He sighs and throws Althea yet another unhappy look.
“Don’t do that. You shouldn’t keep things from me.”
“Fine. I’ll tell you. But later.” This time his gaze flickers over to the children. Only later never comes. By the time we finish breakfast, the girls drag me upstairs to help get them ready forour adventure, as they’re calling it, and then we’re all bundling up and piling into one of the large SUVs.
The children are prattling on about the festival, too excited to notice much else, so I lean into Althea and ask in a whisper, “Where are Sebastian and Rowan going?”
“Ugh, clearly I was not supposed to say anything, but since he will tell you himself later, they found a diamond from Desta’s tiara.” She proceeds to explain about the diamond and the tiara and how Rowan and Sebastian are taking a trip to the tower where all the royal jewels have been kept since early medieval times for their protection.
“What are they searching for there?”
“The tiara itself as well as to see if anything else is missing. You are the first to wear anything from there since the former king died.”
That surprises me. “Nora didn’t wear anything?”
“Nora wore one of her family heirlooms as a tiara and her mother’s diamond earrings at their wedding and nothing else. No necklaces or other jewels.” Her gaze dips to the diamond heart on my neck and the engagement ring on my finger.
“Oh.” Because I’m not sure what else to say to that. “Does Messalina have a large collection?”
“It rivals that of England’s and contains some of the rarest and most expensive pieces in the world, so yes. Desta’s tiara should never have been in the palace that night, and so far, my sister is blowing it off, saying that in her grief she forgot to mention it was there.”
“And none of you believe that to be true?”
She shrugs. “None of us know what to believe, but the tower is the easiest place to start.”
I decide to let it go there. This seems to be growing more and more complicated by the second, and clearly, there is more at play than Desta simply being kidnapped.
The festival groundsare just outside of Tourin, edging along the river. Tourin is in the valley and it rarely, if ever, snows here, but that doesn’t mean it’s not cold. The temperature is hovering just a few degrees above freezing, but the sun shining down on us makes it feel warmer than it is.
It’s a Saturday and therefore very crowded, and after securing our tickets, we enter along with everyone else. Instantly we’re recognized, but other than a few people waving excitedly and calling out our names, no one approaches us. They must know they’d be stopped if they tried, or perhaps it’s against some sort of decorum I’m unaware of.
But it’s a relief that we’re not going to be bombarded and that the children are able to run around, get in line for rides, and generally act as any other children in Messalina. We start with the merry-go-round, which Zayer absolutely loves. After that, we go on the pirate ship, the Ferris wheel, and then Sabrina and Phaedra argue back and forth over a rollercoaster.
Sabrina—no shock there—is all for it whereas Phaedra isn’t. I can’t go on it since I’m pregnant, and Althea declared she’s too old for such rides. Finally, Phaedra gives in, and after they come off, they decide to go back on two more times.
By the time we make it to the food stands, I’m ravenous and already exhausted. I have no idea how I’ll manage in the coming months or even after I have the twins. I get myself a baguette loaded with cheese, ham, and tomatoes and take a seat on a picnic bench. Phaedra and Sabrina swear they’re not hungry. Personally, I think they’re saving their appetites for the hot chocolate bombs, but I tell them to stay close as Althea, Zayer, and I dig into our late lunches.
Not even ten minutes later as I’m midchew, the girls come rushing over.
“We should go,” Sabrina declares.
“Yes,” Phaedra agrees. “It’s getting late.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Getting late? Who are you and what have you done with my queen and legendary princess?”
“We’re just tired,” they say, almost in unison, and frankly, I’m too tired to challenge it. I need a nap after waking up too early and going to bed too late, plus a day at the festival.
“All right, but I think we have to get your uncle those chocolate bombs.”
The girls agree, and after purchasing about a dozen hot chocolate bombs, we pile into the car and make our way home. I end up falling asleep on the ride that isn’t more than twenty minutes or so, only to be jostled awake when the car comes to a stop in front of the palace.
We pile out, the girls immediately rushing up to their room without so much as a backward glance, when my father’s aide comes out to greet me.
“Your Majesty, he’s awake.”
Well, that’s good timing. I leave Zayer with Althea since Sebastian and Rowan haven’t returned yet, and I race upstairs, straight for his room. When I get there, he’s sitting in his chair, watching a streaming movie.
“Dad?” I call out softly as I enter, slowly moving in his direction. He looks up and blinks at me blankly and turns back to the television as if I didn’t say a word. My hands start to shake, and tears burn in my eyes. “Dad?” I try again.
