Page 38 of Furever Loyal
“Treason.”
Haley cursed. They had come back to the manor to report in on what they’d found, to discuss the next steps with the Queen. Instead, Kincaid was getting himself arrested, putting any hope of proving his innocence in extreme jeopardy.
“I’m sorry, Haley,” Kincaid said, barely able to constrain his anger as the other anonymous men stepped in close, clearly there to act as an escort in case he tried anything violent. “I’ll figure this out. Please, go talk to the Queen. Then come find me. I assume I’ll get a fair trial.”
Kvoss flicked a finger at her. “You two, escort Miss Menard to the Throne Room.”
The two indicated detached themselves from Kincaid’s group and came over to flank her. Neither said a word, but she got the idea that trying to do anything but go with them would be bad.
“Miss Menard,” Kvoss said politely. “If you would be so kind as to remain our guest for a while, we would appreciate it.”
“Kvoss! What the hell do you think you’re doing? Let her go. You have no authority over her.”
Kvoss motioned for the men with him to follow, and he headed inside.
This was the second time in forty-eight hours that Haley had been inside the massive main hallway of the manor, but this time, she didn’t feel like an honored guest. This time, she felt like a prisoner. There was no wait at the Throne Room doors either. She was ushered inside, along with Kincaid, and the massive metal panels now swung closed behind them with a ringing finality.
Kvoss walked across the open floor and to the raised stone dais at the back, taking a seat. All of a sudden, Haley recalled she’d seen him there the first time she’d come to this chamber. Whoever he was, he held some actual authority within the House.
“Kincaid. Miss Menard.” The Queen spoke in slow, measured tones, inclining her head ever so slightly at Haley while remaining dispassionately neutral toward Kincaid.
“Why am I here?” she asked, surprising herself by the boldness of her speaking without being addressed. Around her, the guards shuffled uneasily as well.
Good. Just because they happen to act like some sort of aristocratic tribe from five hundred years ago, does not mean that I must. They don’t know I am aware of their secret, and thus they have no actual power over me. So, damn their rules.
“You are here,” Kvoss said, speaking up. “Because you are charged with aiding and abetting Kincaid in his treason against House Ursa.”
Haley sputtered and protested, trying to form a coherent argument, but the surprise was too great. Her, a traitor? And charged how? These were not men of the law. They could not do this to her! Looking around at the size of the men, she wondered if they would listen if she said she was walking out of there or calling the police.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she snapped. “I am simply an accountant. I—” She had been about to tell Kvoss and the other assembled nobles—or whatever they thought of themselves—that she had been under the orders of the Queen, but a strange glance from Kaelyn quelled that last protest.
Her eyebrows narrowed. Was the Queen…pleading with her? Begging her not to speak, not to reveal that she’d already been in contact and had essentially ordered Haley to assist, or else she would lose her job? Why would she want her to refrain from saying that now?
Obviously, the queen was hiding things from the others in the court. House. Or, whatever the hell the right term was, she thought, angrily.
Of course. If the others found out that the Queen already knew about this, then she would be in a world of trouble as well. Her position must not be all that secure if she cannot simply overrule the others.
Haley wondered why she should aid the Queen if the Queen wasn’t willing to aid her? This was wrong on so many levels, but there was no way for her to protest, to reach out to the proper authorities. She still had a cell phone in her pocket but going for it now would result in them taking it away.
Her eyes strayed to the men standing just behind the Queen, and the blades they had strapped to their hips. Blades that, to her untrained eye at least, looked to be sharp and practical, not just for show.
The more she truly looked, the more Haley began noticing just how dangerous of a situation she was in. These men obviously took everything extremely seriously. The fact they hadn’t seemed to hesitate in taking her, a human, into custody, without pretending to be real law enforcement in any way, showed they simply didn’t care. They could get away with whatever they wanted. She had to be careful before things got worse.
“Very well,” the Queen said eventually, after deliberating the words. “The evidence has already been presented to me. I find I must agree. Guards, please take Miss Menard out. Keep in mind she isnotto be harmed. Do I make myself clear?”
The two men on either side of her snapped to attention so fast she jerked in surprise. “Understood, my Queen.” One of them looked at her. “Miss Menard, follow me.”
It was a command, not a request.
Haley looked over at Kincaid, her eyes pleading with him to do something. The last thing she wanted was to be separated from him, taken to who knew where in a House the size of a castle, with hundreds of huge shapeshifters standing between her and freedom.
But she couldn’t see him, the cordon of guards blocking her view as she was led from the room. Although she’d not really maintained hope, the guards didn’t take her back down the main hallway to the car and set her free. Instead, they escorted her through a maze of hallways that quickly had her lost, until they descended several levels into an area where the walls were made of stone, and the warmth of the rooms above had faded several degrees.
Then they efficiently frisked her, removed her cell phone, purse and keys, before showing her into what could only be called a prison cell. Thick metal bars lined two of the walls, the front, and one side, with stone to her left and across the back. There was a small cot, an exposed toilet, and nothing more.
“Luxury living,” she said bitterly, sitting uneasily on the bed.
Until recently, her greatest fear had been screwing up so badly she’d lose House Ursa as a client. Her only client. With the reality of her situation sinking in, she knew things were now worse.
