She flinched and drove her gaze to the marble again. “My apologies, Your Majesty. I was too far away, and when I cried out, you could not hear me. I was afraid you would drink from it.”
Silence gaped through the hall for several long minutes. A man rushed down the side and hurried to the king, delivering a paper to him with a firm nod.
King Faruq glanced at the paper, then to Leighton. “Would you recognize this man again if you saw him?”
“I would, sire.”
The king motioned for the side doors to be opened. A moment later, ten men were ushered into the room.
Oh no. Pike, Dante, Crow, and Tariq stood with Bruzon.
“These men have false IDs,” the king said. “Is the man you saw here?”
Leighton scanned the men, then pointed to Bruzon. “That’s him.”
The king jutted his jaw, and guards set upon him. Pulled him from the room.
“Apollo.”
The bark of his callsign jerked Owen to his feet. “Sir—er Majesty.”
“How did you get out of your dungeon?”
Owen swallowed. “With help.”
The king indicated to the team. “From these men?”
He did not want to rat out Omen, but he also had a feeling the king already knew the answers.
“To save Nouri.”
Again, another trap. “To save Leighton.”
The king drew up.
“You should know, Your Majesty,” Leighton said softly, “that I am grateful for the protection you have afforded me all these months I have been here.”
His eyes narrowed.
“You believe me your daughter?—”
“Leighton,” Owen hissed.
“—but I am not,” she said, unyielding. She did not seem to care when Prince Rayan moved to her side.
Owen didn’t miss how pale the prince looked now. Or how Omen shifted, their postures screaming readiness to protect her. To act. Respond to any threat presented. It was the same one roiling through him. He adjusted to her left.
King Faruq stepped toward her. “Go on.”
“My father is a mercenary whom my mother, Princess Yasmina, met on a vacation with her mother. Despite what you…did to her, you did not father me.”
His gaze darkened, then he pivoted and returned to the front. He swiped a hand over his beard.
Owen was proud to stand with her. Hated that Rayan was there too, but he’d take what he could get.
Leighton, however, only gave him her eyes. Sorrow cut through them, but also resolve.
“You did the right thing,” he whispered.
