Search me? For what?
Oh crap. Rowan’s dagger. I’d promised to carry it with me all evening. It took all of two seconds for one of the guards to find it.
He withdrew it from my inner jacket pocket and showed it to Cedric. A gasp sounded from the crowd of spectators.
“My, my. What do we have here?” Cedric grabbed the dagger and unsheathed it, examining the blade. “Small enough to sneak into a royal ball but certainly sharp enough to deal a fatal blow. For someone claiming innocence, this doesn’t bode well.”
“The dagger is for protection,” Callum said, trying to shove forward. The nearby guards held him back.
“Did I give you permission to speak, knight?” The cold eyes I feared then moved to my cinnamon roll. “Silence your tongue before I have it cut out.”
“He’s right,” I said, well aware I was speaking out of turn, too, but not caring. I wanted to get the focus away from Callum. “It’s for protection. That’s all.”
“Protection?” Cedric handed the dagger to Captain Vander before stepping closer. He took hold of my chin and forced it up. “Why would you need to be protected? You’re no one of importance.”
Sir Noah stepped forward. “Evan was with Prince Sawyer in the garden when the mercenary attacked, Your Highness.”
He was defending me.
“Ah, yes. The attack.” Cedric’s gaze flickered over my body, stopping at my chest. “I hear the fire spell burned through your skin and even scorched your lungs and areas of your heart. A blast that should’ve killed you. I wonder why it didn’t.”
“Healing elixirs,” I said shakily. “They work miracles. Fixed me right up.”
“You see… word has it something else healed your injuries long before the physician was even alerted to your condition.” A hint of malice showed behind his eyes. “Several of the guards witnessed a demon flee just as they arrived on the scene.”
“A demon?” a woman exclaimed from the crowd.
“I heard the same,” someone else said.
“Consorting with demons. And to think we ate his food!”
More voices joined the fray. Whispers that had a pit forming in my gut. Crazy how fast things could turn. The same people who’d eaten my desserts earlier and said such kind words now stared at me with fear and anger in their eyes.
“Our prince speaks true.” A guard stepped forward. “I saw the beast myself. Looked as though the boy had summoned the demon to his aid.”
“Nonsense,” Maddox growled and shoved forward. Callum grabbed him by the shoulder, keeping him in place before the guards could intervene. “Evan is no dark mage. He can neither summon nor control demons. All accusations against him are false.”
“I’ll be the one to determine his guilt,” Cedric said with a slight tilt of his head, gaze burning into mine. “I find it interesting how a lowly commoner such as yourself appeared in Bremloc one day, with no known past or family, and has since opened a thriving café, befriended my brother, and captured the hearts and loyalty of powerful men. One might assume you have everyone under a spell.”
I stared up at him without flinching. “I’ve been incredibly fortunate, Your Highness, but I’ve also worked hard to be where I am. I didn’t put anyone under a spell or betray you or this kingdom in any way.”
“Is that so?” He grabbed the top of my hair and gripped it so tight I winced. “You see, I have trouble believing your words. Simply look at the captain of the Second Order. He swore an oath to obey and serve the royal family, yet he looks two seconds away from lunging at me with his sword drawn. What could be the reason for his behavior if not magic?”
Love. But I held my tongue. Cedric knew nothing of love. He was as coldhearted as they came. And if it protected Maddox for Prince Buttwad to think he was under some sort of spell, so be it.
“Enough of this, Cedric.” Sawyer stepped toward him. “Our father was poisoned, and instead of finding the one responsible, you’re letting your personal feelings sway your judgment.”
“How wrong you are, baby brother.” Cedric didn’t take his eyes off me. Not for the first time, I could’ve sworn I heard the Psycho theme song start playing off in the distance. “While this commoner has played you all for the fool, I’ve seen who he is from the very beginning. The enemy within our borders.”
Frustration built in my chest. “An enemy? This is bullshit, and you know it. I haven’t done—”
A hard slap to the temple cut off my ramble and rattled my brain.
“You dare question me?” Cedric spat in a tone buzzing with a soul-deep hatred.
“Captain, wait!” Callum exclaimed from behind me, followed by a struggle.
“It’s okay, big guy,” I said, keeping my gaze on the prince. A ringing sounded in my right ear from where he’d hit me. “I’m fine. Didn’t hurt one bit.”
