71
Babies
Once their ship arrived in Gryon, Leo and Evelyn were summoned to meet with General Savatier, Commander Magalie, Camille, and King Tristan. There was palpable apprehension in the second-floor office when Leo explained the meaning of the symbols carved onto the dead guards. But they were at a loss for what to do next.
We agree that the royal families are the targets, but we’ve already increased security. How do you plan against what happened to King Gerard, which should have been impossible?
After the meeting, Evelyn asked to speak with her father privately.
“What is it, sweetheart?” King Tristan asked as they settled on the couch in the sitting room.
“Father… I need you to tell me about Katrina,” Evelyn said with more confidence than she felt.
The blood drained from her father’s face. “I wondered if you would find out while you were in Lochmatten. Small islands have long memories.”
“Please tell me what happened,” Evelyn begged.
He spoke softly, with memories flashing across his wet eyes. “I loved your mother. I loved her before I knew her name. I saw Katrina that night and it was like my soul had found its missing piece.”
“Did she feel the same way?”
“Yes,” he confirmed, the grief evident in his voice.
“Even though she knew you were already married?”
He winced. “That was the only thing we ever argued about.”
“Did you love Gwyneth?”
I never thought I would have to ask my father if he loved his wife.
“I cared about her. I had known her my whole life. When I became a lord, I needed to get married. Gwyneth was a good choice to rule the Fire Court with me. She was a great mother to Rowan and Hannah. But we were never truly in love.”
Did Gwyneth feel the same way? Did she love him, or was it just an arrangement for her, too? I wonder if Father even knows the answer.
“So what was your plan?” Evelyn asked. “Were you going to leave Gwyneth?”
King Tristan took several moments to decide how to share his story.
“I had always been loyal to Gwyneth. Rowan and Hannah deserved a strong family. But then I met Katrina. She became pregnant so quickly. We were happy and terrified. You may not have been planned, but you were alwayswanted, Evelyn. I would’ve given up the world for both of you.
“It was easy to imagine staying in Lochmatten, but the Legislative Council disapproved. Katrina never told me exactly what they said, but it kept her up at night. She took her position very seriously. She was caught between her obligations and her heart.
“You were born a few weeks earlier than you should have been. We were in my room in the castle and she went into labor in the middle of the night. My guards found a Healer. You were so,sosmall.
“I was supposed to leave that day and return to the kingdom, but I had decided to stay with Katrina. Except…” He needed another moment to compose himself. “Katrina begged me to take you to Carrowmore.”
“Why?”
Why did my mother send me away? Why didn’t she want to keep me?
“She only said it would be better for you. She didn’t want me to stay, and I couldn’t convince her to come with me. I didn’t understand, but I trusted her. I assumed Katrina knew something I didn’t. The Healer gave you a sedative to keep you asleep, and we hid you in a crate with the rest of my belongings.”
He smuggled a newborn on a ship like contraband, and it was my mother’s idea?
Evelyn tried to keep her voice steady as her whole world reshaped itself. “Did you ever see her again?”
He shook his head regretfully. “I sent her a letter a few weeks later, but she never responded. I was scared of drawing attention to us, since I didn’t know what the council’s reaction was. I’d hoped that Katrina would get in touch with me when she could. I traveled to Lochmatten when you were a toddler, but she was gone.”
