“Is she hurt?” Damien asked.
“No,” Rory said. “But… the bathtub?—”
Damien ran into Evelyn’s room. She knew when he’d seen the body based on the expletives that carried into the hallway.
“I searched the fucking room!” Damien yelled when he came out. “I was there five fucking minutes ago!”
“No one came through the door,” Rory confirmed. “Evelyn didn’t notice anything happen inside, either.”
“She can’t stay here. Let’s take her upstairs.”
Rory looped an arm around Evelyn’s shoulders and urged her forward. Evelyn could see that she was walking, but the movement felt disconnected from her body.
How did this happen? How did they get into my room? I was right there! Why didn’t they attack me? Why leave a body just to scare me?
Damien snapped his fingers at a newly arrived group of guards, two men and a woman. “You three! Follow us!”
He led everyone up to the fourth floor and opened a door at the end of the east wing. Rory, Evelyn, and the female guard were ushered inside, while the additional male guards stayed in the hall.
The bedroom was larger than Evelyn’s and decorated in navy blue furnishings. There was a four-poster bed at the far end of the room and a seating area that faced the oversized windows.
Damien pulled Evelyn aside. “Tell me what happened.”
She shook her head. “Nothing. I was going to take a bath and… How did he get there?”
“I don’t know. The room was empty when I left. I swear it.”
“Where are we now?”
“This is Leo’s room. Rory and Viviane are going to stay with you until Leo gets here.”
“You can’t leave me again!”
“I need to help?—”
“Damien, please!” Evelyn cried.
This feels like King Gerard’s funeral all over again. I didn’t have Leo then, either. But I can’t handle this on my own. I need Damien.
His expression softened. “Okay.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I’ll stay.”
Not for the first time, Evelyn stained Damien’s uniform with her tears. “I want to go home!”
He didn’t bother to argue that this was her home now. “I know, Princess. I’m sorry.”
When Evelyn quieted, Damien made her lie down on the couch and covered her with a blanket. He sat on the floor in front of her and rested his head on the cushions.
“You look like a family guard dog,” Evelyn whispered deliriously.
Damien snorted. “Go to sleep. I’ll bark if someone comes in.”
She stared at the back of his head, resisting the urge to reach for him.
He stayed when I asked him to. How does Damien listen to me better than my own husband? Leo should be here, but… at this point, I’d rather have Damien with me.
Evelyn assumed sleep would be impossible. But once the adrenaline disappeared, she crashed and dozed off.
Sometime later, Evelyn woke to the sound of voices and a door opening. It took her a few moments to realize where she was, and her stomach dropped at the memory of why she was there.
