Chapter 35

35

S teel

I stand holding the bars, straining to see down the hallway, waiting to see if Rex comes back. Just waiting for anything to happen. Anything at all. I half expect to see Ice. For him to come to gloat. Of course, that isn’t going to happen. He isn’t going to do anything to jeopardize his position. He’s definitely up to something, and I don’t like it. I need to tell Arctic. I’m sure he won’t listen, but I have to try.

Fuck! I need to do something.

Why is no one questioning me?

What the fuck is going on?

I sigh and start pacing my cell. Then I lie down, and I must fall asleep, even though I’m wired, because I wake up when my cell door clicks open. Someone is here. Finally!

I jump to my feet.

I’m shocked when Arctic walks in. He’s in full uniform, complete with royal crest. What is the king doing here? He heard me out. He found me lacking and had me locked up. What could have changed?

“What’s going on? I thought you didn’t believe me,” I voice my thoughts.

He folds his arms. “What gave you that impression?”

“Ummm…” I look around. “Geee, I wonder.”

“Don’t be a smartass, Steel. It doesn’t suit you. Actually, it does.” He starts to chuckle and then sighs; his shoulders look heavy. “I did believe you. I didn’t want to, but I did in the end. I just needed to be sure of the human. It’s hard for me to trust your judgment. You can’t blame me.”

“She’s trustworthy, I swear it. Ice is full of shit. He’s a liar. Everything you—”

“I know.” Arctic clenches his jaw. “I know, okay? I’ve known for a while,” he says in a gruff voice, looking down at his feet for a moment. “I’ve suspected for months, maybe longer, if I’m honest with myself. I’ve known for sure for a couple of weeks.”

“What are you saying?” I narrow my eyes.

“I’ve had this feeling that Ice was suspect. Things weren’t adding up. Cameras have this terrible habit of glitching when Ice is around. It doesn’t happen all the time, but enough that it has become a concern. Things just didn’t add up. When I look back, they haven’t added up for a long time. I decided to finally take action.” He shakes his head. “I didn’t want to believe it. I kept lying to myself. Kept putting off making a move that would get to the bottom of it. I had to have solid proof that Ice was plotting against me. I didn’t want to believe the worst of my own flesh and blood.”

“You found out that Ice is a liar. That he is planning something heinous.”

I take in Arctic’s slumped shoulders. His clouded stare. “Yes.”

“And it’s worse than you thought?” It suddenly hits me. “He was behind the shooting, wasn’t he?” I blurt. My blood runs cold. “He was behind your assassination attempt. Anya’s murder.” My voice breaks. “He’s planning another attempt. He wants you out?”

Arctic nods. “Yes. He was behind all of it. I placed cameras strategically around the palace, ones he didn’t know about. I put them in his office and bugged his phone. He’s so fucking arrogant that he never suspected. I realized quickly that he was dirty, as is Jakes.”

“The lieutenant,” I whisper. “I’m not shocked in the least.”

“I couldn’t act immediately because I needed to gather evidence. To find out who else was working with them. I wasn’t sure about you. I wasn’t sure right up until you broke into my bedroom. I’m sorry to say it, but you were top of the list as a suspect.”

I nod a couple of times. “That’s understandable.”

“You knew, Steel.” He shakes his head.

I frown. “Knew what?”

“You knew the code to my bedroom.”

“Duh! Any asshole could guess.” I can’t believe he left it the same. Well, almost the same.

“Nope, I disagree. You figured it out because you know me so damned well. You knew I wouldn’t be able to change it. Not completely. Not with the meaning…the…” His eyes turn hazy, and his throat works. “Not with the significance attached. The importance. No one but you would have guessed that. You knew that I would adapt it instead. You knew how I would make the change.”

“Again, it isn’t rocket science.”

“No, but still. You had three attempts. I had no evidence against you, but I still struggled to believe you were innocent until that moment. Until right then. You could have killed me a hundred times in the last four years, and you didn’t. You know the layout of the entire royal apartment, about the secret walls. You know the palace like the back of your hand. You’ve had every opportunity, and you didn’t take it.”

