It was a thin book so he slid it under the fence. I flipped to the back and examined the pages in question. When I looked closely, I saw the slight ripped edge of paper almost entirely hidden by the middle seam. I realized at once that a page or two had been ripped out, but whoever did it was trying to be careful not to leave evidence behind. I didn’t think I would have noticed it either had I not been an avid reader back at the alpha market.
“There’s definitely pages missing,” I told them.
Cecil gasped in horror. “Who would do something like that to a book?”
“Yeah, that’s our property!” Elian joined in furiously.
“I don’t know,” I said. “But it was deliberate. Somebody didn’t want you to know what was written on those pages.”
It was disappointing to have the information ripped away, but it also revealed that something deeper was going on here. I was at least comforted to know that Cecil remembered the story. Nobody could take that away from him.
I began pondering out loud. “If you remember the story from when you were a kid, then someone must have torn the pages out between then and now.”
“Do you think the servants or knights would do something like that?” Cecil asked.
Elian snorted. “Hell no. They know Dad would be on their asses, either firing them or executing them for destruction of property.”
I frowned. From what I’ve seen of the hired hands around the palace, they all seemed highly subservient and willing to please the royals, even that asshole Melchom. I doubted they had a hand in this. And it wasn’t like any person off the street could just waltz into the palace. The guard dogs lurking around the grounds made sure of that.
But then, that meant the crime could only fall to someone who lived inside the castle. Someone who could afford to do such a thing without being punished for it…
It dawned on me coldly that I was entering a dangerous line of thought. Who was I to go around accusing royals of vandalizing their own possessions? I kept my suspicions to myself for now.
“Thanks, Cecil,” I said, sliding the book back to him.
“Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful,” Cecil murmured.
“Don’t apologize to an alpha,” Elian said casually. “Besides, it’s not your fault pages are ripped out.”
I found that I didn’t even care about Elian’s ignorant remarks anymore. Ever since I realized they’d been raised their whole lives to think this way, it became a lot easier to stomach. I was honestly glad he even bothered cooperating with me at all.
“Elian’s right,” I said. “It was really helpful, Cecil. Keep the book somewhere safe, okay? Maybe in your bedroom instead of the library.”
Cecil nodded, holding the book tightly to his chest. “Okay.”
“Now what?” Elian said, sounding almost bored. “Should we start sneaking you food or something?”
“Thanks, but no,” I said, thinking of how the King—or worse, Melchom—would react. “I have a feeling Sebastian won’t let me linger in here for too long.”
“How do you know?” Elian asked.
I didn’t have a concrete answer. In fact, all signs pointed to Sebastian wanting me to rot in here, especially since Melchom seemed to be on a personal mission to speed up my death. But for some reason, I couldn’t shake the innate feeling that Sebastian would return to me. It was nonsensical, and honestly a bit stupid, but it was how I truly felt.
“I guess I don’t,” I answered with a shrug.
After the two young princes left, I stared across the aisle at the now-content Tax dog. It yawned and curled up in a smooth black ball with a heavy sigh. Maybe it had the right idea. Nothing to do now but wait.
Just as I was about to try and doze again, the kennel gate opened for a third time. The dogs were dead silent. My stomach clenched, worried that Melchom had returned, but those footsteps didn’t belong to them. They were light, quick, and determined.
Sebastian stopped in front of my cell. He was breathing rapidly, as if he’d rushed to get here. I stared up at him, eyes wide in disbelief.
I was right. Hehadreturned to me. Despite everything, the sight of him lifted my spirits. Warmth spread out from my chest like the pleasant heat of a fire.
“S—” I cut myself off. “Your Highness.”
He looked briefly annoyed at the term. “Don’t call me that. Listen, Rourke. I need to tell you something. Privately.”
“Well…” I shrugged. “No one else here but the dogs.”
