CHAPTER 30
Katy
H
er cousin relaxed his hard “Kaspar” expression and dropped his fake accent.
“He’s careful with his records. I haven’t found anything that clearly connects him with the attack on us last year.
However, I can confirm that he is a magic-user: fire and some mind magic.
We can’t arrest him for it, but at least we know to be careful.
” Gently prodding the bruising skin around his nose, he flicked his eyes to Axel.
“Do you have the magic-canceling cuffs yet?”
Katy lowered herself onto the cot next to Otto and wrapped him in a tight hug. He put an arm around her shoulders, returning the squeeze.
“No.” Setting his hands on his hips, Axel paced the length of the short room and sighed. “According to King Fidel’s last letter, they should arrive in a couple of weeks.”
Otto pursed his lips. “I wish you already had them; it will ruin everything if we make plans and they don’t arrive in time.
” Patting Katy on the shoulder, he pushed himself off the cot and joined Axel.
“I’ve convinced him that my friends among the guard will help him access the royal vault, given the right distraction.
I’ve been hinting that your birthday ball would be a good time to make our move. ”
“So it is something in the vault that he’s after?” Leaning back on her elbows, Katy arched her back to give the baby more room. “The man we arrested at Midwinter didn’t know much.”
He nodded. “There’s a special dragon that he wants. He thought controlling the next heir would give him access. Since you outmaneuvered him in that bid, he’s decided to take the risk of acquiring it himself.”
“Another dragon?” Axel replied lightly. He pulled the corners of his lips in. “Does he think amassing dragons will give him control of the dragon warrior throne?”
“I don’t know that part. But he’s getting impatient.” Rubbing his nose, Otto added, “And I think you’ve proved that accosting Kat will provide a suitable distraction.”
~
They couldn’t stay in the infirmary for the entire council; Otto was concerned Lord Ulrich might grow suspicious. So once their plans were complete, Katy was saying farewell again.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this color.” She gave her cousin a lopsided grin, trying to ease the tension of parting.
He snorted. “I’ll be glad to be done with it. Dying my hair is bad enough; dying a toddler’s is a royal mess.”
“I feel like I should take offense to that,” Axel interjected mildly. “Being royal, as I am. Why color sweet Greta’s hair as well?”
“Britta was concerned someone would recognize one of us, so we all have dark hair until this mission is finished.” Otto shrugged. “It’s a sensible precaution.”
As he reached for the door, Axel turned back with a sober look on his face. “I cannot sufficiently express how much I appreciate you doing this, Otto. The sacrifices—”
“It’s no more than one of your father’s spies would do,” the guard interrupted, waving him off. “You told me once that I was in the wrong profession as the guard at a side gate; you should be pleased that you found a better role for me.”
“Why must you be as practical as your cousin?” Sighing, Axel opened the door and stepped through. “Come, Kaspar; I believe you have recovered enough. We must return you to your master before he begins to worry.”
After leaving Otto at the front door of the council room, Axel and Katy slipped back into the anteroom.
They had agreed that Axel should return to the meeting to assure the members of the council that Lord Ulrich’s assistant was fine.
It would also assure the nobleman that his trusted servant had not spent the entire council meeting conferring with the prince.
The low rumble of voices carried through the door. Katy took a step toward it, but Axel hung back. “Is something wrong?” she asked.
Pulling her close, he wrapped one arm around her waist and rested his other hand on her stomach.
“Just thinking. This could all be over in a matter of weeks. If we detain Lord Ulrich at my birthday ball, and he gives us the means to capture his accomplice, we can force Fabian to change the deal.” He leaned his forehead against hers.
“We’ll be safe from Lord Ulrich. Helena won’t be under pressure to marry in a few months. And our child will be safe.”
“Do you think the plan will work?” Snuggling into him, she added, “Even if we succeed in bringing down Lord Ulrich, freeing me from my deal with Fabian seems pretty impossible.”
His arm tightened around her. “There must be something he wants. Or there will be, once we have a pair of magic-canceling cuffs on his wrists.”
Katy had her doubts about how easy it would be. As for what Fabian wanted... She’d begged him for an alternative before. He had claimed that the deal was set. Since he must know it could change, that must mean he didn’t want it to.
Besides, what could a man who had asked for her firstborn child possibly accept in exchange that wouldn’t be far worse?