Page 62 of The Forgotten Queen
“Is there anything King Marx can do to help?” Kase asked.
He shook his head. “Right now, the only thing that can help is the medicine I left with Sydria. She must continue to take that for her heart. She suffered a significant puncture to her aorta. The medicine keeps her heart pumping and prevents blood clots.”
Edmay walked out of the cottage holding her last suitcase. She stopped when she saw the guard and shot a concerned look at Von, but if they found any trouble, he would only be saving himself.
“If that’s all the questions you have, we’ve got to get on the road. We have a long journey ahead of us.”
“Sure,” Kase said, stepping back from the wagon. “Do you have any intention of staying in touch with Sydria?”
“Of course. She’s our niece,” Von snapped, eager to leave.
“But just in case we need to get a hold of you, if Queen Sydria has a medical emergency or something, where will you be staying?” Kase asked.
“We’re going west for a few weeks to Calicristole.” His face twitched, and he wondered how good this guard was. Could he tell that Von had told another lie?
The guard smiled, the kind of smile that said he was trained in lie detection. “Enjoy your trip.” He turned and walked to his personal transporter parked to the side of the cottage.
Dust swirled into the air as he sped away.
“What was that about?” Edmay asked as she stepped closer.
“King Marx is on to us.” Von quickly put the suitcase on top of his medicine box and closed the bench seat, looking at his nurse. “We need to get out of here immediately.”
19
Sydria
Sydria waited in the open-air suspended hallway for King Marx to escort her to the newswriter’s interview. When she’d first arrived, she’d thought the outdoor hallway was strange, but the longer she lived there, the more she loved the unique features of Cristole Castle.
She watched a red bird pick at a leaf on a tree, wishing the meeting with the newswriter was already over, but it hadn’t even started yet. Her body temperature rose. She should probably walk back inside, get out of the summer heat, but the sound of the waves down below comforted her thrumming heart.
Maybe the interview wouldn’t be so bad with Marx by her side. Lately, he seemed to make everything better.
She turned to the sound of footsteps approaching.
“Sorry I’m late,” Marx said, joining her in the middle of the bridge.
“I’m getting used to it.”
He reached out to her like he might kiss her cheek. Their heads tilted back and forth for a moment, neither one of them sure which direction they should go, until he settled on an awkward arm squeeze.
Sydria hoped they wouldn’t be that awkward in front of the newswriter.
Marx looked out over the garden to the ocean. “You know, this outdoor hallway is my favorite part of Cristole Castle.”
“I like it too.”
He smirked. “I always thought it would be a great place to kiss a beautiful woman.”
A puff of air broke through her lips. “Uh…”
“Don’t worry. I wasn’t talking about right now. We can’t even get a simple kiss on the cheek right.”
She laughed, grateful for the way he eased the tension between them.
“Shall we?”he asked, offering her his arm the way he always did.
Sydria slipped her hand through, walking with him. She liked the way the side of his body pressed against hers as they moved together.
