Many of the prisoners had made it to the forest, but the group before Alex was considerably smaller than the one that left the dungeons. Many likely hadn’t made it out of the palace without being caught. There was nothing more he could do for them.
Alex examined the people he’d freed. Some of them were just children. He shook his head. How could he have kept them locked away?
His eyes found Etta. The same way he’d been able to imprison her. He’d learned long ago to separate himself from his feelings. A lasting lesson from his father. But what was a king without feelings? Without loyalty, empathy… without love?
Simon passed food around. It wouldn’t be enough, but it was all they could do. It was up to these people now to save themselves.
They’d begun to regain their strength and there in that haunted forest, they were able to use their magic once again.
Analise raised her arms to the sky, and it was almost as if she pulled the rays of light through the tree cover. How was that possible? And more importantly, how could that be evil?
Alex closed his eyes as the warmth of the sun struck his face. A stillness resided over the freed magic folk and that peace was where joy lived. Where it thrived.
He’d never seen anything as astounding as the sight before him. Magic swirled in the air, wrapping them in its wonder. It was a sight to behold. A young girl shot sparks from her fingertips, making Henry jump to miss them. She did it again, and the children laughed. True laughter, not like the polite guffaws of those at court.
Etta walked up beside him. “They trust you, your Majesty.”
He tilted his head in question.
“We’ve been taught to hide our power with every fiber of our beings. You are witnessing what few others in Gaule ever have.”
“What is that?”
“True freedom. Not the kind that is forced upon you or given reluctantly. There is no greater force than complete freedom.” Her lip curled sadly. “That is what this forest has always represented. Until recently.”
He couldn’t meet her eye. He might not have given the direct order, but it was his men who raided the forest.
Her last words were so low he almost didn’t hear her. “I envy them.”
He wanted to call her back as she walked away. To promise he’d devote his life to finding freedom for her. But his feet stayed in place. He glanced down to see roots wrapped around his boots, preventing him from going after her and making promises she knew he couldn’t keep.
He crouched down and sawed at the roots with his knife. By the time he was free, the group was beginning to disappear farther into the trees.
“Where are they going?” he asked.
Etta looked up from where she stood with Maiya and called back, “Home.”
Her smiled dropped slowly. No one knew what they’d find in Bela. La Dame was said to be there, but was she any more dangerous for magic folk than the people of Gaule? Alex regretted the things his people had done and knew it wasn’t over.
Maiya stepped in front of Etta and pulled her into a hug. “We’re going with them.”
Etta nodded as if she’d been expecting this, but tears shone in her eyes when she followed Maiya back to Alex.
Pierre held out his hand to Alex. The king stared at it, unable to remember the last time he’d shaken someone’s hand. He took it tentatively, still expecting a bow from the man.
“It isn’t safe for us in Gaule anymore,” he said, “but you have done our people a great service.”
Alex nodded and released his hand. When Pierre turned to Etta, he bowed low and Alex understood. Etta was his queen even if she’d never worn the crown.
Etta touched his cheek. “Thank you. For everything.”
He stood and kissed the top of her head, not as a subject would, but as someone who cared. “Your father would be proud.”
A tear dripped down her cheek. “You think so?”
Pierre smiled and nodded. “We will be waiting in Bela for the day you come home.”
“Be safe,” Alex said. “Stay far from the palace. La Dame controls that territory now.”
When they were gone, Alex turned to Simon. “Sure you don’t want to go with them?”
He grunted. “My place is by your side.”
Alex squeezed his shoulder as he turned and began the trek back to the palace. How was he going to explain his absence? The entire palace was surely searching for him. He sighed, running a hand through his hair, and glanced at Etta. She added another complication.
How were they tied together and he’d never known? The pain he’d felt after she’d left with Edmund and Tyson was unlike any he’d ever felt before. He’d felt as if his heart was being ripped through his body.
If they found a way to free her, he knew what that meant. She’d leave. Even after everything, he didn’t think he’d survive that. Would she even remember him once she was with her people again?
Who was he kidding? Breaking La Dame’s curse might not even be possible. But what was worse, Etta staying only because she had to or leaving because she could go where she wanted to be – and it wasn’t by his side.
