Page 78 of The Queen's Crown
Rainer cursed. “Is the delegation at the palace?”
“No,” Mika answered as he straightened. “They’ve just started disembarking from their boat.”
“We have to beat them to the palace.” Rainer placed his large hand on the small of Sabine’s back, ushering her down the aisle and toward the doors.
Sabine assumed he was leading her to the bedchamber to consummate their marriage as quickly as possible so they could return to the palace. She tried to mentally prepare herself for what was to come.
Out in the hallway, he said, “I need to find Harta.” He dropped his hand from her back as he strode down the corridor at a brisk pace.
Not knowing what else to do, Sabine hurried after him, trying to keep up.
“Change and get your things. Meet me in the sitting room in ten minutes.” He glanced behind her. “Markis, don’t leave her side. Anton, you’re with me.”
She hadn’t even realized they were being followed. Instead of responding, she turned down the hallway to the left, going to the queen’s bedchamber.Herbedchamber. If they were trying to beat the delegation to the palace, that gave her some time before she had to worry about sharing Rainer’s bed. She took a deep breath, trying to relax.
“What are you doing here?” Sabine asked Markis.
“I came to serve as a witness for the kingdom of Bakley.”
That made sense. She lowered her voice and said, “I didn’t realize you’d swear fealty to me under Lynk’s banner.”
He shrugged. “I’ve already sworn to protect you. It makes no difference to me whether it’s on Lynk or Bakley’s behalf. Besides, I wanted to make the declaration in front of King Rainer. I’m hoping he’ll keep me on a bit longer.”
She remembered Rainer saying something about only letting Markis stay in Lynk until the marriage took place. “While I want you to remain until the assassin has been brought to justice, I know you have family back home.”
They arrived at the bedchamber. “I won’t leave until you’re ready for me to. My loyalty is to you.”
Reaching out, she took his hand and squeezed it. “Thank you.”
In her room, she quickly changed while Markis waited out in the hallway. Not wanting to leave the crown, she shoved it in the bottom of her bag, next to the journal, and then made sure it was covered with her clothing. After cinching the bag closed, she exited the room.
“Are you ready?” Markis asked.
“I need you to do something for me,” she whispered so her voice wouldn’t carry down the corridors. While she didn’t see anyone else close by, she couldn’t risk anyone overhearing.
“Anything.”
She handed him her bag. “Keep hold of this. See that it makes it to my chambers in the palace but put it somewhere out of sight.” She didn’t want Rainer to see it and be tempted to look through it and discover the hidden journal. Since she could be spending the night with him, she needed to take precautions.
He took the bag, slinging the strap over his shoulder. “Is everything all right?”
She nodded.
“When I heard there was an attempt on your life, I ran to see you. But you were already on your way to this location. I didn’t know where you were being taken or with whom. No one could tell me anything.”
Not once had she thought about letting Markis know what was going on. She’d done whatever Rainer said without question. “We’ll have to make sure to rectify that situation for future incidents.”
They began walking. “Let’s hope there aren’t any more. I’ve had about all the excitement I can handle for a lifetime.”
She laughed. “I agree.”
“I need to ask you something,” he said, lowering his voice to a whisper. “Do you know why you married today in a private ceremony instead of as planned in public?”
She quickly reiterated everything Rainer had told her.
Markis ran a hand over his face. “So the king knows who hired an assassin to kill you.” It wasn’t a question.
“He thinks he knows. And he obviously feels I’m still in danger which is why we married. The person has to be in the palace if he’s in Rainer’s inner circle.”
