Page 120 of Kingdom of Crowns and Daggers

“The king, his guard, and his betrothed in my shop, which can’t mean anything good.” He sighs before stepping around the counter. “Are you here to kill me?”

“Not right now,” Alyx replies, pushing her hood back. “We need answers.”

“Well then, come in.” He guides us to the back, locking the door after us and sitting at the square table we surround. “What answers? I have not been part of the palace in a long time.”

“That’s fine.” Alyx looks to us then blows out a breath. “I need to know what you know about the deaths of the Stormhallow family.”

He recoils, looking between us. “Why? It was a fire, a terrible accident.” There is something in his voice that betrays him. Others might have missed it, but not her.

“We both know that’s not true.” She leans forward. “Please, if you know anything, tell me.”

His eyes narrow on her, tracing her features. “You know, their youngest had hair the colour of fire and eyes as green as gems, just like you.”

Alyx says nothing, and Wilhelm rubs his face.

“It’s better not to know, I imagine,” he mumbles before dropping his hand. “It was a fire, but it was no accident. I was ordered not to investigate it, but I did anyway, and it’s one of the reasons I left.”

“Ordered by whom?” she asks.

“The king,” he admits, and I jerk back. “I think he knew the truth and was trying to protect me. The Stormhallows were killed due to their unwavering support of the king. I think whoever was behind it they were clearing the way, isolating him, and he knew it. Knowing that would put me in danger, and I think he was trying to protect me.” He eyes Alyx. “The past is buried and best left there.”

“No, it’s not,” she snaps as she looks at me. “They were killed for supporting your father.” There is so much pain in her voice, and for a moment, I worry she will blame me, but she reaches for my hand.

I kiss the back of it. “I am so sorry, Alyx.”

Our lives just keep getting more and more interconnected. We are both orphans, but as I stare into those green eyes, I know our parents would be proud of us and what we have become.

“Who killed them?” I ask as I glance at Wilhelm.

“Nobodies, hired thugs. They are all gone now, dead to cover their tracks. I do not know who ordered it.”

“I can guess.” Alyx shares a pained look with me. “Queen Mother. It has to be. She killed his supporters, and then she killed the king.”

They say power corrupts, and I know they are right, but staring into the grief-stricken eyes of my love, I wish it didn’t. I wish I could save her from what that venomous woman did to our families.

Is it really better to know?

Staring into her eyes, I am not sure.

Chapter

Sixty-Five

ALYX

Istride through my bedchamber and towards the sitting room, my simple but elegant skirts swishing around my legs as I walk. Today I fancied a change from the stifling dresses I usually wear, and I am in a pale blue skirt and formfitting jacket. A white blouse with frilly cuffs and collar completes the outfit. My fiery hair is pulled back, half up, and a glittering tiara rests atop my head.

“Alyx, stop,” Orion demands from behind me, and I jerk to a stop as his hand catches my wrist, halting my movements.

I immediately scan the area for any threats. With Queen Mother locked away, the assassination attempts should stop, but you can never be too careful. Plus, there was something about his voice that put me on edge. Assured that there is no one in my quarters but us, I let my eyes roam over his face, only to wince as I take in his expression.

I am in trouble.

His shoulders are set, and his jaw is tightly clamped together as he stares down at me. He is angry, but there is something else I cannot quite figure out, which is unusual. I am always able to read Orion. Pulling my wrist from his grip, I hold up both hands in surrender. “Whatever I have done, I?—”

He cuts me off by stepping closer, causing me to bump up against the wall. “You were going to leave without saying anything.”

Ah, that’s what this is all about. It has been two days since the showdown with Queen Mother, and I was wondering if Orion was going to say anything about what happened afterwards. Joha was always going to tell him what happened, and I knew Orion would not take it well. He must have spent the last couple of days stewing on it and has finally decided to confront me.

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