We returned to our apartment in Packhaven uneventfully. I’d have expected someone from the palace to be waiting at the airport to bring me home, but then again, I hadn’t told them I’d be back yet. So, in order to find me, they’d have to be tracking my flights.I only needed a short time at the house, just long enough to figure out where the stalker lived, and then I would be on another plane out of there. I had done what the mousy little man from the palace had asked and checked in the two days previous.I was positive they were tracking that phone, so they knew exactly where I was at. I assumed that if I wasn’t being bothered, I must
When we arrived, the three of them stayed in the car, allowing me to approach the house on my own. They thought perhaps a woman with three men in tow might scare off anyone who would speak to me.But I didn’t miss the flash of Theo’s weapon as he kept it just below the edge of the window inside the car. If anybody tried to harm me, they’d be dead before they realized what happened.The house in question was a seaside cottage with shake siding and big dormer windows overlooking a neighborhood lined with stately oaks. I pushed open the little gate on the path and made my way to the door, raising my hand and knocking apprehensively.
“I can’t imagine that King James wants to show his face much in front of the goddess,” I said. “So Doctor Milton hiding under her protection doesn’t surprise me.”“Not to mention, living as a monk in that northern temple seems like punishment on its own,” Charles threw in.“It’s not if you’re devout,” I countered. “But I suppose for a doctor, it might be punishing. He probably lived quite the life of luxury before all of this happened.”Mabel nodded. “Not that he deserved to be punished. My son
I woke in the morning with my head feeling like it weighed at least twice what it usually did. This jet lag was really catching up with me.When I sat up, the room swam a bit, and I had to sit still for a moment, blinking until everything had righted itself.“Is everything all right?” Charles asked.I nodded. “Just jet lag,” I said. “All of this trouble we’ve been dealing with... It’s caught up with me.”He kissed my forehead. “I just wanted to mak
I left my shoes at the entrance to the temple’s interior and traded them for some of the reed sandals offered to guests. Then, I followed the monk deep into the inner recesses of the moon temple grounds.They had small gardens, still bare because of the elevation. Spring wasn’t even close to on its way here, but at least it was ice-free. When we reached the moon pool, a man with silver hair tied back in a ponytail at the back of his head cleaned debris from the water with a skimmer.The monk who led me up there cleared his throat. “Monk Blythe,” he said. “You have a visitor.”
“The moon goddess actually showed up at the baby’s birth,” Monk Blythe explained. He sighed and rubbed his face, then recrossed his arms. “I’m getting ahead of myself. I should probably explain how we got to the birth of the child. Because the poor thing certainly didn’t make it to term.“She was close, in her last trimester, but not ready to give birth yet when it was apparent that Queen Rosemary was succumbing to the poison. King James had been slandering her for their entire marriage, telling the entire Kingdom of Orlune how weak and inferior she was. The couple never even announced her pregnancy.“But honestly, Q
With nothing to do to get rid of those flutters except take the test and prove to myself that I wasn’t really pregnant, I climbed from the bed and headed into the bathroom. I did my business, following the instructions and left the test in there, coming back to sit on the edge of the bed and wait until the timer on my phone beeped.“We never really got a chance to finish our discussion,” Monk Blythe said in a low voice. “There were some things that I needed to warn you about aside from just your personal safety. Because even though I’m positive I know who ordered the poison given to the late Queen Rosemary, I don’t know who the actual poisoner was.
Charles stared at me, starting to look worried. “Are you sure you’re telling me everything?” he asked. “Because you certainly don’t look okay. You’re pale and clammy.”“I still feel a little ill,” I admitted. “But I think that’s to be expected given everything.”“Why don’t you take a nap?” He practically pushed me into the bed, pulling back the covers and stuffing me in.He started to undo my clothing, and I pushed his hands away. “That’s not going to happen right now.”