enough to know that she never made a move without securing her situation.
He started toward the door, Ivan behind him. When he reached it, he stopped and asked, “Where’s my mother?”
“On a long trip. To see some distant family. I was concerned for her safety. What with my sisters making such a bold move in that attack.” Beatrix looked directly at her husband. “I knew you wouldn’t want her to be in danger. You do love her so.”
Marius left, Ivan went back to his seat behind her, and the captain continued to monitor her security.
“Any word on my tunnel?” Beatrix asked Ivan.
“We found some remains of the soldiers that went after your sister. All dead. Nothing yet on the tunnel, though.”
Beatrix nodded, continued writing. “And the other tunnels?”
“No evidence your sister found out about those.”
“Good. I need a new assistant, Ivan.”
“I will find you one, Mistress. Much more loyal.”
Beatrix put down her quill and said, “Can I admit something to you, Ivan?”
“Of course you can.”
“I usually don’t waste my time on anger and resentment. There’s so much to do, you understand.”
“Of course, my lady. You are very busy.”
“Exactly. But I have to say, when it comes to my sister Gemma . . . I hate that fucking bitch.”
* * *
Gemma rode through the gates and let out a sigh. She was glad to be home. They reached the castle and found Ainsley standing outside, holding their parents’ youngest.
“What’s going on?”
“He’s teething again. I was hoping walking him around would help.”
“I’m not talking about the baby. I’m talking about the state of our sister’s queendom.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
Gemma frowned. “What happened to your neck? Why is it all bruised and swollen?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Where’s Keeley?”
“Daydreaming on the ramparts again.”
“Give me the baby.”
“Why?”
“I need Keeley to stay calm when I talk to her.”
“Things went that badly?”
“Just give me the baby.” Once she was holding her youngest sibling, she stepped close to her sister and said in a low voice, “Look, I need you to find someone to take care of Kriegszorn. Someone we can trust.”
“But not care if they go missing?”
“That is not what I meant. Just find somebody.”
“Okay. Anything else, Lady-In-Charge?”
“As a matter of fact, Princess Demands-A-Lot, yes.” Gemma motioned to her team. “Make sure they get rooms, food, anything they need. Understand?”
“Does that include whores?”
“Why do you test me?”
“It’s my nature and you never say please. But I’ll take care of them.”
Gemma leaned in again and added, “Be extra gentle with Agathon there. The new one. He’s sensitive and easily startled. He’s been through hell with Beatrix, so . . .”
“Got it.”
Gemma tracked Keeley down to the ramparts just as Ainsley had said. She was gazing out over her queendom but Gemma couldn’t tell from her expression whether she was happy or sad. Or simply pensive.
“Keeley?”
Keeley looked away from the world outside her gates and focused on Gemma. The smile that bloomed on her face made Gemma feel surprisingly happy.
“You’re back! And alive!”
Keeley smothered Gemma and the baby in a hug.
“I’m so glad you survived!”
“Same to you.”
Keeley stepped back and Gemma shoved the baby into her arms.
“Why did you give me the baby?”
“We need to talk.”
“Who died? It wasn’t you. Gods, was it Quinn? Please tell me it wasn’t Quinn.”
“It wasn’t Quinn. He’s gone off to find his siblings.”
“They’re running with the herd and then bathing in the river.” Keeley gasped and whispered, “Did you kill her? Did you kill Beatrix?”
“No! I didn’t.” She shrugged. “I did try. Very hard. Very, very hard.”
“Gemma.”
“I said I didn’t kill her, so let’s move on. But you were right, Keeley. About her. She was doing something very bad.”
“What was she building? How bad was it? Was it a giant tower? A giant evil tower?”
“What she was building was only part of the bad.”
Keeley studied Gemma. “What are you talking about?”
Gemma moved close to her sister and gently stroked the baby’s head. “She was using slave labor to build her tunnel, Gemma. Child slaves that she had taken from the barbarians her armies killed.”
Keeley shook her head and moved a few feet from Gemma. She finally sat down, her back against the wall, the baby tucked against her chest.
Gemma sat next to her.
Keeley didn’t bother denying what Gemma had told her because she knew Gemma would never lie to her about something like that. Not now, not ever.
So they just sat there like that. Neither speaking. Gemma put her head on Keeley’s shoulder and Keeley just stroked the baby’s back.
They did speak once,