Page 16 of The Mad King and the False Queen

“But…”

She froze.

“...Sabien Renaud is the captain of the Ilusaurian royal guard. Only been there for a few years. A real ass if you ask me, and he’s far too young to be so entitled. I guess he takes after King Claude. Why?”

Goosebumps ran down her arms. She didn’t spare a glance in Aleksy’s direction, afraid her expression may reveal too much.

Shoving aside the fear, she leveled her voice and said plainly, “No reason.”

The king didn’t seem convinced, his head inclining slightly. “If there is something you know that I don’t then I implore you to speak.”

If the Sabien she had stabbed and sent off the bridge to his death was truly the captain of the Ilusaurian royal guard, King Claude would be after her head. She wouldn’t admit to killing Sabien in this room, especially with all these witnesses. She would wait until they found his body—if they even did in the spiraling rapids at the bottom of the ravine. Suddenly she regretted asking the king this question so publicly.

However, Sabien had been in town. People had seen him. She had to tell part of the truth.

Dagmara kept her expression calm. “I saw him at the Wilk Tavern last night. He was arguing with the barkeep.”

“He’s here?” Bogdan questioned. “On Azuremi soil? Why?”

Sabien had explicitly told Dagmara that he was there for the coronation, but there was no reason to confess she had spoken to him. It wasn’t like he would be going to the coronation anyway.

Dagmara shook her head. “I don’t know, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm,” Bogdan mused. He turned to his first knight. “Patrol the town, I don’t want him here. Ask if anyone spoke to him. I don’t care if he came to provoke us or came for a night at the brothel. I want him gone. But don’t think about touching him, I don’t need King Claude to have a reason to attack. We’re walking on thin ice as it is.”

The first knight nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. We will scour the streets until we find him.”

Dagmara swallowed the lump in her throat. She hoped they wouldn’t find him. Maybe when he washed up on shore his body would be too mutilated from the rocks that he wouldn’t be recognizable.

“Thank you,” Bogdan said to Dagmara.

“You’re welcome.”

She turned to go once more, and couldn’t help but meet Aleksy’s gaze for a half-second.

His expression was unwavering, his jaw clenched.

The prince knew.

Hastily, she exited the throne room. Her heart was pumping so fast, she could hear the blood rushing to her temples. The wound from Sabien’s blade still stung underneath her clothing. She had to get back to her room and lie down.

How could she have killed Ilusauri’s Captain of the Royal Guard? Surely she couldn’t have gotten herself into this mess. If anyone found out, would King Bogdan cover for her? Or would she be sold out to the Mad King?

She didn’t have time to reach a conclusion. Someone grabbed her arm and yanked her into the shadows.

CHAPTER 6

Magdalena

“There you are!” Magda shouted. They were tucked away in a side-hallway, deep in the royal wing of the castle. Odie was beside her, and brushed up against Dagmara, his tail wagging happily. Magda was grateful Odie had led her right to her friend.

“I thought you were getting ready for the coronation,” Dagmara replied, reaching down to acknowledge Magda’s pet and gently stroking his fur.

Magda didn’t know where to begin. How could she tell Dagmara she had exhibited Soul magic? Even the thought was impossible. Beyond that, how could she explain to her friend that she wouldn’t be able to display water magic at the upcoming coronation ceremony?

So she said, “I have a huge problem.”

“Add it to the list.” Dagmara sighed, her face paler than usual. She sat down beside Odie, letting out a deep sigh, and proceeded to scratch behind his ear. Odie tilted his head, his tail wagging.

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