Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Having grown up with four older brothers, Sabine could read men’s moods and intentions fairly accurately.
She knew when to push and when she needed to back off.
With Rainer heading straight for her, his eyes dark, hands balled into fists, and arms shaking, she knew he was angry and planned on directing that rage at her.
Taking another step back, she swiftly turned and headed toward another archway, wanting to get out of the courtyard as quickly as possible.
She just needed to find some place she could hide.
“Stop her!” Rainer roared.
Knowing she couldn’t outrun the king and that it would be better to face him here in public, she stopped. Her guards hovered nearby. “Don’t let him take me anywhere,” Sabine said to Erikin, afraid that if Rainer got her alone, he’d hurt her.
Erikin gave a curt nod.
In order to deal with Rainer in his current state, she needed to be calm and not antagonize him further.
Just as she turned to face him, his hand came up, encircling her neck and squeezing.
He lifted her off the ground. She kicked ferociously, clawing at his arms as she gasped for air.
The irony was that Rainer had been the one to teach her what to do in this situation, yet all rational thought eluded her.
Her guards withdrew their swords.
“Stand down,” Rainer ordered.
A collective gasp resounded through the courtyard as everyone watched the king and queen.
Tears streamed from Sabine’s eyes as pain radiated from her neck to her chest. This was it—she was going to die. Her sister’s face flashed before her and ignited a burst of energy. She couldn’t die here, not like this. Too many lives depended on her and she’d sworn to avenge Alina’s death.
A guard neared, saying something to the king and pointing behind him.
Sabine noticed several people talking, but she couldn’t hear a single word with the blood rushing in her ears.
Rainer glanced over his shoulder, realizing they had an audience. He set Sabine on the ground, releasing his hold on her neck.
Unable to support herself, she collapsed to her knees, falling forward on her hands. She heaved in a gasp of air. It felt like knives were being shoved down her throat. The pain was excruciating. Black clouds hovered in her peripheral vision. She feared she’d pass out.
“No one is allowed to help her,” Rainer ordered, his hands on his hips, his shoulders rising and falling.
“Your Majesty, she is our queen,” one of the guards said.
“And I am your king. I outrank her.”
Rainer’s boots came into Sabine’s line of sight, but she refused to look up into his eyes.
After a moment, he said, “Don’t be so dramatic. Get up. Now. You’re causing a scene.”
Not wanting to make him angrier, Sabine pushed off the ground and stood, her entire body shaking. Her lungs burned, her throat felt like it was on fire, and she couldn’t speak.
Rainer grabbed her arm, squeezing harder than necessary as he dragged her toward the archway that led out of the courtyard.
Her mind screamed no, but she couldn’t voice the word. Her body was too weak to protest or fight back.
“Your Majesty,” Erikin said, blocking their path. “The queen is my responsibility. I took an oath, and I cannot allow harm to come to her. Please release her so I can take her to a healer.”
In one swift move, Rainer withdrew a dagger from his waist, plunging it into Erikin’s stomach. “You’re relieved of your responsibility and oath,” Rainer spat.
Sabine’s vision swam. This could not be happening.
Rainer wrenched his dagger free.
Erikin collapsed to the ground, blood pooling from his wound as life drained from his body.
Frozen in shock, Sabine tried to figure out what to do so no one else died.
She caught sight of Captain Cutler on the other side of the courtyard, but he turned and ran the opposite direction.
There was no one to help her. None of the nobles present could stand up to the king. Her poor guards couldn’t do a thing.
Rainer tightened his grip on Sabine’s arm, dragging her around Erikin’s body and through the archway. To the right, Sabine spotted Harper, her eyes wide in fear. Harper clasped a hand over her mouth and ran the other away.
Sabine tripped on her own two feet, but Rainer’s hold on her was so tight, he kept her upright. “Where are we going?” she croaked, pain lacing though her throat.
He slammed her against the wall. “Where are we going?” he snarled into her face, his eyes wild with rage.
“I should take you to the dungeon. After all, that’s where you think I—your husband and king—belong.
” He bashed his free hand against the wall beside her head, making her flinch.
“I told you to leave my sister alone. I don’t know what game you’re playing, but you lose. I win.”
“This isn’t a game,” she whispered, tears sliding down her cheeks. “You just killed my guard.” Erikin was dead because of her.
Pressing his arm against her throat, Rainer said, “And I’m debating whether I should kill you as well.” His eyes focused on hers, and Sabine could see the truth of his words. It wouldn’t take much for him to end her.
