Page 112 of Ruling the Green

But if it wasn’t one of them, then…

Wait.

My gaze cut to Tove.

“You sent the laundress?”

“There’s that brain,” Tove said. “I didn’t send the laundress. But I did find her. Flushed the Bellhush out of her. Question her. I was so busy with her I nearly missed your masterful poisoning of your father.”

“Are you—”

“Tove!” Cass yelled from somewhere down the hall.

“In here, Your Majesty,” Tove called.

My free hand went toward my waist, ready to grab the borrowed dagger.

Did I think I could fight off both these men? Probably not. But I wouldn’t go down without a fight, that was for sure.

“Where is my son?” Cass barked as he came striding into the room.

His hair was wild, like he’d been raking his hands through it. There was a bloody scrape down his face and a wild look in his eyes.

“Maybe we should ask your daughter-in-law,” Tove suggested.

Cass turned as he moved behind his desk, his brows pinched. “She’s mute. And likely daft.”

I inched away from the desk, stepping closer to the wall, wanting to see any attack coming.

Tove was still standing near the door, close enough that he could easily grab me if I made a run for it.

I could try to tackle him then just… crawl away. Run to Vishen.

I still didn’t hear any guards in the halls.

It was just the three of us.

A mad king.

His most trusted advisor.

And me.

The odds weren’t in my favor, but they were far better than they could have been if the area around the palace wasn’t a battlefield.

I just needed to focus. Remember what Nira, Vishen, and Jet had taught me.

“Right?” Cass barked, making me jolt. When I turned, I realized he was staring at me. “Or have you been lying to me? Have you been scheming against me?”

What was my move here?

Tell him I could speak?

Or stay silent and let his suspicious, unstable brain wonder if Tove was the one lying?

Before I could answer, though, I watched as Cass reached for his glass.

My heart flew into my throat.