Page 11 of Kingdom Of Veil And Vow

“Do you think it is possible to devote loyalty to the man who carved my flesh like this?”

Chapter Six: Xander

My heart is still pounding in my chest after I’ve pulled my shirt back on and the rest of the newcomers have introduced themselves. Grayson’s hand lands comfortingly on my shoulder, squeezing it once before moving the conversation forward. Eventually, it turns to who would take King Dolian’s place once he is removed from the throne.

“What claim, if any, do you have to the throne?” Remi asks before taking a bite of apple. Baskets of the fruit, fresh bread, nuts, and some meat left over from the king’s earlier dinner line the table brought in by some of the staff.

“Xander is the bastard son of the king,” Grayson answers, a smirk forming when a few pairs of eyes widen at his bluntness. “The king has not claimed him publicly, and likely never will. An heir not given to him through marriage is a threat.”

“Is he not worried by that threat?” Mara, a woman who owns an apothecary in Vitour, asks, her seat two down from Tienne’s. “Why does he think you won’t make a play for the throne?”

“Because he believes me to be compliant in my loyalty to him. He has spent every moment since he stole me from my mother’s care breaking me down. Beating me into submission both with his hands and his words. In his mind, I’m no more than a grunt. A man whose only purpose is to serve him.”

“You’ve seen the marks,” Grayson adds, his tone sharp. “Imagine what else the king might have done to ensure that Xander understood that he is only alive because the king allows it.” The mood in the room shifts, an awkward pity now sitting heavy in the air. I contemplate kicking Grayson under the table.

“In any case, I’m confident he does not view me as a threat. Just as I am confident he means to use Princess Rhea to strengthen his hold on the throne.”

“Is it true?” Jaron asks, heads turning to look at him.

“What?”

“That the princess has gone mad with grief?”

“I don’t believe so,” I answer carefully, turning my gaze back up to the people gathered around me. “She is of a sound mind; at least, as much as one can be after being forced into isolation for her entire life. She likely does grieve the loss of her parents, but it does not hinder her in the way the king has declared.”

“Does she have a claim to the throne?” Remi asks.

I nod my head. “The only reason King Dolian has held power for this long is because of the rumors spread about the princess. However, should she decide that she wants the throne, I’m not entirely sure that she could be stopped. She is the true heir, and even the council, submissive as they are to King Dolian, would uphold the rule that the heir to the prior king would outrank a spare sibling.”

“Do you know where she stands? In regards to the king? To the throne?” This question from Taryn, her hand tightly gripping Remi’s.

“I don’t. Not yet.”

“Is she something to fear?” Remi asks, brows drawn low.

I sigh, giving a short shrug of my shoulders. “That is something I intend to find out.” The image of the shifter in the dungeon flashes in my mind, a chill breaking out over my skin at the memory of her voice giving out as she screamed beneath Jerrick’s torture. I force the thought from my mind and continue. “For now, we keep putting in the work. Our numbers have grown.” I gesture with a sweeping hand to everyone gathered. They don’t even make up the full total. Our meetings are staggered, both to keep large amounts of people from all having to sneak into the tunnels at once and because, with the exception of a handful of guards and the castle workers, our group is made up of those who live and work in Vitour and the smaller towns that surround it. They give up working late or extra sleep to be here, and I will not ask them to sacrifice more than absolutely necessary until the time comes to storm the castle itself. “We are close,” I promise, my face stern and eyes alight with the belief that we can do this. “When the day comes to give power back to the people, we will show no remorse and no mercy.”

When the meeting concludes, I ask Tienne to remain behind while everyone else leaves in small groups of three or four. They wait their turns, giving multiple minutes between groups so as to hopefully not draw unwanted attention. The tunnels spill out at a hidden exit in the southern end of the castle, into an overgrown garden where a small wooden gate that might have once served as an emergency exit from the castle now sits covered with ivy. From there, a dirt road leads into the surrounding forest. Vitour is a twenty minute walk to the east.

Once the room is cleared out, Tienne leans a hip against the table’s edge as she faces me. “What is it?”

“The prisoner I mentioned earlier, I need you to check on her. Bring some medical supplies and perhaps a change of clothes.” My gaze averts to the other end of the room. “I think you are of a similar build.”

“Who is she?” she asks, drawing my attention back.

“When you were in the princess’s tower, after Alexi’s death, did you notice anyone else living there?”

Confusion contorts her face, her rich brown eyes looking at me like I’ve bumped my head. “No. Erica and I cleaned her up and got her into bed after his body was taken from the room.” This time, she’s the one to look away. My next swallow is difficult. “But I am sure she was alone.” She cocks her head to the side at the expression I make. “Was she not?”

“No. Somewhere in that tower, a shifter female named Bella was hidden. Not as a mortal, but as a fox.”

“I— What? I don’t know how we could have missed her.”

“I think Rhea designed it that way,” I say, gripping the back of the chair in front of me as exhaustion weighs on my shoulders. “I’m unsure of when or how the shifter got into the tower to begin with, but the princess must have known that the king would remove her if he had any idea she was no longer alone. Isolation was essential in his ability to control her.” Which again begs the question, if she possesses magic, why hadn’t she ever used it? Clearly, the king knew she was, at least in part, mage—her escape to the Mage Kingdom one that he doesn’t seem all that surprised over. Despite his outward hatred for the mages—and the fact that she is his niece by blood—he still covets her as his bride. “In any case, she has information about the princess that I need.”

Understanding dances in Tienne’s eyes. “No one better to tell you if the princess is a threat than someone who was forced to live with her.” I nod. “Would you like me to talk to the shifter? She might be more comfortable—”

“No. It’s too dangerous.” Her hands land on her hips, a dark brow arching up. But I hold firm. The less people involved in this part, the safer it will be. “If another guard overhears you, or even a prisoner, it could make its way back to the king, and everything will be at risk.”