She’d never wanted to stand with him.
Everything made so much sense now. The tournament. Her entry. The way she fought. She’d been forced into all of it. His stomach churned. A young girl made to fight experienced warriors against her will.
But she’d won.
And what had her prize been? A chance to obey her family’s curse. What kind of cruel fate was that? He glanced sideways at her, but her stern face gave nothing away. What was she feeling? Angry? How could he blame her?
Maybe they’d been broken long before she’d kept her secrets from him. Long before they’d even met.
They returned to the castle where a line of guards stretched through the outer castle’s streets. They busted through doors of the shops and homes that kept the palace running, turning people out of their beds.
Had they seen the king? Did they have any information on the escape from the night before? Were they traitors?
Those that answered no weren’t believed, but the ones who’d been a part of the escape stayed silent. Both sides were doing it for their king – they thought.
Alex didn’t have a plan. No explanation. But he was the king. He didn’t need to explain anything.
If only that was the way it worked in Gaule. He was only as powerful as the strength of his noble’s support.
Before they passed the gate, he held his hand out to Etta. “You can’t walk through the castle with a weapon.” She stared at him in open hostility. “You’re still a prisoner in their eyes.”
She scowled. “Then how am I going to protect you?”
“You aren’t my protector any longer. Simon is here, and I have gained some skill with the sword.”
She snorted, but hurt flashed in her eyes as she handed over her knife.
Simon stayed close to his side as they walked forward. The guards saw him immediately.
“It’s the king,” one shouted excitedly. A murmur worked through the rest of the guards at the gate and when Alex passed through, he was peppered with questions.
“I must get to the inner palace,” he said, ignoring their inquiries.
He stood tall and pushed the cloak aside to reveal the hilt of his sword as he strode through the outer castle with purpose. Residents gawked at him. Some cheered. Others whispered. Tension and unsaid accusations filled the air. Did they know what he’d done?
His people wouldn’t forgive him for freeing magic folk. He’d known that.
They passed the healer’s shop that now stood vacant. Someone would claim it soon enough. The stables were busy with activity but it ceased as the grooms stopped to watch the king pass.
“Not the triumphant return you hoped for, is it?” Etta asked.
Alex didn’t answer, but Simon edged closer. “They know.”
As Etta searched the faces, she knew Simon was right. Did they think their king a traitor?
A familiar face waited for them outside the inner walls and Etta hissed. Camille clung to her cane as she leaned against the wall, her damaged foot curled back. When she saw them, her eyes immediately went to Etta and narrowed before landing on her brother once again. She pushed away from the wall as they neared.
“Camille,” Alex snapped, anger swirling in his dark gaze. “What are you doing here? And where are your guards?”
“We need to talk, brother.” She turned, and they followed her. To their surprise, she didn’t go through the inner gate, but around the corner instead. Camille ducked through a doorway.
When they joined her, her eyes bounced between Etta and Simon.
“They shouldn’t be here,” she said.
“They stay.” Alex crossed his arms and leaned against the door. His sister’s crap was not what he needed to deal with.
She bit her lip. “Fine. I obeyed you, brother. In fact, Duke Caron and I decided not to wait for a wedding and said our vows in front of a priest.”
“Then why are you here? Shouldn’t you be on your way to his estate?”
“I was getting to that. We were prepared to celebrate our marriage and stay away from court as you’d suggested.”
“Ordered.”
She scowled. “Are you going to keep interrupting me?” When he stayed quiet, she went on. “In the hours after we were wed, my new husband received a correspondence. He was invited to a meeting here at the castle with a group of nobles wanting to remove you from the throne.”
Etta sucked in a breath. Simon went impossibly still.
Alex began to pace. Remove him? His father stripped the council of power and they’d been the only ones able to remove a king. The only way to do it now was to… he snapped his head up. “Sister, do they plan to have my head?”
She couldn’t get the words out. Alex hadn’t seen Camille cry since she was a child, but there was no mistaking the shine on her face.
“Alexandre, I don’t want you to die.”
He stopped pacing to face her. “Your husband?”
