Chapter 133

CAMILLA’S PO.V

I woke up to an empty bed and no Ryker. I assumed he had gone to speak to Riley so I just ignored it and went along with my day. It wasn’t until when night fell and I didn’t see him that I realized that perhaps there was more to it than I could have imagined. I didn’t want to bother Christine or Riley so I went looking for him. I checked his office first and saw his notes but not him. By that time, I was already worrying but I managed to shove it down long enough to approach one of the guards.

“Have you see the prince?” I asked and they looked at each other awkwardly. “I asked you a question and I expect an answer.”

“He was in the kitchen at first but then he left with one of the maids,” I didn’t miss the insinuation in his voice but I ignored it. The Ryker I knew would never do anything like that with anyone.

I walked past them and checked the kitchen but there was no sign that he had been there. The maids were running around trying to clear up the dishes that we used for dinner. Once they saw me, they froze and bowed simultaneously but I couldn’t be bothered to give them a proper response. I just waved them off.

“Did any of you happen to see the prince today?” I asked and just like with the guards, they glanced at each other awkwardly and would not meet my eyes. “I am five seconds away from losing my patience so will someone stop staring so dumbly and give me an answer.”

“I can take you to him,” a maid stepped out. Everyone stared at her with wide eyes almost as if she was making a mistake but she ignored them. “I saw him a few minutes ago when I took dinner to him.”

Llet out a sigh of relief. “Finally, lead the way.”

She led me down the halls towards the servants quarters. I had never really been there and I was shocked to see how simple and organized it was. There were whispers as we walked past and I heard the word ‘prince’ thrown around a few times. It felt like the palace was ablaze with a secret and I had no idea what it was. The maid stopped in front of a door and bowed.

“You should find him here,” before I could thank him, she gathered her skirts and practically ran off.

Her behavior was strange but I paid no heed to it. Instead, I pushed open the door only to find Ryker lying shirtless on the bed. He looked to be fast asleep and there was a tray of food next to him. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why he passed out in the servant’s quarters instead of coming back to the room to be with me. I gently shut the door and rushed up to his side to wake him up but he wasn’t rousing at all. I shook his shoulders harder than I normally would but there was still

no response.

“Since when do you sleep like the dead?” I grunted as I tried to shake him awake again.

I was contemplating splashing some water in his face when I heard some noise from one of the doors in the room. I instantly grabbed the knife on the tray and poised it as a weapon when the door opened and Alara walked out. Her red hair was wet and hung down her shoulders with water droplets falling to the ground in a precise manner.copy right hot novel pub