Something about the guard’s expression told me the contents of the letter could only be less than desirable.
Dear Cai,
I’m sorry to have left without a goodbye. Though you know I was never really good at them anyway. I have things to take care of back in Everness. My kingdom needs me now. Please send my apologies and love to Cordelia.
Love, Elara
I scrunched up the letter, which still smelled of her, and hurried out of the room.
“Jack!” My shout echoed through the palace hallways.
“Jack!” I called out again as I made my way towards the training area, where he was most likely to be.
I didn’t know if it was the panicked tone of my voice or perhaps just coincidental proximity that made him appear before me suddenly.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” He blew out a breath, giving away that he’d been running.
“It’s Elara, she’s gone.” I was out of breath myself, though the origin was more likely panic.
“Gone?” Jack frowned, and I pressed the crumpled piece of paper to his chest.
“She left me this.”
He quickly read through the letter before looking back up at me. “Your Majesty?”
“Something’s not right.” I gulped.
“Because she needed to go back to Everness or—”
“Because she wouldn’t have just left like that without saying anything,” I said. “Not unless something was wrong.”
“Are you sure she truly didn’t just have to go home, Your Majesty? Things aren’t exactly going well in Everness.”
I shook my head. “She gave no indication of coming back or any future meeting between us. She wouldn’t do that unless something happened. Something that made her run.” Like a bird always looking to escape the cage of her reality.
“Maybe with everything happening with Argon, she’s just trying to protect herself. This court hasn’t exactly been the safest of places.”
“Ready the horses, we’re going to Everness,” I ordered., ignoring his comment.
“Everness?” he questioned. “With all due respect, is that the wisest thing to do right now? You need to be protected now more than ever, Your Majesty.”
“Aries isn’t interested in overthrowing my kingdom just yet. If he was then he would have sent an army yesterday, not just a few rogue spies. This is personal. I killed his brother. He wants to hit me where it hurts, and I have my guesses that he knows about Elara too by now, and if he doesn’t, he’s going to find out soon. As long as she is alone, she is a target.”
“You think Aries will come for her in Everness?”
“I’m counting on it.”
* * *
“Well.” Thatcher folded his hands together. “This has all gotten very interesting.” He leaned back in one of the chairs in the sitting area of my rooms while I readied myself for the journey ahead. The servants were in a bustle, the palace full of whispers about the sudden departure of the Queen of Everness.
“The longer Elara is alone there, the more danger she is in. Aries is going to come for me by chasing and threatening her.” Though no one knew of the engagement, it was clear there had been a security breach in the palace. If Aries’ spies could get me poisoned and attacked, it was certain that Elara wasn’t safe. Jack was doing everything in his power to find the culprit, but that kind of thing could take a long time. I would never be at ease when I couldn’t be certain she was out of danger.
“You’ve always been so noble, Cai.”
Although I appreciated his compliment, now was not the time. “Focus,” I said, tying my belt in a hurry. “Are you coming with me or not?” With all the chaos that had seemed to ensue since I’d been crowned, there was a feeling of comfort at the thought that I still had my oldest friend by my side. It was the familiarity of him that gave me the delusion we were still two kids running amuck.
“You think I would miss out on an adventure like this? I’m afraid you don’t know me at all.”
