“Ninety-three,” Evelyn remembered.
“Ninety-three people who would love to meet the queen who saved their lives.”
Evelyn separated from Damien and regarded the room again.
No people. No fire.
It’s okay. It’s over. It’s safe.
“What will happen to this place?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Not sure the owner has decided yet. He couldn’t do much while the army and Moeller were prowling around for clues.”
“Do you think we’ll find out what happened?”
“Yes. I’m sure we will eventually.”
Evelyn glanced up at her friend. “Thank you for bringing me here. I needed to see it empty.”
The space finally felt cold and quiet.
“Damien?”
“Princess?”
“There’s one more guard missing, right? There were fifteen at the river house and then one at the palace.”
“Yes. I’d rather not think about where the last one will turn up.”
Right in front of me, probably.
Evelyn anxiously traced the gold music note on Damien’s uniform.
He smiled. “You keep doing that. Why do you like touching me so much?”
“You make me feel safe.”
Damien’s chest rose with a sharp inhale.
Evelyn changed the subject. “Did you ever wish you had different magic, instead of Auditory?”
“Sometimes,” Damien said, watching her. “Especially when I was younger and my friends from other courts would show off their magic.”
“Would you want all of the Perceptual abilities?”
“Are you asking if I want more magic or if I would want to be king?”
Evelyn shrugged. “Both, I guess.”
“I wouldn’t turn down extra magic. But being a king sounds awful.”
“Would you do it for love? If you fell in love with a queen, would you marry her even though you don’t want to be a king?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“Are you the queen I get to marry?”