A satisfied smile quirked her lips. “He is loyal.”
He nodded. That was good. A plan began to form in his mind. “I can’t sit here in the shadows while they plot against the kingdom. I must confront this before we become embroiled in rebellion.”
Camille grabbed his arm and jerked him back from the door. “Aren’t the shadows what you used last night to empty the dungeons?” Her voice held all the harshness he knew she possessed, but something made him stop. She hated the magic folk more than anyone. Her disapproval of him was evident.
He narrowed his eyes. “Why are you here?”
“I already told you.”
Etta stepped in. “I know people like you, Camille. What’s in this for you?”
“You don’t know anything about me,” Camille spat. She turned pleading eyes on her brother. “You have to make them see. This is our family we’re talking about.”
He finally got it. She wanted to protect the legacy. He turned away from her. For just one moment, he’d thought the sister he’d always protected, always loved had loved him back. Had come for him. His family was broken. Tyson was gone. He didn’t know what to think of his mother and her secrets. Hope was a dangerous thing, and it’d risen in him so quickly he hadn’t seen it coming. He’d wanted this one part of his family to be put back together.
“Alexandre.” Her voice was so soft, he stopped. A sigh escaped him. She reached out and he let her grab his hand. “You have to save yourself.”
When he turned back around, his eyes connected to hers and held fast. “What do I do?”
“The magic folk escaped on their own using their powers. They entered the palace and kidnapped you.”
Etta growled.
Camille threw her hands up. “Fine, you can say Etta and Simon rescued you if you want to save them the nobles’ wrath.”
Etta stepped between Alex and his sister. “You think we’re worried about ourselves?” She turned to face Alex. “You can’t possibly be listening to her. If you tell them you were kidnapped by magic folk, they’ll send out the guard to hunt them down.”
“That isn’t our main concern,” Camille said.
Etta whirled so fast no one could have stopped her before her closed fist smashed into Camille’s high cheekbone.
Camille fell back. Simon caught her to keep her upright and prevent her from lashing out. Etta started forward again, but Alex wrapped an arm around her waist.
“Let me go,” she growled.
He couldn’t. Not unless they wanted a brawl right there in that tiny room. Etta might not always see Alex as the enemy, but Camille was different.
And she was his sister. She was a Durand.
“Enough,” Simon barked.
All three of them stared in surprise as his stormy eyes zeroed in on them. He shook his head. “All our hopes depend on the young.”
Etta and Camille talked over each other as they began to protest, but Alex knew Simon had a point. There were more important matters than old scores. He released Etta, but planted himself between the two women.
Simon stared at each in turn before stepping out the door. Alex followed him, still unsure what he was going to do.
“Alex.” Etta ran to catch up to him. “You can’t possibly be considering this.”
“Of course he is,” Camille said. “He’s the king and his first responsibility is to Gaule.” She thought for a moment. “He could always claim he was out with his mistress.”
Alex spun on her with a growl.
“That’s not… a horrible plan.” Etta’s voice was tentative and so unlike her.
“No,” he snapped. “You’re a magic woman. As my prisoner, you are no threat. As my mistress, there would be a target on your back.”
“Just think about it, brother.” Camille grabbed his arm. “Don’t put your life in danger in order to protect her.”
The irony of it all almost made him laugh. Almost. The tournament seemed so long ago. Etta had won it to become his protector and now all he wanted to do was keep her safe.
“Camille, I’m going to need a list of the nobles at that meeting. Can your husband aid me in that?”
She nodded and released his arm. Tears stained her cheeks, and he wrapped his arms around her. Her cane knocked to the ground with a crash, but he didn’t let go.
“Stay safe, brother,” she whispered. “You may think me false, but I do wish for that.”
He let her go, and she picked up her cane and disappeared around the corner.
As they started toward the palace, his eyes darted around. If his own people were coming for him, it could be any one of them. Who was this assassin to be? He drew in a deep breath as Etta stepped up beside him.
“Please.” She paused to steel her voice. “Just consider what it is you do.”
He issued an abrupt nod and entered the courtyard, suddenly knowing exactly who he was and what he must do.