips rose. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Sabine entered her room and flopped onto her bed, exhausted. Harta jumped up, joining her, licking her face. This silly dog always made her feel better.
“You’re back, uh, Your Majesty,” Harper said. “Sorry I keep forgetting your title.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Sabine said.
“How was the ball?” Harper came over and sat on the edge of the bed, petting Harta’s back.
“Eventful.” She didn’t feel like talking about it.
“I heard the king’s mistress showed up.” Harper folded her arms, raising a single eyebrow, looking like she was personally offended.
Sabine propped herself up on her elbows. “Harper, I’m glad that you’re here.” It was nice having someone she not only felt comfortable around but could talk to as well.
“Me too. I hated working at my aunt’s shop.” She started pushing her cuticles back.
“Does the king ever ask you anything about me?” Sabine had no idea if Rainer was checking up on her through her lady’s maid.
“No,” Harper said with a snort. “And I wouldn’t talk to him if he did. I work for you, not him. Besides, Drew already told me how he is. I know to be careful.”
That was not how she thought Harper would answer. First, she was thankful to have the woman’s loyalty. Second, it warmed her to know that Drew had thought to put Harper on guard.
Sabine needed to word this carefully and clearly. “Do you believe the king can override me?”
“What do you mean?”
“If he asked you something about me, and you refused to tell him, he is still your king and you must answer to him.” Now she waited to hear how Harper responded before she decided what to do next.
She shrugged. “He can claim he’s my king all he wants. But I am your lady’s maid. Drew said the law protects me as long as I protect you.”
Sabine smiled. “Excellent. I need your help—but it requires your utmost discretion and complete secrecy.”
“I’m all in.”
Sabine started the day like any other. She got up, dressed, then ate her breakfast. After, she declared she was headed into town to go shopping.
Shortly thereafter, she left the palace with Harper, Drew, and a handful of guards.
Though Sabine was nervous since she didn’t know the details of the plan, Harper kept patting her arm, telling her not to worry about a thing.
Apparently Harper and Drew had spent the night planning everything.
“Okay,” Sabine said, “we’re in the middle of town, now what?”
“Just keep walking.” Harper smiled as she led Sabine along the road.
At the seamstress’s store, Harper led Sabine into the back room where she was given commoner clothing to put on.
After changing, Sabine came out and found that Harper and her guards were all dressed similarly in nondescript outfits befitting a commoner.