Page 26 of The Royal Throne
“Claire told me her parents and sisters work in the palace. Is Claire mistaken?” She dared Rainer to say Heather was his lover. It was one thing for him to take Heather to his bed discretely, it was another matter entirely to parade her in front of the family and the court. She refused to be embarrassed like that.
“Heather is here as my guest,” he replied, his knuckles turning white as he clutched his fork in his hand.
“Oh, I didn’t realize we had guests. Please forgive me.” Sabine turned her attention to Heather. “I assume your husband is here as well?” She smiled at the woman, wanting to put her on the spot and either embarrass her or make her leave. It was petty, but she didn’t care. Her pride had been injured, and she wanted to make Heather hurt the way she hurt.
“He is, but he’s working,” Heather said, an eyebrow raised as she glared at Sabine.
“He’s working,” Sabine said, “but you’re not?” She placed a single finger on her lips as if contemplating this.
Heather rolled her eyes. “Yes,” she said, a bit too forcefully.
Sabine had to bite back her smile. She was finally getting under Heather’s skin. “Is your husband working here in the palace?”
Heather set her fork down and turned to face Sabine. “He’s at the military compound,” she said, the words edged with anger. “Do you have any other questions? Or can I finally eat my breakfast in peace?”
Sabine opened her mouth to respond when Rainer said, “Enough with the questions.”
Shock rolled through her that Rainer was defending Heather so openly. It made her want to chuck a blueberry at him, but she refrained from doing so. Now that she knew where Cutler was, she had more pressing matters to attend to. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said, standing slowly.
Rainer’s eyes scanned her body, taking in every inch of her.
Sabine walked over to him and leaned down, placing a kiss on his cheek as her fingers trailed along the back of his neck. “Welcome home,” she purred in his ear. As she stood, her breast brushed his arm. He stiffened. She smiled and strutted from the room knowing every single set of eyes watched her retreating form.
“She’s quite stunning, isn’t she brother?” Axel said. “Every man at court is jealous of you, including me. Anyone would be lucky to have someone so beautiful. You truly are a lucky king.”
Sabine had moved too far down the hallway to hear Rainer’s response—if he even had one.
Her hands shook, so she curled her fingers into two fists, refusing to let anyone see how much this incident had upset her.
“Where to, Your Majesty?” Drew asked, coming to her side as they headed along the corridor.
Unable to look at him for fear she’d see pity in his eyes, she simply replied, “The military training center.” She headed toward the palace’s main entrance.
“There’s another, much easier way,” Drew said. “It’s the path the royal family uses.”
She recalled hearing there was another way. “By all means.” She gestured for him to show her.
He led her back the way they’d come from and to a corridor she’d never ventured in before. At a nondescript door, Drew unlocked it, pulling it open for her.
Sabine stepped onto a platform about ten feet by ten feet. To the right, a wooden staircase spiraled downward so far she couldn’t see where it ended. Clutching the railing, she descended until she reached the bottom, where a long, tube-shaped tunnel stretched straight ahead, lit by torches. The air had turned cold. This underground tunnel must lead to the cavern used by the army for training.
Drew joined her, leading the way, until they reached a locked door. He pulled out a key.
“Why don’t I have a key?” she asked. If this way was used by the royal family, she should have access to it.
He pursed his lips. “I don’t know. You’ll have to speak to the king regarding that matter.”
“Do all the guards have one?”
“No,” Drew replied. “Only those of us with clearance. Since I’ve been appointed as the head of your personal guard, I was given a key.” He pushed the door open.
Sabine stepped inside the military cavern where dozens and dozens of soldiers were training. As people noticed her, they began to bow. “Please carry on,” she said, not wanting to interrupt them.
Drew stepped to her side. “Are you wanting to train? Observe?”
She looked at him sidelong. “I wish to have a word with Captain Cutler.” She feared she would see judgment on his face. However, he simply nodded. “This way.” He led her along the side of the cavern, skirting around those training.
They passed a tunnel on the right where she heard dogs barking. She recalled Lottie saying they trained dogs here and that was where Harta had come from. Sabine would have to visit the kennels later.
