A Savior's Worth (Book #3)

Chapter Nine

"It just doesn't make any sense to me," Annaliese went on, ranting once again since Kandi's body was discovered a few days ago. She threw her hands up into the air and groaned.

Then she turned to face everyone.

"How do they keep managing to get past us without anyone seeing them? What kind of failures does that make us? We're supposed to be protecting this town, this castle, and our princess. So how is it that we can't even stop a murderer from getting inside?"

"Calm down, Anna," Booker urged, leaping from his seat in the corner and rushing to her side. "You'll give yourself another headache if you keep this up."

Eldon remained against the wall next to the sofa Booker had been sitting on. He folded his arms across his chest and pursed his lips when Booker looked at him for aid. Eldon shared Annaliese's rage, so he couldn't really tell her not to be angry about this. She had a point. If I.C. could sneak in and kill Kandi without being spotted, they could easily get to Elouise. The thought formed a knot in his stomach.

He couldn't believe this. Kandi was... gone. Just like that. Because of them. He tightly curled his fingers in and gritted his teeth.

Annaliese shoved past Booker. "I want them to pay. That innocent girl didn't deserve to die for them to make another threat to our princess." Yes, the threat. Along with Kandi being marked with the symbol, another note had been found on her. This time, it had read: Don't test our patience, Your Highness.

After reading it, Elouise had set the note on fire and spent the rest of the day locked in her bedchamber. She answered no one, not even Fayre. Her meals were brought up to her and were taken back untouched. Yesterday, at noon, she finally left with her remaining maids in tow, but she didn't say much. Everild did her best to continue her duties like normal. Her usual light voice was raspy and low. And even though Gidget burst into tears every other moment, she refused to leave Elouise's side.

Elouise hadn't cried once. Eldon didn't expect her to in front of everyone. Still, he wondered what was going through her mind. She kept holding back, he could tell. She looked like she was holding her breath every single time anyone spoke to her. Eldon desperately wished he could heal a heartbreak.

It just didn't work that way.

"Knock, knock," Ivy's voice rang throughout the room.

Eldon turned his head and found her poking her head out in the doorway. She smiled innocently at him and waved.

"Good morning, Lady Ivy," Booker greeted.

"Just Ivy, please!" Ivy scurried inside and stopped in front of Eldon. Eldon took note of the lace charcoal gown she wore. Fitting for a ceremony and burial, which made this all feel too real. He, on the other hand, had just been told to wear his usual uniform.

"Are you ready?" she asked him. "Because I'm not." Eldon raised his eyebrows, waiting for her to elaborate. She lowered her voice as she added, "I'm... not really great at... at"—she gestured around them—"this."

Eldon nodded. "Yeah, me neither."

"I suppose I've been fortunate enough to not have dealt with much... death." She'd whispered the word like it was a forbidden thing to say. "There was my uncle's death, and I remember my mother being completely distraught because she'd lost her older brother. Even then, we didn't attend the funeral. I adored my uncle. He was wonderful, and he was the king.... I... I don't know. I think I was simply sad for Henry losing his father."

"Ain't nothin' wrong with that, Ivy," Eldon assured her. "Everyone deals with death differently. I'm kinda the same." He then offered her his arm. "We'll get through it together."