Chapter 81
CAMILLA’S P.O.V
“You’re out early,” I began slowly as I got out of the water. “I thought it would take at least another half hour.”
“It would have if you were still there,” I cocked my head to the side. “I was going easy on him because of you, Camilla. I only needed five minutes before he agreed to give me a name in exchange for a night of rest.” I was more shocked than horrified. I knew Ryker was brutal and feared but I didn’t know it was this bad. He took a step closer to me. “Are you scared of me?”
I shook my head and I saw him smile.
He reached out with the intention of touching me but he noticed the blood on his hands and pulled away. “I should get cleaned up.”
I nodded in understanding and stepped away from the tub. I was almost by the door when I realized I had another question. I heard him pulling off his clothes so I didn’t turn back.
“The name he gave you- what happens now?”
“Now, we spend the night with our daughters. Tomorrow, we go and find him.”
“What if he runs before then?”
“Trust me, he won’t.”
It wasn’t until morning that I understood why he was so sure that the man would not run. I found that he was another trusted guard in the palace. I could not understand how Frederick had managed to get these people to turn on the crown. It was both annoying and heartbreaking because I was not sure who I could trust anymore.
By morning, out was obvious that we were weeding out traitors and about five people disappeared from the palace. It wasn’t just guards who disappeared but maids too A hunt had to be put out for them and according to the law, it was death on sight. I hated it but there was not much I could do about it. They had made their choice and I was not above the law.
The two men were still in the dungeons and Ryker was busy with them while I tried to create some semblance of calm in the palace because everyone was freaking out over the knowledge that there were spies. The
truth was that I was worried too but I had to remain calm. I met with the elders who dove into a self–righteous speech about how weeding out the spies was the right task which I found weird considering the fact that they were against it in the beginning.
I could only take five minutes of it before I turned to them with boredom in my eyes. “Are you going to sit here all day and sing your praises or do you have actual information that can help?”
There was a minute of shocked silence followed by mumbling before they stood to their feet and walked out. As soon as they left, I buried my head in my hands and muttered a small curse. I just needed a few seconds to myself before my next meeting with the spies to figure out what to do about the tunnels. I had completely forgotten about them until the head of the spies sent a message informing me that they were done exploring and mapping out the tunnels.
There was a small knock on the door followed by Christine poking her head in. “Is it alright if I come in?” I waved her in and she smiled as she shut the door behind her. “Before you ask, Aurora is fast asleep and Audrey is doing her lessons.”
I couldn’t help but smile softly at how well she knew me. The question had been at the tip of my tongue. “Thank you.”
It wasn’t just for easing my worries, it was because Christine had been my anchor during everything. She didn’t have to help me out with my kids every day or pick up where I slacked off but she did so without complain and I was eternally grateful for that. I knew if I tried to say anything more than a ‘thank you‘ she would have picked offense.
As if she understood, she smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder. “It was no big deal. Now, Ryker asked me to sit in with you at the meeting with the spies. He is running a bit behind schedule because they found a few of the runaways.”
“You don’t have to,” I began but she shot me a hard look and I went silent.
“You know that Ryker will not take no for an answer and frankly neither will I.”
I laughed because I knew it was true so I stopped protesting and allowed – her sit down while the representatives of the spies walked in. They laid out their mapping of the tunnels and my eyes widened when I saw just how large and complicated it was. It looked like one giant maze and I knew it would take years to know it from memory.
“Are you sure?” I asked and the one closest to me–a female- nodded.
“We mapped it out from different entrances just to be sure, this is it. We also labeled it so you know where everything is. It is a huge network and it leads under the castle and out of it. It was adventurous if I were to say so myself.”
I stared at the map and carefully rolled it up then placed it in my lap. “What would you suggest that we do?”
The spies looked shocked. They cast each other wary looks before turning back to me. “I’m not sure that I heard you right, your majesty.
“You did. You are the ones who had to explore the tunnels for weeks. What do you think is best?”
“I don’t know,” she began unsure. “Sealing them up would be the safest option but,” she trailed off but I gestured for her to continue. “The tunnels are not general knowledge. As it stands, only the royal family and the spies know about it. It could be useful in the case of an emergency evacuation. It would be a shame for the tunnels to go to waste.”
“That is true,” one of her colleagues cut in, “but what happens if it gets _out? The tunnels are so quiet that unless you are directly next to a wall
when a sound is made, you will not hear it. It is a huge risk.
The woman wanted to respond but I held up a hand to stop both of them. I had heard all I needed to and I was already aware of what I wanted to do, I just wanted to hear from them. I turned to Christine and cocked my head to the side. She knew what I was asking.
“I agree with her,” she began slowly. “It might be important later.”
V “Then it is settled,” I saw Christine and the spy woman smile. “Breathe no word of this to anyone. Make sure no copies of this map were made. If anyone is found talking about this, they will be charged with treason and face death. Am I clear?”
“Yes, your majesty.”
your
I nodded and they all filed out of the room. As soon as they left, I turned to Christine and handed her the map of the tunnels. “Keep this safe with you. If it is left in the palace vaults then there are too many
unpredictable. Create a fake one and put it in the palace vaults in case someone decides to use it.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
“If anyone is ever going to use the tunnels without our knowledge, we
might as well make sure that they don’t succeed. Can you do this?”
She nodded and gently took it out of my hands. “I will make sure no one but me knows where it is.”
Once that was done, I left in search of Ryker. I made my way towards the dungeons but was told that he had already left. I was confused as to why he would leave and not come looking for me. The confusion got even worse when I realized that he was not in our room. I began to worry when I tried his mind link and realized that I could not reach him.
I went out searching for him making sure to ask the guards but nob*dy had seen him. It was like he had disappeared from the surface of the earth. I forced myself to keep calm as I walked through the halls of the palace in vain. It took almost one hour before I felt a tug in the mate bond. It felt like confusion and worry but I knew it wasn’t mine. I allowed it consume me and lead me out of the palace doors.
I found myself walking through the gardens until I got to the edge of the forest. It led me to a small stream and that was where I found Ryker. He was shirtless with his back to me and I saw his shirt lying on the floor stained with blood. I took slow steps towards him and he didn’t notice _my presence until I accidentally stepped on a twig. His head turned in an instant and for a split second, I saw a flash of the predator that everyone was terrified of before his eyes softened upon realizing who I was.
“I was searching for you,” I spoke softly as I took the spot next to him. I reached out for his hand but he wouldn’t let me hold it and I realized that it was because although he had tried to wash off the blood, his palms were still red. “I don’t mind.”
“I do.”
“What’s wrong, Ryker?” I asked and he shrugged. There was a look in his eyes that I couldn’t decipher. “You could at least try talking to me.”
“It’s been a while since I have had to hurt anyone,” he sounded like he was speaking more into the wind than to me. “I forgot how powerful it could feel. There is a rush that comes from having someone’s life in your hands. It is addictive.”
I didn’t quite understand the appeal so I just listened.
“It brings a rush with it, your blood is rushing in your ears and you feel untouchable.”
“So what’s the problem?”
He turned to me. “Nothing, I just needed a second to calm myself before
coming to you. If I didn’t-”
He trailed off and that was when I realized what the expression in his eyes was- want. It was so intense that it threatened to knock me off my feet. All I could do was stare and swallow deeply. Ryker reached out and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ears. He grimaced when he looked down at his hands on my skin and tried to pull it away but I stopped him by grabbing it.
“Camilla,” his voice was hoarse. “I don’t think you should be touching me right now.”
“Why not?” he tried to pull away again.
“I can’t be gentle with you right now.”
“I don’t want gentle.”
