*Daphne*
I should have felt excited about stepping foot in the capital again, but my stomach hadn’t settled down since convincing Carissa and Kyle to bring us back. This was a dangerous arrangent, as Eva would surely be taken into custody if my parents found out she was this close to the palace. They still saw her as a threat, and for all I knew, she was.
“Rember our agreent,” Carissa barked, warning with a look of contempt in her eyes. “You find us the Grimoire, or we let Rion die.”
I nodded my head, fighting the urge to simply tell my parents about her and Eva’s whereabouts. In no ti at all they would have locked up Carissa and Kyle, and their reign of terror would have been over.
But then I needed to consider what they would do to Rion and Eva. He would surely be executed if they found out he had been running away with his sister.
I couldn’t do it. I needed to stick to the plan and find the Grimoire.
“We will et up with you there once the job is finished,” Carissa said to Kyle, nodding toward a dank, unassuming pub down the street. “I know the guy who owns the place. He’ll keep us under the radar till you’re done.”
“Have a drink waiting for . This shouldn’t take long,” Kyle replied with a chuckle that sounded gritty and cold from life at sea.
He pointed toward the palace and nodded for to move. I walked slowly, trying to think. How could I fix this? I knew Rion said to stay at the palace and protect our unborn child, but I didn’t know if that was sothing I could do. The thought of leaving him to the nefarious activities of these pirates made sick.
Kyle shoved from behind. It wasn’t a hard push, just a nudge to try to move along.
“Excuse you!” I snapped, not appreciating his tact.
“Walk faster,” he urged. “At this rate, we won’t get to the palace till after nightfall.”
“Sorry we all weren’t born with long legs,” I mumbled in reply.
I picked up the pace slightly, but I was sure not as much as Kyle would have liked. He grumbled to himself as we walked along. The palace lood ahead like a watchful gargoyle as I tried to work up so saliva to relieve my dry mouth. I shuddered to think what the King and Queen were going to have to say about my little outing.
I was going to have to figure out a way to sneak off and find the Grimoire without my parents questioning . I hoped there was sothing in the book pertaining to Hestia’s treasure. I hated to think of what would happen to us all if I was wrong.
I reached down and rested my hand on the subtle baby bump. All this worrying couldn’t have been good for the child I was carrying, but I doubted any of it was going to change anyti soon. My parents would insist I marry soone before this baby ca, but I couldn’t see anyone but Rion acting as the father.
“Rember, no funny business,” Kyle growled as we walked up the palace steps.
Before we even made it halfway up the staircase, my parents ca walking out to the top of the steps. My father’s features were stone as we approached, causing my nerves to kick up. The Queen didn’t look any happier about my being escorted ho, yet again.
“Your Majesties,” Kyle said with a bow. “My na is Kyle. I am a simple seaman who was hired by your daughter to track down another ship,” he explained, keeping a professional deanor about him so as not to co off as the pirate he was.
“And now you return her to us,” Father said sternly. “Tell , Kyle, was your mission successful?”
The King cut his eyes at , and I knew the thoughts going on behind his stern look.
“No, my King. Unfortunately, a storm ca up and we had to take shelter. That’s when I learned of the Princess’s identity and chose to bring her back here,” he convincingly lied.
“You have our thanks, Kyle,” my mother remarked. “The princess hasn’t been herself lately. It ans a great deal to us that you brought her back safely,” Mother said with a soft voice.
She may have been calm on the outside, but I could tell she was doing a slow burn on the inside. Her eyes darted over to from ti to ti, indicating disapproval behind her regal stare.
“Yes, we’re grateful you returned her to us. There must be so way we can repay you for the ti you have lost,” Father added, not even bothering to look over at . “Please, co inside and join us for dinner. There will be a reward waiting for you once we finish.”
Okay, so that went better than I’d thought. It really bothered that Kyle was getting rewarded so heavily after poisoning Rion. Not only was he going to eat a royal dinner, but he was going to get paid on top of it. There was also the fact I would be turning over Hestia’s Grimoire to this snake.
We walked inside and the building felt warm and inviting, even if my parents were giving off a cold vibe themselves. The scent of food caused my mouth to water, finally satiating the cotton-like texture it had taken on.
I could at least relax a little, knowing my parents would not be making a scene in front of Kyle. They would wait until he hurried away with his money and a full belly before requesting a private eting with .