“Your Majesty,” an urgent voice shouted. “There’s an emergency. You’re needed immediately.” Commander Felix came running into view, his chest heaving, indicating he’d just ran there.
Rainer let go of Sabine as if she were on fire.
She leaned against the wall, afraid to move.
“What’s the problem?” Rainer asked, facing Felix.
“A message just came in from Hillard.”
Rainer reached out. “Hand it to me.”
“I, uh, left it at my office. I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I was in such a hurry to reach you, I forgot it.”
Rainer’s eyes narrowed. “That’s unlike you.” He folded his arms.
Felix glanced at Sabine before focusing back on Rainer. “We should hurry—the message was marked urgent. I’ll escort you there.” He gestured toward the hallway, away from Sabine.
Rainer turned toward the guards present. “Take the queen to the dungeon.”
“I’ve committed no crimes,” Sabine wheezed, panic filling her.
The king started to walk away.
Sabine tried again. “The law must be followed,” she rasped.
“Princess Lottie has been arrested for treason.” Hopefully the princess was already in the dungeon.
If Rainer had gotten wind of it ahead of time, he may have thwarted Sabine’s plans.
“That means Prince Axel, Prince Anton, and you, King Rainer, are to join her since you are her blood relatives. Not me. I am not related by blood.” He started to walk away.
Raising her voice, she cried out, “Just because you don’t like the law, doesn’t mean you can throw the one enforcing it into the dungeon. It doesn’t work like that.”
He froze, then slowly turned to face her.
“Don’t you dare tell me how Lynk’s laws work,” he said, his voice menacing.
Then to the guards, “Take her to the dungeon. I’ll visit her there once I’m done with this urgent matter.
” Lowering his voice so only Sabine could hear, he whispered, “In the dungeon, there will be no one to hear you scream.” Grinning, he left with Felix.
The guard to her left cleared his throat. “Your Majesty.”
Still leaning against the wall, her entire body violently shook.
“Are you able to walk unassisted?” he asked, his hand going to her elbow.
She forced herself to stand upright. “Yes, thank you. I can walk.” Her voice didn’t even sound like it belonged to her.
Near the archway to the courtyard, a handful of people were watching.
Lady Karmen pushed past several of the people and came to Sabine, eyeing her neck. “Are you all right, Your Majesty? You have a nasty bruise forming.”
“I am,” she replied, her voice raspy. It felt as if her throat were on fire every time she spoke.
Several guards were kneeling next to Erikin.
“Is he truly dead?” she asked.
“He is, Your Majesty,” one of the men replied.
While Sabine wanted to cover her face and mourn Erikin’s death, she had to be strong. Dozens of people were nearby watching her.
“Do we take the queen to the dungeon?” one of the guards asked no one in particular.
“You cannot arrest me for no reason,” Sabine said. It hurt too badly to speak, but she needed to make sure everyone knew what really happened. “Princess Lottie has been arrested for treason. The king found out, and he is furious with me. I’m sorry you all had to witness that spectacle.”
“The king just tried to kill the queen,” Karmen said, addressing everyone present. “That’s treason.”
Duke Vadil came forward. “The king ordered the queen to be taken to the dungeon,” he reiterated. “Do we know what she’s been charged with?”
The guards looked at one another, no one knowing.
“When is the princess facing trial?” he asked.
“Tomorrow,” Sabine answered. “You should all be receiving details shortly.”
Duke Vadil put his hand on Sabine’s shoulder.
“Then I suggest everyone retire for the evening. If the king isn’t going to the dungeon, then neither is the queen.
It looks like we’re going to have quite the day ahead of us tomorrow as all of this gets sorted out.
” When no one moved, the duke started motioning for everyone to leave.
If Sabine went to her room, Rainer would find her.
And if he found her, she didn’t know if she’d make it to tomorrow.
His volatile behavior and aggressive anger frightened her.
She’d been terrified when she faced the assassin back in Avoni, but at least she’d known who and what she was dealing with.
Rainer, on the other hand, pretended to be one thing when he was another.
There was something deeply disturbing and frightening about that.
Everyone left except for Sabine’s personal guards.
“Your Majesty,” one of the men said. “Shall we escort you to your room? Or a healer?”
The healer was probably the right place to go. However, Rainer would look for her there.
She didn’t know what to do. Tears filled her eyes—her neck hurt.