AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Do you need anything, Your Majesty?”
“No. Goodnight, Lisveth.”
She nodded, glancing at the others. They walked together up the stairs. The terror of this court had done what nothing else could have. They’d given up their petty jealousies and chosen to cling together for safety instead.
I found Nelia outside my rooms, pretending to examine a mirror in the corridor for smudges. She wore her usual heavy woolen dress, her shoulders rounded and bent. As the woman who oversaw every servant—from the stable hands to the kitchen workers—Neila had access to every inch of this castle, which made her an exceptional source of information.
“The servants you manage have been a disappointment,” I snapped at her. “My own mirrors are covered in fingerprints.”
Nelia’s eyes met mine. Deep frown lines were etched between her brows, and she bowed her head. “Please allow me to take a look, Your Majesty. I will punish whoever is responsible.”
I waved my hand, and she hurried forward, opening my door.
“I will check all of your mirrors personally,” she announced loudly.
“Fine.”
Nelia checked each room for anyone who might be lingering, while I stood in front of the fire. The weather was much milder than it had been, but I still preferred the warmth.
Finally, she stepped out, her face pale.
“The hybrid heir has been caught,” she blurted, dropping her obsequious act. “She is being held in one of Regner’s hidden dungeons.”
A hole opened in the pit of my stomach. Without the heir alive, my son had no chance.
“He won’t bring her here.” I turned and faced the fire. “At least not until he’s gotten everything he needs out of her.”
“No, Your Majesty. He knows this castle is full of spies. And he won’t risk someone setting her free.”
I turned to face her. “Where is he keeping her?”
“I’m not sure.”
I wasn’t surprised. I’d known my husband had many dungeons scattered across this kingdom, and all I could do was narrow down the potential options until we had more information.
“What happened to the Bloodthirsty Prince?”
“I don’t know, Your Majesty.”
My hands fisted, and I reached for patience.“How many guards did Sabium take with him? How much food are they traveling with? Did any of them mention how many nights they were expecting to be away?”
She blinked. “I will find out.”
I nodded. “Quickly.”
She turned and strode from the room. I swiped a shaking hand over my face. If the hybrid heir was slaughtered before she managed to free my son, all of this was for nothing.
Sabium’s face flashed in front of my eyes. The shocked pleasure. He’d laid all of his plans, hoping to capture her, and yet some part of him hadn’t expected it to work.
Would Madinia trust me regarding the Gromalian hybrids? And if she did, would that trust make her believe me if I could discover the location of Sabium’s dungeon? I was trapped here, unable to free the hybrid heir. But if Madinia trusted me, there was a chance she could free her.
Depending on the location of the dungeon, it would take Sabium anywhere from hours to days to reach the heir. He might even lose control, kill her there, and bring her body back to be displayed on the city walls.
I couldn’t let that happen.
At least, not yet.
CHAPTER THREE
