Chapter 7
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Damien’s posture stiffened as he knocked on King Gerard’s office door. He had been so casual earlier. But now, in anticipation of telling two kings about four murdered soldiers, he was acting as an army captain.
It’s like he’s two different people: the friend and the soldier.
“Come in,” King Gerard called.
Damien pushed the door open and led Evelyn inside. The kings stood over a table with a map of the continent.
They weren’t expecting to see me with a soldier today. How much is my father going to hate what we have to say?
“Your Majesties.” Damien bowed. “The missing soldiers have been found.”
“Where?” King Gerard demanded.
“In an empty shop in the city, sir.”
“Are they alive?”
“No, sir. They were killed. Mutilated.”
The kings went quiet for a moment as they processed the news.
“Why is my daughter with you?” King Tristan asked.
Damien shifted his weight. “Princess Evelyn found the soldiers, Your Majesty. She saw past the illusion hiding blood on the door of the shop and I went inside to investigate.”
“The girl can see through illusions?” King Gerard asked.
Yes, asshole, the girl can do a lot of things!
“Why was she in the city in the first place?” King Tristan was nearly yelling. “Did you take her there?”
Damien winced. “Yes, Your Majesty. The princess requested a tour of the city and I—”
“You took her away from the palace without anyone’s permission?”
“Sir—”
“It’s my fault,” Evelyn interrupted. “I asked Damien to accompany me. I told him I would take a horse by myself if he didn’t come. He was keeping me safe.”
Father looks disappointed in me, but at least he isn’t yelling at Damien anymore.
King Gerard was losing patience with all of them. “Who else knows about this?”
“No one, sir,” Damien lied. “But I did find another soldier to guard the door from the outside.”
“Good. It needs to stay quiet until we know what happened.”
“There’s something else. Whoever killed the soldiers also wrote a message on the wall… in blood.”
“What does it say?”
Damien hesitated. “It said… Kennedy was only the beginning.”
The color drained from King Tristan’s face. After all, he was only wearing a crown because the Kennedy family had been murdered weeks ago.
“It didn’t say anything else?” King Gerard asked.
“No, sir,” Damien said, glancing at Evelyn. “But the message was also hidden under an illusion.”
“She discovered that, too?” King Gerard eyed Evelyn suspiciously.
“Yes, sir.”
“You allowed a princess into a room full of mutilated bodies?” King Tristan seethed.
“Father, please!” Evelyn told him. “No one dragged me inside. We wouldn’t know anything about this if I hadn’t been there!”
“Evelyn—” her father began.
“That’s enough,” King Gerard announced. “I don’t need to hear your family drama, Tristan. Your daughter can be dealt with later.”
King Tristan looked like he wanted to argue but resisted. Evelyn glared at the King of Gryon.
“Captain Fontaine, show us where the soldiers are,” King Gerard commanded.
“Yes, sir.”
The four of them walked back downstairs. Evelyn started to follow Damien out the front door, but her father stopped her.
“You are not going,” King Tristan said.
“But I’m the one who can see everything!” Evelyn protested.
“It is not safe for you.”
“I’ve already been there!”
“This is not up for discussion!” he roared.
Evelyn flinched, and a flicker of guilt crossed her father’s face.
He never raises his voice at me.
The queen and Hannah reappeared in the entryway.
“Camille,” King Tristan said, only marginally calmer. “Please ensure that my daughters remain inside the palace.”
“Of course,” the queen agreed, her eyes full of questions.
King Tristan stormed out the door with King Gerard.
Damien returned to Evelyn’s side. “We will bring in a Spell Breaker. They have the ability to undo illusions so the rest of us can see the message.”
“Fontaine!” King Gerard yelled.
Damien gave Evelyn an apologetic smile and hurried out the door.
“What’s going on?” Hannah asked.
Evelyn ignored her sister and retreated to her room for a bath. Even though Evelyn hadn’t touched any blood, the metallic scent was stuck in her nose. A cold sweat made her sticky.
How long were the soldiers’ bodies waiting in that shop? Would they have been found if I hadn’t noticed the blood on the door? Who killed them and hid them away? Who is evil enough to rip out eyes and tongues?
Is my family next?