Page 95 of The Royal Throne
Relief filled his face as he gathered his instruments and left.
Someone needed to inform Heather’s parents. “Claire, your parents should know what happened. They’ll probably want to be here. I think you’re the best one to deliver the news.” And Claire needed to get out of here before she passed out.
Nodding, Claire set the dead baby on the bed next to Heather before rushing out of the room.
Sabine went over to Cutler, rubbing his back. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured to him. Then to Rainer. “I think Captain Cutler deserves a few minutes alone with his wife to say his goodbyes.”
“You don’t tell me what to do,” Rainer snarled. “He shouldn’t even be here.”
“Neither should you. Heather is not your wife.” She could feel, rather than see, the guards tense behind her.
“The baby is mine.” He pointed to his dead child.
Her words had been too harsh—she’d need to rein in her temper. “I’m sorry,” she said. “You’re right.” She rubbed her temples, a headache starting.
“This is your fault,” Rainer said to Cutler. “You did this to her.”
Cutler raised his head, looking at the king. “I neither got her pregnant nor insisted she travel in her condition to the palace. If you’d just left her alone, she’d be at my home and she’d be alive. If anyone is to blame, it’s you.”
Though Sabine agreed with him, she didn’t say it. Continuing to rub Cutler’s back, she tried to soothe and comfort him.
Rainer started to come toward Cutler. Sabine moved to cut him off. “Let’s give him a minute alone,” Sabine said to the king. “Then you can come in and say your goodbyes.”
“I shouldn’t have to bury another person that I love! My mother, my father, and now Heather?” He gripped his hair in anguish.
Sabine almost felt bad for him. “I know, it’s not fair.” She wanted to try to calm Rainer down so he didn’t lash out and hurt someone. His temper felt like a volcano that would erupt at any moment.
“No, it’s not fair,” he sneered. “I should have been able to marry Heather.” With his hands on his hips, he began pacing again. “I will destroy the League.” He glanced at the dead bodies. “Even if it’s the last thing I do, the League will end. I will make the rules. I won’t bend to someone’s will ever again.” He stormed from the room.
Shock filled Sabine.
“Your Majesty?” Drew asked, coming to her side.
“Please have someone get Lady Regina. She needs to be here for her son.”
Rainer’s scream echoed through the palace, making Sabine jump.
She exited from the room, wanting to give Cutler privacy. “Keep an eye on him,” she ordered the guards stationed there. Needing to get away from the smell and the sight of Heather, the baby, and the blood, she left that wing of the palace. Her hands began shaking.
Given Rainer’s state of mind, and knowing he intended to head south tomorrow to join his army to start a war, Sabine had an opportunity to do something to stop him. She just had to figure out what. “Captain Drew.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Have someone apprise Prince Anton, Prince Axel, and Prince Evander of the situation. Tell them I want to speak with them immediately. I’ll be in the library.”
He instructed one of her guards to convey the message.
She made her way to the library, trying to come up with a plan. By the time she got there, she still hadn’t thought of a single feasible idea. Sitting at the table near the window, irritation filled her. She’d never learned about battles, strategies, or any such things. Those had been reserved for her brothers. The lack in her education was affecting her ability to lead the people of Lynk. Even though her parents hadn’t thought she’d sit on the throne, they should have given her the same opportunities to learn as her siblings had.
The sun shifted across the sky, and still she sat there waiting. It felt as if too much time had passed. One of the three princes should be here by now.
A guard Sabine didn’t recognize approached, speaking with Drew. After a minute, he left.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
Drew pursed his lips. “I’ve just been informed that Princess Lottie and several other officers are dead.”
She blinked, trying to comprehend what he’d just said, struggling to wrap her brain around this information. “What happened?”
