Page 93 of The Royal Throne
“Well,” she said, stepping closer to him, “as your queen, I command you to answer me.”
“I’m sorry, I cannot.” He moved to step around her.
“Captain Drew,” Sabine said, waving him forward. “Arrest Captain Higman for insubordination.”
“My pleasure, Your Majesty.”
Higman held up his hands. “I don’t have time for this. If you need information, discuss the matter with the king.” He stepped around her and went into the tunnel.
“Let him go,” Sabine murmured, rubbing the sides of her forehead, a headache forming. “Captain Drew, please find out what’s going on.”
He nodded.
Sabine headed to the training area. Two of her guards began working with her on basic hand-to-hand combat techniques. They focused on what to do if someone came at her and put her in a chokehold.
About thirty minutes later, Drew returned with Evander in tow.
“What’s going on?” she asked, looking between the two of them.
Evander finally answered. “Your husband sent the army south to the border. There are only a handful of officers left. Once my wedding to Lottie takes place tomorrow, Rainer and the officers are heading south to declare war.”
Her time was up. If she was going to do something to stop this war, it had to be today.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sabine couldn’t stand there in the middle of the training facility having this conversation with Evander. The empty room allowed their voices to carry and anyone could be lurking nearby. Just because the army was gone, didn’t mean that all threats were.
“I am going to visit Harta.” Sabine inclined her head to the side and Evander nodded, following her. They went to the corridor leading to the dog kennels. “What’s your plan?”
“I’m going to marry Lottie tomorrow and return to Avoni. Once I’m home, I’ll discuss the matter with my king.”
In other words, his hands were tied. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have referred to his father as the king. The other part, the part about Lottie, she tried not to think about it. She’d just pretend it wasn’t happening.
“Do you have anything to say?” he asked as they stopped before the closed door.
“No. I don’t have a plan yet.” Neither to stop the war nor the wedding. She threw open the door, irritated that a woman she despised, who’d ordered her sister’s death, got to marry the man she loved. It wasn’t fair. And since her plan to end Rainer had failed, her hopes for stopping the war were rapidly diminishing. She had no idea if Rainer would honor his promise to protect her family or not.
Stepping into the kennels, she found them empty. “Where are the dogs?” She peered over her shoulder at Drew who remained at the threshold.
“I don’t know,” he answered. “But if I had to guess, I’d say with the army.”
Without saying a word, she hurried to the door at the end, opening it and peering inside. She cursed. Most of the boats were gone.
“What is it?” Evander asked, trying to see around her.
“Captain Drew is right,” she whispered, unable to imagine Harta with the soldiers, preparing for war.
“Drew—I need a minute alone with the queen.” Without waiting for a response, Evander gently pushed her into the lava tube, closing the door behind them.
“What are you doing?” Only a single torch hung on the wall, casting the area in dark shadows.
Evander shoved Sabine against the wall, his mouth suddenly on hers, demanding. Warmth flooded her. She grabbed his waist, pulling his body flush with hers. His tongue slid into her mouth. Then it changed. He moved slower. His hands came up, cupping her face as his lips moved over hers. When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers, his breathing fast.
“Evander?” she asked, wanting to know why he’d kissed her.
He didn’t say anything, he just kept looking at her.
And that was when she realized this was a goodbye kiss. She shook her head. “You can’t leave.” Not with Lottie. Not with a war on the horizon. And not with her heart. “Stay here and help me stop this war.” She wanted him to choose her which was selfish considering she’d chosen Lynk over him.
