Page 77 of The Royal Throne
He’d taken two steps when a palace sentry approached them. “Captain Cutler,” the man said. “You’re needed. It’s your father.”
Cutler took off running.
“What happened?” Sabine demanded before the sentry could leave.
“This morning, Commander Felix was found dead in his room.”
Sabine froze. “Was he murdered?” If so, the Avoni assassin had to be responsible. After all, he’d been arrested for killing high ranking military officials.
“I don’t know,” the sentry replied before bowing and running after Cutler.
Sabine followed them. She’d just spoken to Commander Felix. The thought of him being dead was hard to fathom. He wanted to retire, live at his manor, and spend time with his family. He looked forward to having grandchildren. And Lady Regina had to be devastated.
Guards filled the corridor. Sabine shoved past them and entered the commander’s suite where she found a handful of soldiers. She walked past them to the bedchamber where Rainer was speaking with someone next to a bed with a body in it. She looked away, not wanting to see a dead man. Lady Regina stood off to the side, her eyes wide and her skin white. Cutler was shaking his mother’s shoulders, not getting a response.
Sabine rushed over to Regina, wrapping her arm around the woman. “I’ve got her,” she told Cutler. “Let me take care of her while you focus on your father.” She led Regina from the room and out into the hallway, wanting to get her away from the chaos. Since the royal wing was on the other side of the palace, Sabine took her to the royal dining room. Pulling out a chair, she told Regina to sit.
“What can I do to help?” Drew asked.
“I know this isn’t your job, but please find someone to bring her some tea. And get word to Cutler about where she is so he won’t worry.”
“Consider it done.”
When he left the room, Sabine went over and sat next to Regina, taking her hand. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “What happened?”
Regina shook her head. “He didn’t wake up.”
For some reason, those words gave Sabine hope. Maybe Felix had died from natural causes.
“I got up this morning,” Regina continued, her voice barely above a whisper. “I dressed and had breakfast prepared. When I realized Felix was still sleeping, I went in and shook him. His body was cold.”
By all means, it seemed as if Felix had died in his sleep. However, this sounded eerily similar to how Alina was found. They’d only discovered she’d been murdered because there was leftover poison at the corner of her mouth.
Drew entered, carrying a cup of tea.
Sabine jumped up and took the cup from him. She whispered, “I want to know if the prisoner is still in the dungeon. I want visual confirmation.”
His brows rose, understanding what she was implying without voicing it. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
She returned to Regina, setting the cup of tea in front of her. They sat in silence. Regina gazed outside, lost in thought.
Cutler found them an hour later. His hair was standing up as if he’d been pulling on it, his shirt disheveled. He plopped on the chair next to his mother, not looking at her.
“What is it?” Sabine asked.
He shook his head.
Regina slowly turned toward her son. “I didn’t see any blood,” she began, “so I don’t think he was stabbed.”
“He wasn’t,” Cutler said.
“Did he die of natural causes?” Sabine asked.
The corners of Cutler’s mouth turned down. “He had a white substance in his mouth.”
“My husband was murdered?” Regina asked.
Cutler gave a single nod. He placed his elbows on the table, his hands gripping his hair.
