Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Sabine couldn’t stand there in the middle of the training facility having this conversation with Evander. The empty room allowed their voices to carry and anyone could be lurking nearby. Just because the army was gone, didn’t mean that all threats were.
“I am going to visit Harta.” Sabine inclined her head to the side and Evander nodded, following her. They went to the corridor leading to the dog kennels. “What’s your plan?”
“I’m going to marry Lottie tomorrow and return to Avoni. Once I’m home, I’ll discuss the matter with my king.”
In other words, his hands were tied. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have referred to his father as the king. The other part, the part about Lottie, she tried not to think about it. She’d just pretend it wasn’t happening.
“Do you have anything to say?” he asked as they stopped before the closed door.
“No. I don’t have a plan yet.” Neither to stop the war nor the wedding.
She threw open the door, irritated that a woman she despised, who’d ordered her sister’s death, got to marry the man she loved.
It wasn’t fair. And since her plan to end Rainer had failed, her hopes for stopping the war were rapidly diminishing.
She had no idea if Rainer would honor his promise to protect her family or not.
Stepping into the kennels, she found them empty. “Where are the dogs?” She peered over her shoulder at Drew who remained at the threshold.
“I don’t know,” he answered. “But if I had to guess, I’d say with the army.”
Without saying a word, she hurried to the door at the end, opening it and peering inside. She cursed. Most of the boats were gone.
“What is it?” Evander asked, trying to see around her.
“Captain Drew is right,” she whispered, unable to imagine Harta with the soldiers, preparing for war.
“Drew—I need a minute alone with the queen.” Without waiting for a response, Evander gently pushed her into the lava tube, closing the door behind them.
“What are you doing?” Only a single torch hung on the wall, casting the area in dark shadows.
Evander shoved Sabine against the wall, his mouth suddenly on hers, demanding.
Warmth flooded her. She grabbed his waist, pulling his body flush with hers.
His tongue slid into her mouth. Then it changed.
He moved slower. His hands came up, cupping her face as his lips moved over hers.
When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers, his breathing fast.
“Evander?” she asked, wanting to know why he’d kissed her.
He didn’t say anything, he just kept looking at her.
And that was when she realized this was a goodbye kiss. She shook her head. “You can’t leave.” Not with Lottie. Not with a war on the horizon. And not with her heart. “Stay here and help me stop this war.” She wanted him to choose her which was selfish considering she’d chosen Lynk over him.
“You know I can’t. I’m sorry, but I have my own orders to follow.” He pressed his lips against her forehead.
She closed her eyes, savoring the smell and feel of him.
He released her and took a step back. “Once I leave with Lottie tomorrow, I won’t be able to protect you.”
She shivered. “I understand.” If there was going to be any sort of royal assassination to stop the war, it would either be tonight or tomorrow after the wedding.
Opening the door, Evander ushered Sabine back into the kennels where they found Drew and the rest of her guards waiting. They exited the corridor and entered the main portion of the cavern.
Anton was headed straight for them. “Evander, we need to talk.”
“The army is headed to the border,” Evander said. “I thought you had a plan to stop it.”
“My plan fell through,” Anton replied, his voice irritated as he rubbed his palms against his eyes. “My brother is hellbent on ending the League.”
“I told you that’s what this was about.” Evander folded his arms.
“I sent letters to Carlon and Nisk letting them know.”
Evander nodded. “And what of Bakley?”
Sabine could kiss him for remembering her family and kingdom.
“My hands are tied due to the marriage contract. However, I personally sent a letter to Otto.”
“I need to speak with my men and send word to my parents. Avoni must be warned.” Evander turned to face Sabine.
“Your Majesty,” he said, taking her hand and placing a kiss on it.
“It has been a pleasure getting to know you.” His eyes bored into hers, as if he wanted to say more but couldn’t with Anton there.
He released her and left without a backward glance.