“About that, you need to make some changes, Your Highness.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“You’re giving me whiplash here. Point is, you were almost fucking killed, and you didn’t change a thing.” I suck in a breath. “I’m sorry. This isn’t the time. You just found out about Ice.” I widen my eyes. “What about Frost? Surely he—?”

Arctic shakes his head. “No, he isn’t involved. Ice was planning to kill Frost, too. He’s planned a whole coup and was on the verge of carrying it out. He was working on gaining enough political support to be backed once Frost and I were out of the way.”

“The duke. The count. All of those fuckers,” I throw out.

“Some of them. I know who they are. I have those I trust en route to make the arrests as we speak. I’m sorry I had you locked up, but I needed you out of harm’s way while I put the final nails in that bastard’s coffin. There’s something else I have to tell you.”

Fuck! It’s bad.

“Jen. Is she—”

“Your female is safe. It’s concerning Lake.”

I swallow and nod once. “What of her? Do you know where she is?”

He shakes his head. “I wish I did. I know she’s alive. Lake contacted Ice a week ago on an untraceable burner cell phone. I recorded the conversation, but to save time, I will relay the most important details. She was growing anxious and was sick of being in hiding, of lying low. She wanted to know when it would be over. Ice assured her that it wouldn’t be long. He told her to hang in there. That all would be concluded soon, and she could take up her place at his side as the queen. I’m sure it was her. I know her voice. I know her. Besides, he called her by her name, too.”

I listen in abject horror.

“Where is that fucker?” I start walking to the open cell door, but two guards block me. “I want at him,” I snarl.

“Ice is under lock and key. He will be questioned. We’ll find out where she is. We’ll get all of the information that we need from him, and then he will be charged with treason. I don’t want you anywhere near him or anything to do with this. It’s too personal.”

“Once he talks, he needs to be convicted and put to death,” I growl.

“I have overwhelming evidence against him.” Arctic nods.

“I’ve never had the chance to say it to your face, but I’m so fucking sorry.” I choke up.

His eyes fill with tears, and his nostrils flare.

“It should never have happened,” I continue. “I should never have…done what I did. I put my trust in the wrong person. I fucked up.”

“Yes, you did.” I’ve always loved how Arctic is always so candid. “I wanted you dead. For a long time, I hated you with everything in me, but I’ve had time to think, to process. When Anya died, I felt like I lost both of you.”

Fuck! It hits me hard. I almost fall to my knees.

“I needed you. I was in the darkest time of my life, and I needed my best friend.”

“I know.” I nod. “I’m sorry. I know it isn’t enough. It’ll never be enough.”

“I forgive you.”

I choke out a sob. “You do?”

“Yes, I do. I don’t know if we can ever get back to where we were. You were like a brother to me. You broke my trust. I’m a shell of who I used to be. I miss her every fucking day.” His eyes cloud. “And now, I’m expected to take a mate. I’m being pressured by the Council, and with these factions breathing down my neck, I might have to—” He catches himself and stops talking. “I don’t know where we stand at the moment.” He shakes his head.

I nod. “I know. I’d like a chance to try to earn your trust back. To prove myself.”

“We’ll talk about it,” he says. “Oh, and you might want to know that Jennifer Harris is here. She’ll probably want to see you.”

“Here? Really? Since when?”

No! Fuck! Why is she here?

“She’s in Ice’s office waiting to be delivered to the duke.” He must see the look on my face because he quickly adds. “Your female is safe. She’s fine and quite something.” He smiles. “I can see why you like her so much. She came to the palace demanding an audience with me, brought everyone from The Pit along with her, too. There’s a whole army of them outside demanding you be released. That reminds me. I need to go and address them before we have a riot on our hands.”

“Jen came.” I smile.

“Oh, yes.” He nods. “She came to get you out.”

“I’m glad you trust her. That you don’t buy any of the bullshit Ice was trying to sell you about her. I really hope you’ll allow her to go home, to go back to the Mainland.”

“Wait a minute! I thought you loved her. Why are you sending her back?”

I sigh. “I have to.” Everything in me tightens as I start to explain.