My parents led the way into the great dining hall with Kyle between them. They made small talk as I followed behind, sulking in the complicated turn of events.
“Your Majesties are too kind,” Kyle exclaid as we entered the hall.
Platters of delicacies lined the table, causing the pirate’s eyes to widen in anticipation of the al he was about to indulge in.
I could fake a stomach ache and slump off to find the Grimoire, but I doubted my parents would trust letting out of their sight. Instead, I took my seat and faked interest in the al. My body was urging to eat, but my brain kept reminding that I had a book to locate.
“Daphne, please eat sothing,” Mother instructed from the other end of the table.
I put so food on my plate and picked at it. My parents noticed.
“Are you distracted by sothing?” my father asked. “Don’t tell you’re still thinking about that boy.”
I guessed I was wrong about them not making a scene.
“Shouldn’t this wait until after our guest leaves?” my mother asked softly, reaching over to touch Father’s arm.
“Our daughter had her chance to resolve this in private,” he retorted in a harsh tone. “Once and for all, I hope she understands that if Orion Stormfall is ever seen in the capital again–”
“Well, you won’t need to worry about that,” I said firmly, lifting myself out of the chair and turning toward my royal parents. “Orion Stormfall is never coming back,” I huffed, not even trying to keep the tears from streaming down my face.
I hurried out of the room, stopping just outside to make sure I wasn’t being followed. Who knew the opportunity to excuse myself would be presented to so effortlessly? The tears were real; they stemd from the pain I no longer wished to hold in.
“I should go after her,” I heard Mother say.
“No, let her go. We will speak with her after she calms down,” my father replied, sounding as if he knew he’d pushed things a little too far.
Not having to worry about being followed, I headed up the steps to the living quarters and the library. Last I knew, the Grimoire was kept on its own pedestal away from the other books. I walked toward the room, pulled open the heavy wooden door, and stepped inside.
My heart grew heavy at the thought of taking sothing as important as the Grimoire and turning it over to a couple of pirates... not to ntion Eva, whom I still didn’t know that I trusted.
The book sat in its special place on the other side of the room.
After picking up the large heavy book, I walked the short distance to my room feeling like I was being watched the whole ti.
Once inside, I found an old satchel in my walk-in closet and stuffed the book inside. The door to my room opening made jump.
“Who’s there?” I asked, suddenly feeling light-headed at the thought of being caught.
“It’s just Pepper, Princess. I’ve co to run you a bath,” the servant softly said from within the room.
I walked out of the closet with the pack flung onto my back.
“Are you going sowhere?” Pepper asked, suspicion behind her eyes.
“Yes, but I will be back shortly. Do as you were, I will gladly soak when I return,” I replied.
I didn’t plan on returning. I needed to figure out how to save Eva and Rion, but her drawing a bath would keep her from telling my parents I’d left.
I hurried out the front door and down the steps. There was a line of bushes off to the right of the courtyard where I could keep an eye out for Kyle without being seen. I only hoped he didn’t entertain my parents’ kindness for too long.
A half hour passed and I finally saw Kyle walking down the steps. The sun had started to set, giving a soft evening glow to the world around .
“Hey,” I whispered from the bushes as Kyle almost walked right past .
“I figured you might have skipped out on our deal, Princess. Nice to see you at least keep your promises. This was worth the detour indeed,” Kyle said, patting his full belly and patting a pocket full of money.
“Let’s just go. I have the book,” I replied, rolling my eyes at the disgusting grin on Kyle’s face.
“I need to see it for myself. Take it out of the bag,” Kyle replied eagerly, pulling at the pack over my shoulder.
I huffed. We hardly had ti for this. I pulled the pack down and tugged the book halfway out so he could see for himself that I did have it. Before I could say anything, Kyle snatched the bag out of my hands and threw it over his shoulder.
“What are you doing?” I almost yelled, dropping it down to a whisper so I didn’t draw attention.
Kyle leaned in so closely I could sll the al on his hot breath. “You’ve done what was needed, so our business with you is through. Carissa and I can’t afford to have the Royal Guard looking for us just because the princess has run off again. Follow , Rion dies. Send anyone after us, and Rion dies. Do you get the picture, Princess?” he asked, coldly.
This wasn’t the plan, but I had no choice. All I could do was stand there and watch Kyle walk away into the dim light of the evening.
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