Page 95 of Dueling the Suitors

“Oh, Cyrus…” Astoria laid her head lightly on his chest and stroked his cheek with her free hand. His stubble had grown into a faint beard. “I wish you were awake. I… I didn’t think I would ever say this, but I need you. I want you. Please wake up in the morning… Before I go insane…”

Months ago, Astoria was convinced he was going to turn her into an insane madwoman merely by existing in her life. Now she wanted him in order to stay sane herself.

She lay next to him, keeping an arm around him and snuggling into his side. She loved the feeling of being near himand regretted the times she had shut him out whenever he reached out to her. She had been blinded with hatred then.

Before she knew it, Astoria fell asleep. Only to wake up to the feeling of something brushing against her cheek.

For a moment, she thought it was Spyrah. Then she thought it was Cyrus, awake and watching her. It made her smile. She opened her eyes.

The room was still dark, the enchanted candles alight, and her back was to Cyrus. Astoria lifted her head to see what had disturbed her sleep. To her horror, on the pillow was a folded letter.

Astoria blinked her eyes several times to let her vision adjust in the dark before summoning a small glow to her fingertips. A single word was written on the outside.

Answers?

Astoria turned the letter over and saw the same written on the other side, as though the sender thought she hadn’t been reading their notes and didn’t want her to miss this.

Intrigued, Astoria unfolded the letter and was surprised to find it was addressed directly to her this time.

Empress Astoria,

I know you’re desperate for answers about who wishes to assassinate your beloved husband. I have the answers. Why don’t you come and meet me alone on the third floor, south wing, third corridor? You will see ornate double doors at the end. I will be waiting. Just us. Bring no one. Let me see if the Daring Princess of Daliston is only daring in name. You have nothing to be afraid of. You are, after all, the second most powerful to your husband—or should I say, the fourth most, since your brother-in-law and his bodyguard from Windlewade are here.

Sincerely, me.

Astoria’s heart pounded in her chest. The better part of her conscience told her to wake up Rowan so that when she went to the destination, he could lie in wait for the culprit as a surprise and catch him.

But this person was undoubtedly a Mage. Rowan would be no match for him as a non-mage.

Should she wake up Joaquin? But then the General would come along. The last thing she wanted was to face that man again.

The egotistic part of her said she should go and face this alone. The culprit had challenged her, and she wasn’t one to cower from challenges. She was the Daring, Unyielding, Unbeatable Princess of Daliston. Now, she was the Empress of Draken, her husband’s Little Dragon. She would show him what she was capable of, that he was messing with the wrong person.

Decision made, Astoria kissed Cyrus’ forehead.

“I will be back,” she whispered to him and carefully slid off her bed. She arranged her hair and gown, slipped the letter into her pocket, and stole a glance at Skylar, who snored away on the couch, and Spyrah, who was fast asleep on her special bed that Astoria had transported to Cyrus’ room days ago.

Come alone, the person had challenged. And she would go alone.

She slipped out of the room as silently as possible—and froze. Joaquin and General Sean were sleeping on the couches in the sitting room—if they were asleep at all.

If they caught her, she would say she was going to the garden for fresh air. Hopefully, they wouldn’t dare stop her or offer to escort her after what had happened.

She stepped into the sitting room and found the two men snoring away. Holding her breath, she padded across the roomand unlocked the door. She stepped outside and closed the door behind her, releasing a deep breath.

The hallways were empty except for the guards stationed outside the wing. She told them she was going to the garden. They nodded, not quite hiding their surprise. Everyone knew she hadn’t stepped into the garden since Cyrus made it for her.

It was still the only garden on the palace grounds, even after Cyrus told her she could ask the servants to prepare a non-magical garden if she wished. Of course, she did wish for it, but after learningwhyhe didn’t want a garden or even a flower in sight in the first place, she decided against it.

They reminded him of his mother. And she didn’t want a single bloom at the cost of his pain.

Astoria ducked into a dark corner when she heard the sound of boots. When the guard passed, she tiptoed towards the stairs to the third floor, a foreboding feeling falling over her instantly.

Though Cyrus gave her free rein to explore any part of the palace, this was the first time she had stepped up to it. And it would’ve been exciting if she wasn’t going to meet her husband’s attempted assassin in secret.

She wandered towards the south wing, and it seemed like a deserted part of the palace. No sign of anyone living. Why had Cyrus left it like this?

She rounded the third corridor and came to a stop. At the end, illuminated by the light from her palm, were the ornate double doors mentioned in the letter.

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