The steps grew louder, and light bloomed in the room.
Sasha’s eyes met mine, wide with alarm and lingering desire.
I eased her to the side and peered through a crack in the door.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
SASHA
Ipressed closer to Dominic, angling my head to see through the narrow gap in the door. The kitchen was dim, lit only by the soft glow of enchanted lights that flickered to full life as Queen Iberia moved through the space.
Blue light emanated from her hands. She held her palms over a basket of bread, magic flowing from her fingers into the loaves. The light pulsed once, twice, then faded as she moved to the eggs waiting in a bowl on the counter.
She touched each egg, infusing them with whatever spell she’d crafted.
After finishing with the eggs, she moved on to the containers of tea waiting to be steeped in the morning. Pastries made before the staff left for the day. The spices they’d taken out the night before for today’s breakfast prep.
She tested each item after touching it, as if confirming her spell had taken hold, using a careful methodology that suggested she’d done this many times before.
We’d found our culprit. The mystery that had plagued the court finally had an answer.
But it wasIberia. Dominic’s mother. The woman who’d ruled this court with wisdom and grace for decades. The fierce, loving parent who’d raised him alone after his father’s betrayal.
Dominic had gone rigid with shock. His breathing stopped, then resumed in shallow gasps.
This wasn’t some anonymous enemy or vindictive lord or lady. This was family.
I wanted to shield him from this, to take the pain of this betrayal onto myself. But all I could do was stand in front of him, offering silent support while he processed what we were witnessing.
He shifted us around until he could lean his back against the door. His hands came up to scrub his face, and his ragged breathing rang out.
When he lowered his hands and looked at me, the devastation in his eyes made everything inside me twist tight.
I touched his arm, a question in the gesture.
He jerked out a nod, straightened his shoulders, and turned back to open the door.
The hinges creaked. Iberia spun around, blue magic still glowing around her fingers before she extinguished it with a shake of her hands.
“Dominic.” Her voice held steady, regal even. “What are you doing up so early?”
“I could ask you the same question, Mother.” He stepped into the kitchen, and I followed, staying a few paces back. “Though I think I already know the answer.”
Calculation flickered across Iberia’s face, followed by resignation. “I’m checking the quality of the breakfastpreparations. You know how particular Alaina can be about?—”
“Don’t.” The word came out soft but firm. “Please don’t lie to me.”
Iberia’s composure cracked. She smoothed her gown, a nervous gesture I’d never seen from her before.
I could only imagine how painful this must be for Dominic, having to balance his roles as son and king. How much he must want to yell. Instead, he remained gentle.
This was leadership. Not the charming façade he showed the court, but the real strength underneath. The ability to hold someone accountable while still treating them with dignity.
My respect for him deepened.
“I saw the magic,” Dominic said. “We both did. Blue light from your hands, touching the food. The same contamination we’ve been trying to track since before I married.” He paused. “Mother, why would you do this?”
Iberia’s shoulders sagged, her regal bearing crumpling.
