Chapter 20 #3
“If it’s not him, and it’s not you, then there’s another Avoni assassin on the loose.” Which very well might be the case since the king had implied there were several assassins in Lynk. She just didn’t know if they were working separately or together.
Evander didn’t say anything. His silence scared her. She went under the water and swam to the edge. Even though it was muggy out, she was starting to get cold. Before getting out, she twisted to face Evander.
“Will you please tell me your family’s plan?” Maybe they could work together.
“My father never tells anyone the entire story. We only ever know bits and pieces. That way, if one of us is compromised, the plan isn’t. Or, if someone sells the information, he can trace it back to the traitor based on what was said.”
“In other words, you don’t know?”
“I don’t know all of it. I’ve managed to figure out a lot of the pieces just from being here.” He swam over to her, placing his hands on either side of her body, trapping her against the edge of the pool. “You’re in danger.”
“It’s a good thing I have you here to protect me,” she whispered, sliding her hand onto his chest.
“Your plan failed,” he whispered.
She flinched.
“I thought you’d figured it out,” Evander said.
“I thought Lottie would be convicted of treason and Rainer would be dead. Our problems would have been solved. For a brief moment, I thought I might be able to have you. I thought wrong.” His hand took her jaw, tipping her chin up.
His lips hovered next to hers. “He doesn’t love you, he doesn’t respect you, and he doesn’t deserve you. ”
Her heart felt as if it had been split in two. “I know.”
His lips gently brushed hers. “Please be careful. Don’t take unnecessary risks. Keep your guards with you at all times.”
She nodded.
His hands gripped her waist and he lifted her out of the water, setting her on the edge. She stood and got a towel, wrapping it around her body.
Evander joined her, doing the same. After he pulled his tunic back on, he went over and picked up her dagger and holster. He knelt on the floor, sliding a hand up her leg to her thigh.
She gasped. The feel of him made her warm. He smiled as he attached the holster to her leg. Then he leaned forward, kissing right above the dagger. Sabine almost fell over. He chuckled and stood.
“What I wouldn’t give for a night alone with you.” He kissed her cheek. “I need to go while I still can. Goodnight.”
Before she could respond, he turned and ran up the stairwell.
Drew joined her a moment later. “Ready, Your Majesty?”
She nodded, not ready at all. Her breath came too quickly, her face felt flushed, and she felt unsatisfied.
After returning to her room, Sabine peeled off her wet dress and put on plain pants and a tunic—something she’d train in. Then she exited her room and joined her guards.
“I’m thinking you should sleep in the guest wing,” Drew said. “I was originally thinking of the servants quarters, but there are too many people and variables to account for.”
“The guest wing works.” Sabine didn’t care where she slept tonight, so long as it wasn’t in her room.
Most of the oil lamps had been turned down for the night, casting the palace in a soft glow she wasn’t used to. As they traversed through the corridors, she didn’t notice any other people. Turning a corner, she spotted a handful of guards outside a room to the left.
“Who’s down there?” Sabine whispered.
“I don’t know,” Drew answered.
She motioned for her guards to wait there while she went to speak to the sentries on duty.
As she approached, the men all stood a little taller, a little straighter.
No one looked her way but with their masks on, she couldn’t see their facial features anyway.
She was about to ask who they were guarding when she noticed the door was half-way open.
Peering inside, she spotted Rainer sitting on a chair, hunched over, clutching the hand of a woman.
It had to be Heather. The scene almost made her feel sorry for the king.
Slowly backing up, she returned to her guards.
“Everything all right?” Drew asked.
She nodded, unable to speak for fear that if she opened her mouth, a scream would come out.
When Sabine awoke the next morning, she was surprised she’d not only fallen asleep, but slept well.
Six of her night guards had remained in the room with her.
After getting out of the guest bed, she headed to the royal dining room for breakfast. Along the way, her night guards were replaced with her day ones.
It was a seamless transition, thanks to Drew, who appeared to be managing everything.
Before she entered the royal dining room, Drew joined her. “Good morning, Your Majesty.” He motioned to the side, so she joined him. “I wanted to let you know that there’s been another death,” he said, his voice low so it wouldn’t carry.
“Who?”
“Commander Dregger. He’d only been sworn in yesterday.” He ran a hand over his face. “This is the third commander this week.”
“I can’t believe three murders have taken place right under the king’s nose.” She found it hard to believe the king was killing his own men, but she couldn’t rule anything out at this point.
“Technically, two. They’re still calling Commander Felix’s death a natural one.”
“Given the state of things, I suppose we should stop appointing new commanders until the assassin is found.”
“I agree. However, you should also know that without an officially appointed commander, the position falls to the king.”
In that case, they had to announce one. “Thank you for telling me.”
No longer hungry, she had her guards escort her to the military cavern so she could train.
When she entered, she found it quieter than usual.
Only a dozen people were training instead of the hundred or so that were normally there.
Sabine spotted Captain Higman heading her way.
Before he could pass her and head into the tunnel leading to the palace, she stepped in his way, forcing him to stop.
“Yes, Your Majesty?” he said, annoyance seeping through his voice.
“Where is everyone?”
“That is nothing to concern yourself with.”
She raised her brows. “That’s not how you speak to your queen.”
His eyes narrowed.
She could see the words he didn’t say written on his face: you are just a woman and have no authority over me. Thinking back, Sabine didn’t recall seeing him that day the soldiers swore their allegiance to her.
“Forgive me, Queen Sabine,” Higman said, his voice dripping with disdain, “I was told not to discuss the matter with anyone, including you.”
“Well,” she said, stepping closer to him, “as your queen, I command you to answer me.”
“I’m sorry, I cannot.” He moved to step around her.
“Captain Drew,” Sabine said, waving him forward. “Arrest Captain Higman for insubordination.”
“My pleasure, Your Majesty.”
Higman held up his hands. “I don’t have time for this. If you need information, discuss the matter with the king.” He stepped around her and went into the tunnel.
“Let him go,” Sabine murmured, rubbing the sides of her forehead, a headache forming. “Captain Drew, please find out what’s going on.”
He nodded.
Sabine headed to the training area. Two of her guards began working with her on basic hand-to-hand combat techniques. They focused on what to do if someone came at her and put her in a chokehold.
About thirty minutes later, Drew returned with Evander in tow.
“What’s going on?” she asked, looking between the two of them.
Evander finally answered. “Your husband sent the army south to the border. There are only a handful of officers left. Once my wedding to Lottie takes place tomorrow, Rainer and the officers are heading south to declare war.”
Her time was up. If she was going to do something to stop this war, it had to be today.