Page 64 of The King's Sword
“Let me put this another way,” she said. “When I was in Bakley, living with my family, I was one person. I’d never traveled or been on my own. I was a little spoiled. I was a flirt. Then my sister died, and I went to Lynk. I changed. I had no choice but to become the person I needed to be to survive. You can’t tell me you’re so old and wise as to know exactly who you are and what you’re supposed to do all the time.”
The corners of his lips pulled into a smile, and the lines around his eyes softened. “No, I suppose not.” He squeezed her hand then released it.
Sabine wasn’t sure what exactly was going on between them, but she had a feeling their friendship was teetering on something undefined. She needed to diffuse whatever was building between them. “Good. I’m glad you don’t think yourself overly wise,” she teased, nudging him.
He chuckled, the sound like honey.
“Now let’s figure out what we’re going to do about this assassin. Your mother wishes for me to leave within the week, and I think that wise. We can’t have rumors spreading about our friendship. I’m sure my husband would be insanely jealous to learn I’m consorting with his enemy.”
“Enemy?” he said, his brows raised. “I’m going to be your brother-in-law.”
His words repeated over and over in her mind. The thought of him marrying Lottie didn’t sit well with her. And Sabine didn’t want Evander to be related to her that way. It felt wrong.
ChapterTen
Sabine silently followed Evander from her room. As he led her through the compound, she didn’t pay attention to where they were going since she was lost in her thoughts. Thoughts regarding her relationship with Evander. Ever since that time he jumped on her balcony back in Lynk, she’d felt he was on her side, trying to warn her, not hurt her. Strange how she went from being mad he’d kidnapped her to understanding and trusting him. She even liked spending time with him because he made her laugh. She found herself wanting to be around him since she enjoyed his company. Craved it even.
“In here,” Evander said, holding a door open for her. “This is our war room.” As she moved past him, his hand brushed her lower back and a tingle of warmth jolted along her spine. Interesting that her body responded to him like that. He was just a friend—nothing more. Even though her marriage hadn’t been consummated yet, nothing could happen between her and Evander. And it wasn’t like shewantedsomething to happen. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts and wishing everything wasn’t such a jumbled mess.
Inside the middle of the square room, there was a single table. No chairs, no maps, no papers, nothing. If this was where they planned missions and wars, it didn’t feel like it since it was so empty.
Gemma entered from a side door. “I’m glad you’re both here.” She went to the empty table and stood there, waiting for Evander and Sabine to join her. Once they did, she continued, “We’ve spotted Ex on the south side of the lake. We never would have seen him had we not been specifically looking for him.”
Sabine wondered why this was called the war room and why they were standing at an empty table.
“Is Ex alone?” Evander asked.
Sabine wondered what the laws were here in Avoni with regards to killing people. She assumed Ex was allowed to hunt a target he’d been commissioned for so long as it had nothing to do with the royal family. As to whether he was allowed to assassinate a royal from another kingdom, she didn’t know—especially since she was on Avoni soil. It could change things. She suddenly wondered if she should have returned to Lynk. She shook her head. If she’d gone with Anton, she’d be dead already.
Gemma reached beneath the table and withdrew a scroll, setting it on the table and unrolling it, revealing a map of the surrounding land. A few words were scribbled on it, but Sabine didn’t recognize the language.
“Is the plan to kill Ex?” Sabine asked, staring at the map as if it held the answer.
“Yes,” Gemma said. “However, there’s more at stake than just a man’s life.”
Meaning the political ramifications that went along with killing one of their own to protect someone from Lynk, especially when an entire Avoni delegation has just been slaughtered by the king of Lynk. If anything, the king and queen of Avoni should be seeking retribution, not killing an Avoni assassin to protect an enemy. But again, Sabine didn’t know how things worked here, and these were thoughts she didn’t want to voice in case Evander changed his mind and no longer wished to help her.
“We are in a bit of a situation,” Evander muttered as he set his hands on the table, observing the map.
“That we are,” Gemma said. “You’re going to have to find a way to get rid of Ex quietly.” She folded her arms. “And I have no idea what you’re going to say to his family when they inquire. You’ll also need to deal with whomever hired him.”
The irony was that Sabine had been trying to deal with Lottie all along. The problem was that they couldn’t just get rid of Lottie since she was a member of the Lynk royal family. It would take something more creative.
“It’s my future bride,” Evander said.
“What?” Gemma asked.
“The person who hired the assassin to kill Sabine is Princess Lottie, my soon-to-be wife.”
Gemma’s eyes narrowed as she studied her brother for a minute. “Did you agree to marry her to protect Sabine?”
“No,” he replied. “I agreed to the marriage to protect Avoni. If Rainer invades the other kingdoms, I’m hoping he’ll leave us alone or at the very least, it’ll buy us time to come up with something.”
“Let me ask you this,” Gemma said. “What’s Lottie’s goal? To kill her brother and take the throne?”
“No,” Sabine answered. “Lottie wants the throne, but she’s not going to kill Rainer to get it. She’s trying to get rid of me so he loses the throne by not producing a child by the time he turns twenty-five.” Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Evander flinch. “However, now that I’m married to Rainer, she can’t have me killed.”
“But isn’t that exactly what she’s doing?” Evander asked.
