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.copy right hot novel pub