Page 56 of Destiny Redeemed
The corridor opened into an atrium, the waning sunlight casting long shadows across the stone floor. I guided us toward a stone bench nestled between two potted orange trees. My legs still felt wobbly from my extended bed rest, though I’d rather eat glass than admit it.
“Enough about my non-existent love life,” I said, settling onto the bench. Lennox was somewhere close by, but I couldn’t see him. “Why are you practically floating today? I haven’t seen you this cheerful since… well, a long time.”
Her face lit up with such joy that, for a moment, I envied her capacity for uncomplicated happiness. “My father is being released! He’s been absolved of all charges!”
I froze, my blood turning to ice water in my veins. My heart plummeted to my stomach so fast I thought I might be sick. “What?”
“They’re releasing him,” she repeated, seemingly oblivious to my horror. “Today!”
“How?” I managed, my mouth suddenly dry as parchment. “I mean… what did I miss? Did they find new evidence?”
Rosalind tilted her head. “Anderic didn’t tell you?” Her expression softened. “Though I suppose you were on bed rest, so it makes sense he wouldn’t want to burden you with matters of state.”
Matters of state. Right. More like matters that could destroy my entire family.
“When they went back to the Red Cross hideout with more soldiers, they found it mostly abandoned,” she continued, practically vibrating with excitement. “But in their haste to flee, the gang left behind some ledgers. Detailed records of all their dealings.” She clasped her hands together. “They found two entries about people hiring them to frame my father!”
Each word was another nail in my coffin. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, drowning out the ambient sounds of the palace. I felt dizzy. My worst fear was materializing right before my eyes.
“Who?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. “Who hired them?”
“That’s the frustrating part,” Rosalind sighed. “No names were written down. Even the Red Cross wouldn’t be that careless.”
I exhaled slowly, relief washing over me. My father was safe—for now.
“Wait, you said… two entries?” I remembered suddenly, my brain finally catching up.
Rosalind’s smile turned almost predatory, a glint of something dangerous flashing in her eyes. “Yes. Apparently, my father had more enemies than we thought.”
I stared at her, realization dawning like a cold sunrise. My assumption was right. How many people had Magnus Bellrose angered in his time at the Ministry of Revenue? And more importantly—if my father wasn’t the only one plotting against Magnus…
Who else wanted that man dead?
Chapter 14
I stared at my reflection in the mirror of my apartment. I left the palace the very next day after meeting Gareth in the dungeons. To my surprise, Anderic didn’t object to my departure. Instead, he’d assigned five more guards to my detail without a word of explanation. I didn’t know what to make of his cold shoulder treatment. I knew he was angry at me, but I didn’t think it would last this long.
“My lady, hold still.” Laurel’s nimble fingers adjusted the midnight blue fabric at my shoulder. “I need to make sure the seam lies flat.”
The gown was exquisite—the same design Rosalind had worn to the masked winter solstice ball in my previous life. Annalise had outdone herself, dyeing it midnight blue at my request and altering it to fit my frame perfectly. The bodice hugged my waist before cascading into a full skirt embroidered with silver thread that caught the light like stars in a night sky.
More importantly, it contained a hidden pocket, perfectly sized for the dagger Anderic had given me. The weight of it against my thigh was oddly comforting.
God knows I might need it today.
I had planned for the prison break today. The plan was in motion. I hoped everything went accordingly.
“You look beautiful, my lady.” Laurel stepped back, admiring her work.
“Beautiful enough to distract prison guards?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Beautiful enough to distract a prince,” she countered with a knowing smile.
That brought me back to the night I’d confessed my plans to her. I’d expected shock, horror, perhaps even resistance. Instead…
“I need to help Gareth escape,” I had whispered into the darkness of my room in the palace.
Laurel hadn’t even looked up from folding my clothes. “When do we do it, and what do you need me to do?”
