“Me?” It was my turn to look puzzled. And embarrassed. Now Lucas was smirking atme.
“Yes, you will both be staying here.”
“What about my rooms?” I asked, voice edging on shrill. I felt a bit panicked at the idea of being locked in this space with...him.
She shook her head. “I’m afraid there was an incident in the queen’s wing. Your safety is paramount while we secure the scene and investigate.”
“What kind of incident?” I demanded.
“It appears as if the lock was damaged and the outer chamber, the receiving room, was breached. Someone managed to rifflethrough the desk and some files. Until we know the full extent of the situation and find the perpetrator, alternate lodgings have been arranged.”
Someone had broken into my rooms? Was I not safe anywhere?
Lucas plopped into a chair and crossed his ankle over his knee. “Get comfortable, Princess. We might be here awhile.”
Obnoxious man. This was unbearable. While I was thinking of something sarcastic to say back, the commander stepped in between us. “I’ll have two guards stationed at the door at all times. If anything happens outside this room”—she looked at both of us, one at a time—“orinside, security will be at the ready. Sir Lucas has been tasked to protect you, as our highest-ranking knight of the realm.”
Oh.
“I’ve got this, Commander,” Lucas said with a smile. “The princess will be completely safe with me.”
The commander nodded. “In that case, I better return to the others. We’ll have the palace secured and the perpetrator apprehended as soon as possible.” She bowed and left the room. The door shut firmly behind her. I heard a loud click from the lock as it was bolted.
We were locked in here together?
“So,” Lucas said, grinning, “do you play cards?”
“I’d prefer to go to sleep, if you don’t mind,” I told him as I pulled my cape around me and walked (rather haughtily) into the adjoining bedroom. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught him shrugging, as if he didn’t care, yet I thought I detected some disappointment on his face. I almost felt a little bad for him. Almost.He was still irksome and egotistical and shady, and I didn’t want to be anywhere near him, let alone locked up in that tiny suite together. Whether he had blood on his hands or not—and admittedly, I was beginning to believe he couldn’t have been the killer—he was still my enemy.
18
I woke upin a strange room, totally disoriented, face stuck to the pillow with drool. I didn’t even remember falling asleep, let alone in my clothes. It took a few seconds for the events of the previous night to come back to me. When they did, I groaned out loud. I was locked in a guest suite with the most annoying guy I knew. Speaking of, I wondered what he was doing, so I got out of bed, crept over to the door, and cracked it open. There was no sound, and I didn’t see him anywhere. I opened it more but still didn’t spot him. My heart soared. We must have been cleared to leave while I was still asleep. I walked out and went to open the main door.
It was locked. I knocked on it, then called out, “Hello?”
“It’s a bit early for all that shouting,” a groggy voice mumbled behind me.
I spun around. “Oh my god. I thought you were gone.” Lucas was sprawled on the big chair where he’d been sitting the night before, his arm thrown over his eyes. I must have missed him when I walked by.
He sat up slowly, cringing while rubbing his neck. “Remind me to ask for a pillow tonight.” His hair was tousled, and of course it made him look even more charming and boyish.
“Oh, don’t worry. That won’t be necessary. Not a chance I’m staying in here another whole night.”
He looked up at me, his eyes still not fully awake, and smiled. “Then I guess you better hope they capture the killer.”
I didn’t have anything to say to that. I stood there for a few seconds, arms crossed, a million thoughts running through my head at once. I wanted out of there, first of all. Then I wanted something to eat. And I wanted to know who killed the page.
For lack of anything else to do, I went and sat in the chair across from him. “They think Althea, the healer, did it,” I said. Might as well address the one issue I could at the moment. “What do you think?”
He shrugged. “Maybe she did.”
“Do you really think so?” I couldn’t believe he thought she’d be a suspect.
“No, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t.”
He had a point. “I don’t know much about healers,” I said.Or anything at all.“Do they...” I cleared my throat. I wasn’t sure I should go there, but I’d already started, so might as well. “Do they use bugs? Like beetles?”
Lucas leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands. “Hmmm. Healers might use leeches, but bugs aren’t usually a healer’s choice of murder weapon.”
