Page 48 of The Royal Throne
“She’s just jealous,” Lottie mumbled.
“Is there a problem?” Rainer asked as he joined them, looking at Sabine.
Sabine didn’t know what to say.
Rainer gently gripped her elbow. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing.” She forced a smile on her lips. “It’s just?—”
“Are you all right?” Evander asked as he came to stand next to Sabine.
“This is ridiculous,” Lottie snapped. “She’s a grown woman and can take care of herself. She doesn’t need to be doted on by every male in the vicinity. Unless…” Her eyes focused on Evander.
“You’re wrong,” Anton said, garnering everyone’s attention. “Sabine is our queen. Everyone’s focus should be on her—including you, sister.”
“Whatever,” Lottie mumbled.
Sabine rolled her shoulders back, trying to regain her composure. “I’m sorry to have caused a scene at this lovely ball,” she said, her focus on Rainer as she spoke. “However, you know how I feel about the woman responsible for my sister’s death. I am finding it difficult to be around her.”
Evander reached a gloved hand out to Lottie. “Let’s have one last dance. Then I’ll escort you to your room for the night.”
“I’d love that,” Lottie cooed. “Then we can spend some time together. Alone. It’ll help us get to know one another better.” Her eyes darkened as she took Evander’s arm, leading him over to the dance area.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Anton said before hurrying away.
Taking a deep breath, Sabine leaned against the railing, gazing out at the stars without really seeing them. “I’m sorry. I should have ignored Lottie.”
“She’ll be gone soon,” he assured her, tucking her hair behind her ear.
Sabine had to force herself not to flinch from the touch. “I still don’t understand why she doesn’t face the same laws as every other Lynk citizen.”
“She’s my sister,” he said, as if that explained everything.
“And Alina was mine.” Why didn’t he understand that simple fact?
“Let me ask you this,” Rainer said as he came to lean on the railing next to her. “If the tables were reversed, could you condemn one of your brothers to die? Or would you find a solution that worked for everyone involved?”
“None of my brothers would hire an assassin to kill someone.”
“Are you sure about that?”
She was sure. “Let’s flip that. What if one of my brothers killed your sister? Would you be content to let it go if I found an easy solution that didn’t hold him accountable? Could you live with that?”
He considered her.
Movement caught Sabine’s attention, and she gazed past Rainer to Heather standing on his other side. She stiffened.
“What?” He followed her line of sight. “Heather, I asked you to stay in your room tonight.”
“I went for a walk,” she said, stepping even closer to him. “Then I saw the party. I came in to dance with my husband.”
Heather was impeccably dressed for a supposed walk. And, come to think of it, Sabine didn’t remember seeing Cutler this evening.
“It’s late,” Rainer said. “I’ll walk you back to your room. You and the baby need rest.” The two of them left.
Sabine stood there, dumbfounded. He hadn’t even bothered to say goodnight. Maybe he’d forgotten she was there. Well, she’d certainly had enough of this farce of a party. There was nothing to celebrate.
She made her way past the dancers and to the balcony’s exit. Her guards joined her, and she headed through the palace. At one of the intersections, she spotted Evander coming her way.
