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My breath caught in my throat, but I forced myself to remain stiff and not show my reaction.
Ian stepped to my side.
Somehow the Quiet King was able to discover blood mages. That had to be why he wrote Phinova next to their names.
I frowned. “Do you have any idea how he was able to identify these particular dominas?”
“All I know is that he created a secret test to find this type and discovered several human women who had it.” The Queen’s face shifted to a grim look. “For some reason, he became desperate with the town of Zumaya.”
I parted my lips in shock. “What?”
“No one knows why, but he slowly and secretly began destroying the Zumayan families’ income.”
Xander growled. “How?”
Queen Regina looked at me. “He canceled all Capitol City orders on Zumayan mushrooms, but still, your town prospered. Next, he ordered slaves to sneak into your town at night and damage the Zumayan crop. They poured liquid metal into the earth and then covered it with soil. Then he waited, until the town was desperate for his help.”
Rage vibrated through my body so hard that I gritted my teeth.
All those deaths and hunger were due to the Quiet King?
There had been a drought. It hadn’t rained for months and by the time it did rain, the crops didn’t grow. We’d all assumed it was due to the shortage of water that season.
Months later, we tried again and again, but still no crops.
And we suffered all of this because he wanted more blood mages?
So many people died from hunger and illness. I’d lost most of my family.
“Your husband’s name was...” she held a finger to her forehead and then said, “Evan or Ethan, right?”
My mouth gaped open in disbelief.
Xander’s fangs emerged. “Ethan is his name.”
“Yes, Ethan was paid by the Quiet King to offer you for a sizeable amount, if I remember correctly.” She shook her head. “I found it such an interesting piece of information. I made a note with one of my spies to monitor you and notify me immediately when you arrived at the castle. I figured you would be perfect for Xander. Surely, your husband was a cruel man and that when Xander helped you escape, you would fall for my son instead.”
I just stood there, stunned. “Ethan? Are you sure?”
I’d thought that I volunteered, not been sold. What about the young girls? Did they really test positive or was it a situation that Ethan created?
But then. . .Ethan always knew me well. If there was a situation in which I could take the place of another and prevent them from being harmed, I would.
A heavy weight soared down on me and almost dragged my body to the floor. I wanted to crawl somewhere and curl into myself.
Xander shook his head. “Can I trust this information from you?”
“My spies have no reason to fabricate their observations. I reward them well.” The queen shrugged her shoulders. “Zumaya was given ten times the amount usually permitted and Ethan was delivered five human women to choose as a new wife. This was all a part of his deal—”
“Enough,” I whispered as my heart broke into pieces.
I was prepared for Ethan to move on when I left. I was okay with him having a wife to mother my children due to loneliness, but I had not been prepared for this much deceit.
Apparently, I didn’t know Ethan as much as I thought I did.
My eyes watered. Embarrassment warmed my cheeks.
I stared down at the ground.
You knew him, Camille, but your town’s people were slowly dying.
Xander’s voice seeped into my mind.
The most loyal people do the craziest things when death is at their door.
I cleared my throat, still looking at the floor in front of me. “So, when the King finally had me, why didn’t he impregnate me?”
“This was the most unclear part of all.” Queen Regina sighed. “Granted, he’d impregnated many dominas that arrived before you and were labeled Phinova.”
Xander asked, “What happened with them?”
“They either died in labor or birthed dead babies. I assume that is why he chose to pay such a high amount for you. Not only had you already had children, but he listed your daughters as having the Phinova type, too.”
I scowled. “My daughters were tested?”
She nodded. “Your daughters are on the future list of dominas to enter the Royal Court.”
Not while I’m alive!
Xander’s face snapped my way, telling me that he heard my thoughts. His golden eyes brightened with rage.
Don’t worry, we’ll do something. I’ll spend my life making sure they are safe from his harm, whether you stay with me or not.
His voice soothed me a little.
I nodded at him and held back my tears.
My girls’ faces flashed in my head. They looked like mini images of me, but most of all, they had that same blood-red hair.
