Page 52 of The Queen's Crown
“I think I’ve seen enough for one day,” Sabine mumbled.
“If you’re leaving, I’m going to head down.”
“Down?”
“To practice with the soldiers.”
“Women are permitted to openly train?”
Lottie nodded. “My brother encourages it.”
The sound of dogs barking echoed in the cavern. “What’s that?”
“We have a training facility down here for dogs as well. My brother likes to use them for hunting, sniffing out poisons, and sometimes he’ll use them in battle depending on the situation.”
“Dogs?”
“They’re intelligent and easily trainable.”
There was so much Sabine didn’t know.
Lottie reached out, taking hold of Sabine’s hand, and squeezing it. “I’m here if there’s anything you need. I can show you around the palace, teach you some of our Lynk history, anything you want. All you have to do is ask.”
“Thank you.”
Lottie smiled. “Us women have to stick together.” She released Sabine’s hand.
“Yes, we do.” While no one could possibly replace Alina, Lottie could be a much-needed friend in what was turning out to be a very lonely place.
Sabine made her way through the palace, heading back toward her bedchamber. There was so much about Rainer that she didn’t understand—starting with why he’d been sparring with Markis in the first place. If it were to test his skills, they could have taken precautions so neither would be injured. However, they’d been fighting as if it were a real fight. Her stomach still didn’t feel well after witnessing such unrestrained violence.
Turning the corner, she caught sight of Axel standing with a woman in the doorway down the hall. The two were locked in an embrace, the woman’s lips on Axel’s neck as he twirled a strand of her hair, a lazy smile on his face.
Sabine moved around her guards and headed directly toward him, stopping a few feet away and tapping her foot with impatience.
When Axel noticed her, surprise filled his face. He quickly hid it and asked, “What can I do for you?”
“Ditch the woman.”
He extricated himself from her, then whispered something in her ear. The woman glared at Sabine before sauntering away. Once she turned the corner, Axel shoved his hands in his pockets and came closer to Sabine, his eyes gleaming in delight. “Well, well, well. What has you in this delightfully feisty mood?”
“I want to know why you told me to watch out for Cutler.”
He shrugged. “Don’t like the guy.”
“Are you sure that’s all?” she said, folding her arms.
“What other reason could I possibly have?”
She nodded. “That’s all I needed to know.” She turned and started to walk away.
After she’d gone about ten feet, Axel said, “Wait.”
She stopped but didn’t face him.
“I figured he’d want to talk to you. Tell you some things you might not be ready to hear.”
At that, she turned toward him. “He did. Our conversation became quite animated. Markis had to intervene.”