Over the course of the past few weeks, there had been many times where Sabine had experienced true fear. However, right now, a fear like she’d never known consumed her. The approaching war, her family’s safety, and the thought of never seeing Evander again terrified her.
Sabine had just reentered the main portion of the palace when a man’s scream pierced the air. Drew quickly ordered one of her guards to find out what was going on. Closer to the residence wing, another scream rang out followed by the sound of something breaking.
As Sabine made her way toward her room, the screaming intensified.
The sounds were coming from somewhere to the right, so she headed that way as if pulled by a string.
Turning into another corridor, she heard a crash followed by an eerie silence.
Up ahead, a handful of guards stood by a door.
Dread filled her. She’d been here before—last night when she’d spotted Rainer in Heather’s bedchamber.
As she got closer, she heard someone crying. When the guards noticed Sabine, they stepped aside. It felt like slow motion as she moved toward the door, unable to stop herself yet afraid of what she’d find. But she had to know. At the doorway, she froze at the sight before her.
Inside the bedchamber, Heather was sprawled on the bed, the sheets around her stomach drenched with blood.
Cutler clutched his wife’s unmoving hand, hunched over her arm, crying.
Rainer stood off to the side, heaving deep breaths, chunks of wood from a broken armoire, shards of glass, and flowers scattered around his feet.
A healer hovered near the foot of the bed.
Claire stood in the corner holding a balled up sheet with splotches of blood, staring at her sister, her eyes wide with shock.
“What’s going on?” Sabine asked as she stepped into the room, trying not to gag with the metallic smell of blood permeating the air.
The healer turned toward her, bowing. “Your Majesty,” he said softly. “Heather is dead.”
A snarl erupted from Rainer as he began pacing, raking his hands through his hair. “I want to know who killed her.”
“Your Majesty, no one killed her,” the healer said. “It was a complication with the pregnancy. Her body couldn’t handle the baby.”
Cutler let out a sob, the sound of his pain stabbing Sabine in the heart.
“Why’s there so much blood?” she asked.
“When I realized she was about to die,” the healer said, “I delivered the baby to try to save one of them. Neither survived.”
Sabine glanced at Claire again, this time realizing a tiny, lifeless baby was wrapped in that bloody sheet.
“Her death is your fault!” Rainer shouted, pointing at the healer.
The man paled. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but it’s no one’s fault. These things happen.”
“If there’s nothing further to be done, you’re excused,” Sabine said to the healer as she stepped out of the doorway, giving him room to exit.
Relief filled his face as he gathered his instruments and left.
Someone needed to inform Heather’s parents. “Claire, your parents should know what happened. They’ll probably want to be here. I think you’re the best one to deliver the news.” And Claire needed to get out of here before she passed out.
Nodding, Claire set the dead baby on the bed next to Heather before rushing out of the room.
Sabine went over to Cutler, rubbing his back. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured to him. Then to Rainer. “I think Captain Cutler deserves a few minutes alone with his wife to say his goodbyes.”
“You don’t tell me what to do,” Rainer snarled. “He shouldn’t even be here.”
“Neither should you. Heather is not your wife.” She could feel, rather than see, the guards tense behind her.
“The baby is mine.” He pointed to his dead child.
Her words had been too harsh—she’d need to rein in her temper. “I’m sorry,” she said. “You’re right.” She rubbed her temples, a headache starting.
“This is your fault,” Rainer said to Cutler. “You did this to her.”
Cutler raised his head, looking at the king. “I neither got her pregnant nor insisted she travel in her condition to the palace. If you’d just left her alone, she’d be at my home and she’d be alive. If anyone is to blame, it’s you.”
Though Sabine agreed with him, she didn’t say it. Continuing to rub Cutler’s back, she tried to soothe and comfort him.
Rainer started to come toward Cutler. Sabine moved to cut him off. “Let’s give him a minute alone,” Sabine said to the king. “Then you can come in and say your goodbyes.”
