Page 69 of The Rook

A child’s sob broke through her panic.

Tempest slowed and frowned. At first, she thought she must’ve imagined it because that was exactly what she wanted to do, but no. The crying grew louder as she moved deeper into the castle, the sound full of genuine grief and sadness.

She rounded the next corner and spotted a small form leaning heavily against the wall, gasping for air, barely able to stand.

Princess Ansette.

Her face was puffy and red, though beneath that, her pallor was pale and sickly. Her shoulders were shaking.

“Ansette,” Tempest said gently, taking careful steps toward the princess with a hand slightly outstretched. “Oh, lass, what can I do?”

The girl hiccupped and waved a hand at her but said nothing, tears streaming down her face.

Tempest approached her like a cornered animal and placed a hesitant hand on the girl’s shoulder. “I was with your brother when he died, though I was too late to save him. I am so, so sorry. I tried my best.” The last part was a whisper.

Ansette’s sobs slowed to hiccups and then, finally, to long deep breaths. The silence was drawn-out, but it was better than the heartbreaking sobs. Eventually, the girl turned her turbulent gaze on Tempest and spoke.

“I suppose one member of the family dies, and another takestheir place,” Ansette said, her voice cold and hard. She glared at Tempest. “Welcome to the family, I guess.”

Tempest seized the royal’s hand, trying to make the princess feel like she wasn’t so alone. “And family we shall be. Your grief is mine. Your happiness, mine as well.”

Ansette’s eyes widened, and a fresh wave of tears ran down her face. She shook her head. “Run, Tempest.” She spoke so softly Tempest hardly heard her. “Run,” she repeated. “You need to get out of here. If you stay, you’ll die just like my mother did, and all of my father’s mistresses. You shouldn’t die for him. You’re too good for that.”

Tempest stiffened. The string of deaths had been suspicious, but the murder of the queen… if that were proved true… “I can't just leave,” she replied, her smile wobbly. “I have too much to do.” There wasn’t any other choice. And, looking at Ansette, she knew she couldn’t leave the girl alone with the devil ruling the throne. Who knew what he’d do with his mouthy, opinionated daughter?

Ansette wiped her face with the skirt of her dress. She looked so pitiful that Tempest wanted to hug her, but something told her that she shouldn’t. The girl wasn’t ready for it. Perhaps not ever.

“I will do what I can for the people of Heimserya,” Tempest murmured instead, “and for those who live farther out. I’ve never had any aspirations to become queen, but at least it will afford me this much.”

“I hope you live long enough to see that come to fruition.”

So did she.

Tempest bowed and then turned on her heel, her mind reeling. Her grief felt wrong compared to the princess’s.Tempest had not just lost her brother. Nor did she have a murderer for a father.

But you will have one for a husband.

She swallowed hard. If she wasn’t careful, she’d become the king’s next victim.

THIRTY-ONE

Tempest

A few minutes into her journey from the barracks, a heavy hand fell on Tempest’s shoulder, roughly pulling on her. She stopped in her tracks, ready to punch whoever it was in the face for getting in her way. Spinning, she shrugged off the hand and blinked as she came face to chest with Maxim. He reached for her arm, and she jerked back.

“Leave me,” she said, voice icy. The Hounds were all working for the king. They did his bidding without protest. Mindless killers. She loved her uncles, but they had sworn an oath just like she had. The Crown came first, as it should. She wasn’t beholden to them, even if they’d raised her. “Leave me alone.”

“There are soldiers looking for you, back at the barracks. I do not think you will find peace there.” A pained expression crossed Maxim’s face. “What were you thinking? You will betaken back to the palace and watched every second for the rest of your life.”

“What do you propose I do?” she exclaimed, feeling trapped and panicked by her ever-shrinking options. Tempest drooped her head, feeling useless. “What am I supposed to do?”

“You can follow me.”

For a moment, Tempest didn’t know what to do. Trust didn’t come easy these days. Could she trust any of her uncles? They had clearly been part of the reason mimkia had spread. They were guilty through and through, whether they knew exactly what they had been doing or not. Even so, she didn’t doubt they loved her, but was that enough for them to betray their king? She peered up at Maxim, scrutinizing him. He’d never lied to her before, and true concern colored his expression.

“Make a decision now, lass,” he said softly. “There isn’t much time.”

“All right,” she whispered. “Lead the way.”

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