“We need to talk,” Breicher said, leaning against the timber door frame in the queen’s Veetula room the next morning. His stomach had fluttered as he’d climbed each step up the winding staircase.
Caroline, who was trailing a brush through her unbound hair, stilled. “Getting cold feet?” She turned to face him on her little stool, the silk of her nightgown slipping away to reveal bare feet, and smooth limber limbs beneath. Seeing her like that, so comfortable in his family home, it was all he could do not to fall to his knees before her, bury his head in her lap and beg her for forgiveness. Instead, he was here to make a request she would not grant.
“I shouldn’t have walked away from you last night.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.”
“Listen, I think we can work together.” That piqued her attention.
“That’s good news, since that is the plan.”
“Yes, and perhaps you could call off the wedding and instead have an official crowning.”
“Not a chance, Prince. You may leave.” The chill that radiated off her sent tremors down his spine.
Four nights had gone by and Breicher kept his eyes glued to his door, waiting for the queen’s nightly arrival. For the fourth night, she hadn’t arrived. Even though she left every night, she’d spent a glass of wine’s worth of time with him discussing the events of the day. It had become a comforting routine once he’d understood her intention hadn’t been to seduce him. But perhaps that was worse.
An hour went past, and then another. Breicher crawled into bed, but his eyes wouldn’t shut. He’d laid there squeezing them until he had half a headache. Had something happened? Concern for her safety immediately sprung to the forefront of his mind. No, he shook it off. She was fine. Caroline had chosen not to come to him tonight, again.
Fine. He would go to her.
Caroline perched on her window ledge, the shutters blown open. She leaned forward with her arms wrapped around her knees and stared out at the full moon rising, which framed her delicate figure in a glowing orb.
She looked so peaceful, like a dream, her white hair glimmering in the moonlight. How was she not freezing? The power she’d stolen from the Gods must have made her impervious to the blistering air that was lifting the ends of her hair.
If she heard him, she didn’t acknowledge it. Glued to the spot, he watched the woman who would become his wife in a few days.
Eventually, the moon rose above the top of the window frame, so it was longer visible and he stirred from his spot on the wall, watching her. It was a few hours like it had been when he was her guard, as if for a second, they were back in that moment in time.
Like she felt his eyes on her, she said, “I’m a fool, aren’t I?” Her voice was soft, barely audible.
This was the worst it’d been, his desire to go scoop her out of the window, take her to bed and make sure she knew exactly how he felt about her. Even if it was only to pull her into his warmth, shield her from the cold. Protect her. But how would he do that—he didn’t even know what these foreign swirling emotions were.
He needed to run from this place. Leave and never come back, regardless of the cost to himself. He didn’t know how long he stood there warring with himself. Breicher tried to speak. Tried to tell her she wasn’t a fool, but his throat squeezed, and he couldn’t edge a word out. Instead, he slipped out the door and fled into the night.
Chapter 8
“Where’sCaroline?”heaskedanyone who would answer as he strode into the Great Hall, noticing that of the royals, she was the only one missing. He’d hardly spoken to him since he’d suggested she call off the wedding except for those damning words.I’m a fool, aren’t I?Her silence made it easier and harder at the same time.
He surveyed again. Angus was absent, too. Hollis only sneered and wrapped his arms around the back of the bench in his normal spot. Agnes darted her glance around like if the queen didn’t appear at any moment, she was going to ditch the petitions.
Jaden stepped forward. “Angus caught me in the hall. There was another skirmish. This time in Avondale. Her Majesty and the commander went to address it themselves. She said we should see the petitioners today.”
“You and me?” Breicher asked, incredulous. Since word of the petitions had spread, more requests had come in and Caroline had suggested doing as needed until the people of Veetula werecaught up.
“Angus said you sat in on them in Everstal and would know what to do. Ten today.” Jaden shrugged, nonplussed about the whole ordeal and only shot a defiant glare toward his father before he assumed his post at the podium.
As Breicher seated himself, he envied the prince’s easy confidence. He hadn’t seen the queen in action, so his naivety was benefiting him. Jaden must have already reviewed them because he shouted, “Open the doors! Petitions may begin.”
Jaden introduced the first group, a few merchants, with a boundary dispute on some farmland, a precious and rare commodity in Veetula. As he listened to the men, his mind wandered to where Caroline might be. Was she in danger? Was she being respected? Was she harming anyone?
Jaden cleared his throat.Shit. He hadn’t caught the last of that. He glanced at his brother, who was smirking. “We have a land registry, correct?”
Hollis shrugged and fingered one of his wife’s auburn curls.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Jaden answered. “Kept in the hall of records, managed by the bookkeepers. We could send out a surveyor, perhaps, if Your Majesty thinks it would be wise.”
Clever young prince, indeed. One he had a feeling he was going to owe big time after this. “Yes,” he said. “Exactly what I had in mind. Make it so,” he said to the court reporter, who was furiously scratching down notes. “We will send one within the week. They will rule on behalf of the crown. You’re dismissed.” The men, both probably hoping the queen had validated their claim, left grumbling.
