Page 32 of The Dragon's Captured Heart
We said parting words then stepped out of the sovereign’s bubble as they continued on. I watched them go around the corner and was about ready to return to my quarters.
But Madison was blocking my way.
“What was that?” she asked, crossing her arms and making it clear I wasn’t getting by her until I’d answered her question.
I lifted an eyebrow, inviting her to elaborate.
“You acted like we’d actually been conducting the investigation. The sovereign thinks you’re working on it. But we haven’t done anything yet,” she said.
“I know.” I clenched and unclenched my jaw, taking a breath. “It’s weird, okay?”
“How is it weird?”
“Because it’s been two years!”
“And whoever did it is still out there,” she countered.
“I’m well aware of that, Maddie,” I said.
“No.” She held up a finger. “You don’t get to call me that. Not if you’re going to sit around like this and pretend you’re doing something you aren’t.”
I glared at her.
“Are you telling me you have no ideas? Nothing at all that springs to mind now that you know she was murdered in cold blood?”
“No,” I said firmly. “Nothing.”
“So, she was well-liked?”
“Loved.”
“No enemies made over the years?”
“None.”
“What about people who were jealous of her?”
“Nobody,” I said, sighing. “Madison, I’m serious. Noa was great. Everyone liked her. She didn’t step on anyone’s toes, didn’t piss anyone off. She wanted to be everyone’s friend, and in most cases, she was.”
“Most cases?”
“It’s impossible to form friendships with every single person. There isn’t enough time in the day. But anyone she wasn’t a friend with, she was still liked by. I never saw her argue with anyone. Ever.”
“Well,someonedidn’t like her. We have proof of that. It’s not a hypothetical. It’s real. Which means shedidhave an enemy. We just have to find out who.”
“I’ve thought about all this,” I pointed out. “I’ve gone over it all before. There’s nothing.”
“Well, go over it with me,” she said. “Maybe I can see it from a different perspective.”
I sighed. “Fine. If it makes you happy, I’ll summon the two guards who found her body that day, and you can question them. Okay?”
“Please stop acting like an asshole. I’m trying to help.”
I fought back the hot spike of rage that drilled into my skull. It wasn’t Madison’s fault that she didn’t understand. She was right. Her efforts were trying to help. How was she supposed to know nothing would change from the first dozen times I’d questioned them?
Sighing deep and long, I released that anger. After all, for Noa’s sake, I should let Madison talk to them. It was technically not impossible that she might see, ask, or notice something I’d missed. Extremely unlikely. But not impossible.
“Okay,” I said. “You’re right. I apologize. But please recognize this isn’t an easy subject for me. I don’t enjoy reliving that day or hearing about her lifeless body.”
