The words taste sour in my mouth. Was that what I was doing? I was here alone and instead of trying to sabotage something, I was trying to solve a murder. To find out how to help the people in the emperor’s employ.
Something dark and angry twists inside me.
I was acting the part of an empress. Concerned for her empire and her husband.
My pulse races, and I suddenly feel too hot. I resist the urge to toss my robe to the ground.
“Fine. I lost sight of what you asked of me. But how am I supposed to find something that’s purposefully being hidden from me? Or help my ladies when I’m trapped here? You know I won’t risk Anya.”
I lean forward, cradling my face with my hands. It’s foolish to think this might have helped me gain clarity. What am I doing? Why didn’t I take Brevan’s offer to leave when I had the chance?
Because you’re not a coward.
I’m not sure if it’s my voice or someone else’s but I don’t agree with it, either way. I am a coward. I’m so focused on staying alive and keeping Anya alive that I’m not taking any risks. I’m hiding my magic and playing it safe. Even while I have allies in the form of my ladies who say they want to help.
What happened to me?
I don’t recognize myself. It’s almost like the emperor won even when he’s dead.
The ground rumbles.
I straighten. The candles shake, the flames flickering madly. The walls are trembling; dust falls from the ceiling. Then the mural cracks right down the middle, spreading to the altar, then to the floor, splitting the stones. Then almost as quickly as it started, it stops.
I expect the guards to rush into the room, to check on me or demand I leave, but nobody arrives.
Moving slowly, I approach the altar. The candles still burn. Not a single one fell. Following the crack, I study how it moved from the wall, to the altar, then to the ground.
Where it split the stone, there’s a gap about as wide as my foot.
And it’s hollow.
There’s a chamber under the floor.
I hurry back out into the hall. The guards all straighten at the sight of me. They don’t seem to have noticed anything unusual. I close the door behind me, then glance at Alan. “Nobody enters this temple without my permission.”
“Is everything alright, Empress?” Alan asks.
“Yes. I need a private space. I want to know it’s only me who enters.” It’s a terrible excuse, but I’m hoping it sounds enough like a spoiled royal to be believable.
He nods, then looks at another guard, a tall man with dark hair named Landon. “You’ll stay here until your shift is over. I’ll send a replacement when mine comes.”
“No one else will get into the temple,” Landon agrees.
I nod, then turn to leave, afraid that anything I say might draw too much attention to the temple. I can’t access the space under the stones without some kind of tool, and likely, help.
And if they didn’t feel the ground shaking outside the temple, it was clearly something meant for me.
With any luck, it’s one of the answers I’ve been looking for.
Thirty-Two
Sabina
When I wake, I’m still thinking about the temple, but first, I want to check on my ladies. After dressing, I make my way to Charlotte’s room. Since Elliot’s death, she hasn’t even spoken a word.
“How’s she doing?” I ask quietly from the doorway.
“Genevieve got her to eat something, so that’s good,” Antonia says.
