Hidden Knights (Knights of the Realm #3) - Jennifer Anne Davis Page 0,80

him tense behind her.

“Explain.”

Robert took a deep breath. “I see now Axian being its own kingdom won’t work. I understand Marsden will always be a threat.” He uncrossed his legs and then crossed them again, seemingly irritated at having to explain himself. “Fine. I’ll say it since that’s what you want. I support your bid for the throne.”

The room seemed unnaturally quiet. Reid wondered why Robert felt compelled to come all the way to the City of Buckley to convey his position on the matter. She pinched her lips, letting Dexter handle this one. He pushed off the chair, moving to sit on the arm of it, next to Reid.

“So, Lord Robert, you’re here to show your support for me.” Dexter’s eyes sliced over to Victor. “Why are you here?”

Victor scooted toward the edge of the sofa. “I’m here on behalf of Duke Gregor Axian.”

“My grandfather sent you?” Reid asked. She’d thought he was here per Anna’s instructions.

“After…uh…losing you in northern Axian, I returned to the manor to check on Duke Axian. Since he has no legally living children, I’ve been appointed as his caregiver and am responsible for his well-being. The king did try to take his land. Thankfully, the Axian soldiers held the king’s men back.”

So Victor’s loyalties were tied. “Does Anna know you’re here?”

“She does. She asked for me to report back on the nature of your relationship with Dexter. She wants to know if it has changed.” He looked from Reid to Dexter and then back again, silently questioning them.

“You will tell her it is the same.” Reid clasped her hands together. Anna couldn’t discover the depth of Reid’s feelings for Dexter. If Anna did, it would compromise everything, and she’d probably end up adding Reid to her list of people to kill.

“Why did Duke Axian send you?” Dexter inquired.

“Like Lord Robert, Duke Axian is indebted to you for what you have done. He asked I check on Reid. I am doing so under the guise that I am here on Anna’s orders.”

“The time to strike is now,” Robert insisted. “We can’t give Eldon time to regroup.”

“Is that so?” Dexter stood and wandered over to the window, gazing outside. “To be clear, you want me to remove the unlawful king, get the Melenia army out of our kingdom, you want your land and title retained, and you would like peace restored to the land?”

“Yes,” Robert said, tugging the collar of his tunic away from his neck.

Reid supposed Robert was afraid of things changing and only supported Dexter because Dexter would maintain a sense of familiarity. What Reid didn’t like was the fact Robert felt no loyalty to Dexter. His desire to support Dexter stemmed from need and what was best for himself—nothing more.

Dexter faced Robert. “In that case, I want a few things in return.”

Sitting on the window seat with the curtain closed, concealing her from sight, Reid gazed outside at the dark clouds rolling in. With so many soldiers sleeping in tents just outside the city wall, a storm was not a welcome sight right now. She sighed. All this sitting around, waiting, was starting to get to her. She just wanted this finished so she could start moving the kingdom forward.

The door to the sitting room creaked open. “Reid?” Harlan said.

“I’m in here.”

A moment later, her friend pushed the curtain aside, peering into her private space. “What are you doing?”

“I wanted some time alone to think.” She’d been hiding there for over an hour.

Harlan crawled onto the window seat with her. “I know what you mean. I’m not used to living with so many opinionated people.” He let his head rest against the wall.

For Reid, that was part of it. She was used to being by herself for hours. Yet, now she was rarely alone. She enjoyed the silence—it made her feel calm and tranquil. But she’d hid in here today for a different reason. Thoughts of her mother were inundating her. She kept thinking about Anna’s end goal, everything she’d learned about her, and ways they could beat her. So far, Reid hadn’t been able to come up with any viable plans. Every time she thought of something, Anna managed to outsmart them. Now, all Reid felt was incredible anxiety.

“Looks nasty out there,” Harlan commented.

Reid nodded, staring out the window. “And it hasn’t even started raining.” Thunder boomed through the sky, rattling the glass.

“Are you okay?” Harlan asked, his voice soft and barely audible.

“Yes.” She looked at her friend, wondering why he’d asked