"I'm not stupid, Drake. I can figure shit out."
"And what happened when you got there?"
"They have the city locked down, and yes, the king did die."
"Why's it locked down?"
She threw up her hands. "Hell if I know. I wondered that myself."
Drake stood up. "I'm going home. I need to process the fact you actually went to the place that we were thrown out of."
"They had no idea who I was."
"Probably a good thing. They'd have locked you up in a heartbeat." He stepped off the porch. "I'll see you tomorrow."
His words echoed in her head and made her grip the arms of the chair. She hadn't even thought about it. They were basically fugitives in exile, and the way Luke was acting, he very well may have tossed her in a dungeon.
Chapter Twelve: Reclaiming His Own
Luke Ardec
Tuva sat on the bench right outside the rose garden when Luke walked outside. His mind was completely on Sarah, and he almost didn't see her until she stood.
"You look like you're on a mission."
He stopped in front of her and kissed her cheek. "I am."
"Has your sister figured out the poison yet?"
He shook his head. "Not yet. But she's working on it."
"Have you started a list yet?"
"A list?" he asked. "What list?"
She patted his cheek. "My boy, you are king now. You must start thinking as such. Someone poisoned your father, and if I'm not mistaken, your mother also. You should have a list of those capable of such a thing."
Sarah had been on his mind so much that he hadn't even thought of that. "You're right."
"It could be your wife next."
Her words made his blood run cold. He needed to stop thinking as a man in love and more as a king with an assassin. "I'll start that list right now." He turned to head to the palace office. "Do you still suspect Dr. Seneel?"
Tuva nodded. "I will forever think that he killed my daughter."
"Is there a particular reason why?" He needed to know if she blamed him because she needed someone to blame, or if she blamed him because of something specific.
"He didn't even try to save your mother. Everything he did just made her worse. What kind of doctor is that?"
He gave her a quick hug. "Thank you."
"You just find the snake in your garden."
His father's office was dark and chilly when he cracked the door open. A wave of sadness washed over him. They may have had a tumultuous relationship, but he was going to miss his father. Ardec would never know the joy of grandchildren, if he and Sarah ever had any.
He shook his head. For the moment, he just wanted to be with Sarah, just the two of them, with no hiding, no sneaking around, and no separation. They had plenty of time to have children after they enjoyed each other.
All of the files were kept in a chamber right off the office. Luke pulled the thick, heavy curtains open to allow the sunlight to flood into the room. Almost instantly, the chill dissipated as he set to work.
