“There have been whispers of revolution. I haven’t been able to get to the bottom of them yet. But everything I know points to Vinyes, and if heisat the source, it’s more than possible. And it’s more than dangerous.”
“I need proof, Gabriel.”
“Then I’ll need your permission to do more thanlisten.”
Alexandre knew how protective Gabriel was of Evelyne and Gabri, but he was not a man prone to exaggeration. If he thought it was this serious, it was. And as much as they might not see eye to eye on how to handle Vinyes, Alexandre trusted Gabriel. He would not behave outside of what Alexandre wished.
“You have my permission to get to the bottom of things, but all action must go through me.”
Gabriel nodded. “Of course. You might consider sending Ines with Evelyne and Gabri as well.”
“Why?”
“Revolutions have the tendency to get…bloody if not handled correctly.”
Revolution.God, he hated that word. “Why…why would anyone revoltnow?” There had been attempts against King Enzo here and there over the years, but Vinyes had ruthlessly stopped every one.
ThoseAlexandre had understood. Perhaps even rooted for from time to time, even if he himself would have ended up on one of their pikes. He couldn’t blame those who hated his father’s reign.
But him? He’d done everything tosolvethe problems his father had created. Maybe it was taking longer than some people liked. Maybe it wasn’tperfect. But to revolt now when there was actually progress being made?
“Sometimes people love a cage, Alexandre,” Gabriel said quietly. “Vinyes certainly knows how to make them believe they aren’t in one. Most of the people are behind you. You know this, but it only takes a well-connected few to threaten that. A general is pretty damn well connected. A bloodthirsty one? Well, he doesn’t need the will of the people. He only needs the might of a few, and access to a king.”
It made more sense, honestly, that Vinyes was pretending to be a dutiful general who listened to his king while secretly planning some kind of revolution rather than just trying to keep his job, but it didn’t make it any easier to hear.
What would Alexandre do if the general used his own army against him? Surely not all the soldiers would heed Vinyes’s commands. Vinyes was no loved leader, but Gabriel was right. People loved a cage that felt like safety. And people would do a lot of things out of fear.
Fear. Ines. Hisdaughter. Safety.
Here in this palace while someone planned revolution. No, that could not be. He had to protect them. Always.
“I cannot imagine Ines would want to go, but…” Well, she wasn’t happy withhim, was she? She didn’t even want to see him. All the things on herlist, all her determinations they should try to be a couple wiped away earlier.
She wanted nothing to do with him right now.Kings, she’d said. As though it was different. A person. A king. As though she wasdisappointedin him being a king when she’d known all along what she’d signed up for.
You do not have to be anyone but yourself with me.
But hehimselfcould only be a king. The protector. The brick wall between chaos and pettiness and whims and personal vendettas and the right thing for the good of the people.
There werenottwo people inside of him—no matter what she thought. And maybe she’d finally realized it. She didn’t want to be around him tonight. She understood. He was only a king.
An idea that he had held as a talisman that had gotten him through the worst. Thatshouldcontinue to but…
He shook that thought away and the discomfort with it. He should be happy he’d finally gotten through to her.
Why couldn’t he feel anything but another weight around his heart?
“I will ensure she heads to safety as well,” Alexandre managed. He would order it. Command it. And it didn’t matter if she went willingly or with an argument. It would be done.
“Will she put up a fight? I’m preparing for your sister to. Evelyne will not want to go if we are planning on staying behind,” Gabriel said.
“I am the king. I can hardly leave my kingdom.”
“Yes, I know. And I will not leave you. I have connections with some of the soldiers. We will work to nip this in the bud before anything happens, but we do not want to risk anything. It will take some doing, but I don’t think Evelyne could stand to be away from Gabri long enough to send just him to safety. I don’t particularly love the idea, but…”
“But we must keep them safe. When is this to come to a head? Do you know?”
Gabriel shook his head. “Soon, I am led to believe. I will need to dig deeper to get a better idea, but I’d like Evelyne and Gabri off palace property by tomorrow.”
