Page 108 of The Royal Throne
Sabine stood in the dungeon before Axel’s cell. When she’d been in Avoni, hunted by Ex, she’d known true fear. The assassin had been unrelenting and lethal. When an assassin had tried killing her at the seamstress’s room all those weeks ago, the attempt had been sloppy. Sabine remembered Lottie discussing it with the assassin that night in the Avoni delegation’s suite. He’d said the situation hadn’t been handled as he would have liked. When Sabine brought it up to Evander, Evander had said there was no way that it had been an Avoni assassin who’d tried killing her at the seamstress’s.
What happened last night at supper reminded her of that. Sloppy. She knew it wasn’t someone from Avoni. If it had been, she’d be dead. Given that poison had been found on Axel’s sleeve, she had a feeling he was the one who’d tried killing her in that seamstress’s room.
Axel sat on his cot as if he had all the time in the world. As if he wasn’t in a dungeon.
“Why?” she asked.
“You’re going to have to be a bit more specific,” he said.
“Why did you try to kill me? Twice.”
He smiled. “You finally figured it out.” He stood.
“Why?” She needed to understand. Drew had found a couple of handwritten notes in Lottie and Axel’s rooms indicating the two had been working and plotting together.
“What do you plan to do with me?” he asked, taking a step closer to the bars that separated them.
“I haven’t decided.”
He smiled again. “My offer is still on the table.”
She rolled her eyes. Like she would marry him after he’d tried killing her. Twice. “Just answer my question. Please.” She added the please hoping to appeal to his ego. Hoping to get him talking. Hoping he’d tell her the truth.
He sighed. “Honestly?”
She nodded.
“Rainer was a self-serving prick who didn’t deserve to be king. Killing you was a way to get rid of him. Lottie was easier to manipulate and manage. I could have more and be more with her on the throne. Pure and simple.”
“Then why last night?” she asked.
“With you gone, the royal throne would have been mine.” He shrugged. “You’re from Bakley. You don’t deserve to rule over Lynk.”
There was something wrong with him. “I feel sorry for you.” She turned to leave.
He chuckled. “No need. I have a plan to get out of here.”
The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Glancing over her shoulder, she sighed. “I feel sorry for you because you neither had nor know what a loving family is.” She left him standing there, calling after her.
Drew joined her. “Your orders, Your Majesty?”
“I’d like to say he is to remain here in the dungeon, but I fear for my life. Even with him locked up.”
“I agree. I’ll take care of it.”
She nodded and stopped before Anton’s cell.
“I heard my brother tried to kill you. Is that true?” He was sitting on the floor, not looking her way.
“Yes.” She folded her arms, watching him.
“Do you know why?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think I’m involved?”
“Honestly, I don’t know.” After extensive searches of his room, nothing had been found to indicate he was involved with Lottie or Axel’s plans.
