Page 64 of Fated to the Wicked King

Sophie caught my back. “Easy now.” She gestured at Chez. “The water, please.”

Chez nudged the rolling serving table with his paw.

Sophie poured me a glass before turning to give the Duchess a reverent nod. “I am certain I speak for everyone when I say we are all very grateful for your help and hospitality. You have our utmost thanks and the gratitude of the whole Kingdom of Lucerne.”

Sipping my water, I put two and two together. The Duchess must have been the one who’d saved Rabb and me from our ice water grave.

“Oh, my, of course.” The Duchess’s giggle was lighter than air. “Think nothing of it. I confess it tends to get a bit lonely here in my little villa. And I haven’t had such esteemed visitors in a long time.” She looked up to meet the king’s gaze, adding somewhat pointedly, “A very long time. Very, very long.”

I had to squint at the bright light spilling through the open French-style doors. The morning sun cast a warm glow inside the quaint countryside bedroom, across neatly arranged shelves, the vase of fresh flowers on a vintage table. The familiar surroundings, and the reassurance that everyone was safe, filled me with a surprising sense of serenity and calm.

It only lasted a moment.

“Sorry for the delay, but the Duchess is right. Our horses are right outside—” Gregory hurried through the doorway and had taken no less than two steps before the king peeled himself away from the wall and charged at him.

The king’s face was molten fury. He shoved Gregory’s chest—hard. “You left us to die!”

“Hey!” I cried out in surprise.

Gregory staggered back, but was able to recover his stance, momentary shock flashing across his expression. His own face reddening, he hissed back, “Can you really blame me? You already killed one of my sisters. I wasn’t about to put Sophie’s life in jeopardy over yours.”

The king’s eyes widened murderously. “You stupid idiot. You almost got Allie killed!”

“I was going for help.” Gregory put his face closer, not seeming daunted in the least.

“You were running away,” the king spat. “To hide your culpability, no doubt.”

Sophie blinked, her eyebrows furrowing. She was halfway to her feet in alarm, possibly intending to stand by her brother. “What? What is he talking about?” Her puzzled gaze turned toward me.

The king cut in first, hissing through his teeth. “Those men, that godforsaken machine, they were all under your command, weren’t they?”

Gregory pursed his lips. “Now, hold on a minute.”

He waved him away. “Don’t even try to deny it. The machine bore your kingdom’s crest.”

“What… how…?” Genuine shock flashed across Gregory’s face before his expression hardened once again. “That proves nothing.”

The king stepped forward, dangerous energy gathering around him like storm clouds. “Convenient.”

“And accusing us is more convenient still,” Gregory shot back, standing his ground. “From the moment you arrived, you have been seeking enemies and seeming determined to invent them.”

The tension in the room was increasing so quickly. I clenched my fists to get a hold of my nerves.

Sophie’s frown deepened. “What crest? There was a crest on the machine? How did you manage to inspect it in all the chaos?”

The king folded his arms across his broad chest. “There was another one by the River of Tears. The maelstrom it produces is a doorway. It’s how Allie and I crossed the river.”

Gregory’s jaw dropped. “You actually used the machine yourself? You jumped into that abomination? That’s utter madness!”

Eyes blazing, the king flicked his hand in my direction. “That’s what I told her!”

I dropped my gaze. My weak response barely carried across the room. “I’m sorry.”

His gaze snapped to me, his expression softening. With another huff, he stalked out of the room.

Furrowing my eyebrows, I pushed off the bed with the determination to follow.

“Allie—” Sophie jumped up and grasped my arm to help me along.