Chapter 64

Chapter

Sixty-Four

JOHA

I wake before Alyx and I watch her, knowing I could have lost her last night had I not arrived at that exact time, but she’s wrong if she thought I would let her go. I chased her through the Lowers once before, and I would do it again.

King or not, she belongs at my side, and I’m never letting her go.

I’ll make her realise that, but for now, I have a reason to keep her here. It wasn’t all lies, I always planned to keep my promise and help her find the truth, so when she wakes, I help her dress, and then we have breakfast together before heading out. Orion falls into step next to us.

“Where’s Crux?” she asks Orion, her arm threaded through mine. Uncaring who is watching, she threads hers through his as well. He stares down at her, love shining in his eyes. He does not protest or pull away, and that makes me grin. I like seeing him happy. He deserves it, and he deserves to take something for himself when all he has ever done is live for me. The fact that we love the same woman doesn’t even annoy me because I know nobody could ever love or protect her as well as he will. Even if she did flee yesterday, he would have dragged her back. He’s not letting her go either, no matter what she thinks.

She belongs here with us.

“I expected him to be stalking us,” I admit.

“Apparently, news of what happened reached the Lowers and it’s chaos. He went to help. He will be back,” Orion grouses. “His exact words were, ‘Tell my Alyx not to kill too many people without me. I’ll be back before nightfall, where I belong.’”

She chuckles, wearing a bright smile that steals my breath for a moment. I want her to be like this always, happy and between us. It will take work, but I’ve never been the type to shy away from that.

She doesn’t seem to understand that I would be willing to give up everything for her. She will one day, and if they try to make me choose, I will always choose her.

I sober then and look at Orion. “I need to keep my promise to Alyx. We need to find out what happened to her family.”

We share a look. I know he looked into her past and already guessed, but she sighs and confirms it now. “My real name is Alexandria Stormhallow.”

Orion jerks, blinking down at her. “The Stormhallows . . . They died in a fire, did they not?”

We stop, and Alyx swallows, pain flashing in her green eyes. “It was not an accidental fire. They came that night and slaughtered everyone. I managed to escape, but nobody else did. I changed my name to keep myself safe, but I have to know who was behind it and why. Someone ordered their deaths.”

“Then we will find out who. We should start at the source—the old head of the guards. Wilhem is retired now, but nothing went on with the soldiers in this city without him knowing. It’s a good place to start, and I know exactly where he is.”

She frowns. “I tried to find him before. He’s gone.”

“No, not gone, hidden,” Orion promises. “Trust me, I’ll find him.”

The small shop door jingles as we step into the bookshore located in the market just past Stormhallow Province. We disguised ourselves and slipped from the palace to speak to him. As the older man lifts his head behind the counter, recognition flashes through his eyes.

“The king, his guard, and his betrothed in my shop, which can’t mean anything good.” He sighs before stepping around the counter. “Are you here to kill me?”

“Not right now,” Alyx replies, pushing her hood back. “We need answers.”

“Well then, come in.” He guides us to the back, locking the door after us and sitting at the square table we surround. “What answers? I have not been part of the palace in a long time.”

“That’s fine.” Alyx looks to us then blows out a breath. “I need to know what you know about the deaths of the Stormhallow family.”

He recoils, looking between us. “Why? It was a fire, a terrible accident.” There is something in his voice that betrays him. Others might have missed it, but not her.

“We both know that’s not true.” She leans forward. “Please, if you know anything, tell me.”

His eyes narrow on her, tracing her features. “You know, their youngest had hair the colour of fire and eyes as green as gems, just like you.”

Alyx says nothing, and Wilhelm rubs his face.

“It’s better not to know, I imagine,” he mumbles before dropping his hand. “It was a fire, but it was no accident. I was ordered not to investigate it, but I did anyway, and it’s one of the reasons I left.”

“Ordered by whom?” she asks.

“The king,” he admits, and I jerk back. “I think he knew the truth and was trying to protect me. The Stormhallows were killed due to their unwavering support of the king. I think whoever was behind it they were clearing the way, isolating him, and he knew it. Knowing that would put me in danger, and I think he was trying to protect me.” He eyes Alyx. “The past is buried and best left there.”

“No, it’s not,” she snaps as she looks at me. “They were killed for supporting your father.” There is so much pain in her voice, and for a moment, I worry she will blame me, but she reaches for my hand.

I kiss the back of it. “I am so sorry, Alyx.”

Our lives just keep getting more and more interconnected. We are both orphans, but as I stare into those green eyes, I know our parents would be proud of us and what we have become.

“Who killed them?” I ask as I glance at Wilhelm.

“Nobodies, hired thugs. They are all gone now, dead to cover their tracks. I do not know who ordered it.”

“I can guess.” Alyx shares a pained look with me. “Queen Mother. It has to be. She killed his supporters, and then she killed the king.”

They say power corrupts, and I know they are right, but staring into the grief-stricken eyes of my love, I wish it didn’t. I wish I could save her from what that venomous woman did to our families.

Is it really better to know?

Staring into her eyes, I am not sure.