“I shouldn’t have to bury another person that I love! My mother, my father, and now Heather?” He gripped his hair in anguish.
Sabine almost felt bad for him. “I know, it’s not fair.” She wanted to try to calm Rainer down so he didn’t lash out and hurt someone. His temper felt like a volcano that would erupt at any moment.
“No, it’s not fair,” he sneered. “I should have been able to marry Heather.” With his hands on his hips, he began pacing again.
“I will destroy the League.” He glanced at the dead bodies.
“Even if it’s the last thing I do, the League will end.
I will make the rules. I won’t bend to someone’s will ever again. ” He stormed from the room.
Shock filled Sabine.
“Your Majesty?” Drew asked, coming to her side.
“Please have someone get Lady Regina. She needs to be here for her son.”
Rainer’s scream echoed through the palace, making Sabine jump.
She exited from the room, wanting to give Cutler privacy. “Keep an eye on him,” she ordered the guards stationed there. Needing to get away from the smell and the sight of Heather, the baby, and the blood, she left that wing of the palace. Her hands began shaking.
Given Rainer’s state of mind, and knowing he intended to head south tomorrow to join his army to start a war, Sabine had an opportunity to do something to stop him. She just had to figure out what. “Captain Drew.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Have someone apprise Prince Anton, Prince Axel, and Prince Evander of the situation. Tell them I want to speak with them immediately. I’ll be in the library.”
He instructed one of her guards to convey the message.
She made her way to the library, trying to come up with a plan.
By the time she got there, she still hadn’t thought of a single feasible idea.
Sitting at the table near the window, irritation filled her.
She’d never learned about battles, strategies, or any such things.
Those had been reserved for her brothers.
The lack in her education was affecting her ability to lead the people of Lynk.
Even though her parents hadn’t thought she’d sit on the throne, they should have given her the same opportunities to learn as her siblings had.
The sun shifted across the sky, and still she sat there waiting. It felt as if too much time had passed. One of the three princes should be here by now.
A guard Sabine didn’t recognize approached, speaking with Drew. After a minute, he left.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
Drew pursed his lips. “I’ve just been informed that Princess Lottie and several other officers are dead.”
She blinked, trying to comprehend what he’d just said, struggling to wrap her brain around this information. “What happened?”
“It seems someone entered the palace and killed almost every officer.” He gripped his hilt, his knuckles turning white.
“Captain Cutler, Captain Lithane, and Captain Higman are the only high ranking officers alive. As well as myself. Everyone else is dead. Lithane is going to the dungeon now to see if the prisoner is still in there. No one can find Prince Anton, Prince Axel, or Prince Evander. I think you should consider leaving the palace. I’ll take you to the royal castle. ”
She started pacing, hands on her hips, her mind reeling.
So many deaths in such a short amount of time.
“How was Lottie killed?” Given that the princess was dead and the two princes were unaccounted for, she had to consider that an assassin was in the palace with the intent of killing all members of the royal family—herself included.
“Princess Lottie’s throat was slit.”
Definitely an assassination. “And the others?” She wondered if Heather dying was truly a coincidence or part of some grander plot.
“Poison.”
It was interesting that Lottie was killed in a different fashion than the others.
Almost as if she wasn’t originally one of the targets.
As if she’d been killed as an afterthought.
Or for revenge. While Sabine was secretly happy Lottie had gotten what she deserved, she couldn’t let anyone know she was grateful for the princess’s death.
She chewed on her thumbnail, wondering who killed her, a sinking suspicion it might have been Evander.
“Has the king been informed?” she asked.
“Someone went to find him, but I don’t know if the news has been delivered.”
Given the king’s state and the fact that no one could find the princes, she was truly alone. Suddenly, an idea formed. A crazy, dangerous one. “Has another commander been appointed?”
“No.”
A smile spread across her lips. It was time she beat Rainer at his own game, and she knew just how to do it. “I have an idea.”