Page 75 of The Royal Throne
“Why?”
Shrugging, she replied, “Who knows how the mind of an assassin works.” Thoughts of Evander surfaced. Even though she’d only spent a short amount of time with the Avoni prince, she felt like she knew him, and he seemed normal—not at all like the man she’d met in the dungeon. That man had goaded her and had reveled in it. “I honestly think he wanted to scare me in order to make his assignment more exciting for him.”
“Assignment?”
“He’s clearly a trained assassin.” Felix had to know that.
The commander stood and folded his arms. “How do you know he’s an assassin?” Felix asked. “I mean, I agree with you. He’s killed dozens of my soldiers. But how do you know? Are you guessing or is there more to it that you’re not telling me?”
Even though Felix had been loyal to her, helped her, and kept her alive, it felt wrong to tell him about the Avoni assassin guilds’ tattoos. “It’s just a feeling,” she lied. “I don’t have any proof.”
He nodded. “At least he’s in the dungeon where he can’t kill anyone else.”
“About that,” Sabine said. Based on what the man had said, there was only one possible reason why an assassin of that skill level had been captured in the first place. “I think he wanted to be arrested and brought here.” They’d been stupid to bring an Avoni assassin into the palace, even if he was locked in the dungeon.
“That may be the case, but he can’t get out of his cell.” He began to pace.
Sabine wasn’t so sure about that. While the dungeon had seemed secure, Avoni assassins were well trained. “I think we should increase security in the dungeon. Just in case.”
The door to Sabine’s room opened, and Rainer strode inside. “Commander Felix,” he said by way of greeting. “I didn’t know you were here. With the queen.” He stopped under the arch to the balcony, his focus on his commander.
“Your Majesty,” Felix said. “I was debriefing the queen. Now that I’m done, shall I debrief her guards as well? Or do you want to have Captain Lithane handle that?”
“Why do you feel the queen needs to be debriefed about something she was at?” Rainer asked.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty,” Felix replied. “I was explaining to the queen that Princess Lottie has been found innocent and that the trial is over. The paperwork has been completed but requires the queen’s signature since she brought forth the charges.”
Sabine had to force herself to remain calm. Rainer had outsmarted and outplayed her. “I’ll come by to sign everything.”
Felix gave a quick bow before leaving the room without so much as a backward glance. Sabine couldn’t believe how smoothly he’d just lied.
Drew stepped inside her room, standing next to the door. His presence gave her a measure of security, though she knew there wasn’t much he could do to protect her from Rainer. She had to trust the threat of another riot would be enough to taper the king’s temper.
“I often forget that you’re still a child,” Rainer said. “You’re only eighteen and have no knowledge or experience of the world. Especially given your pampered upbringing.”
The comment stung. However, she would play along if it kept her safe and Rainer’s temper in check.
He clasped his hands behind his back as he came out onto the balcony, heading over to the railing and gazing out at the mountains. “Your actions have caused me a lot of trouble.” When she didn’t respond, he turned to face her, leaning against the railing. “You have a job,” he went on. “You’re my wife. While you are the queen of Lynk, that is a title, a name, and not a position which requires you to do anything. You will remain here, in this palace. You will not leave it. You will have my child so I can maintain my throne. Once I have an heir, then we will discuss your situation.”
So many parts of what he said grated on her nerves. He couldn’t expect her to remain in the palace, never leaving it, just so she wouldn’t cause him any trouble. It was preposterous. Knowing she couldn’t question him about any of that right now, she honed in on the last thing he’d said. “My situation?”
“Yes, your situation. That is, if you’ll remain here in Lynk or return to live with your parents.”
She hadn’t even considered the possibility. “And what of our child?” If they had a child together, she wouldn’t be able to abandon him or her.
“Our child—my heir—will remain here with me. You and I will be married in name only. Unless things change between us, which I don’t see happening.”
Now that Rainer wasn’t going to be executed for Lottie’s crimes, Sabine needed another plan to stop the war. She never should have let herself hope because now that spark was dead. The obstacles ahead of her seemed insurmountable. “If you start a war against the other kingdoms, I might not have a home to return to.” She sat there, petting Harta.
“Your family will remain safe. I promised you their safety, and I honor my promises.”
That statement almost made her laugh. However, she kept her face neutral, not wanting her true feelings to show. “Thank you.” It was all she could muster. If she failed to stop the war, she prayed Rainer wouldn’t end her family. They didn’t deserve to die for her failures.
He pushed off the railing, coming to stand before her. “You will join me for supper this evening. You need to apologize to Axel and Lottie for having them arrested last night.”
The mere thought of apologizing to Lottie irritated Sabine. She didn’t know if she could physically do it.
Rainer watched her for another minute before he reached out toward her neck. She jerked backward, not wanting him to touch her. “You bruise easily,” he said, as if that explained the marks on her neck. He turned and let himself out, not bothering to apologize for trying to strangle her.
