Chapter 81

CAMILLA’S P.O.V

“You’re out early,” I began slowly as I got out of the water. “I thought it would take at least another half hour.”

“It would have if you were still there,” I cocked my head to the side. “I was going easy on him because of you, Camilla. I only needed five minutes before he agreed to give me a name in exchange for a night of rest.” I was more shocked than horrified. I knew Ryker was brutal and feared but I didn’t know it was this bad. He took a step closer to me. “Are you scared of me?”

I shook my head and I saw him smile.

He reached out with the intention of touching me but he noticed the blood on his hands and pulled away. “I should get cleaned up.”

I nodded in understanding and stepped away from the tub. I was almost by the door when I realized I had another question. I heard him pulling off his clothes so I didn’t turn back.

“The name he gave you- what happens now?”

“Now, we spend the night with our daughters. Tomorrow, we go and find him.”

“What if he runs before then?”

“Trust me, he won’t.”

It wasn’t until morning that I understood why he was so sure that the man would not run. I found that he was another trusted guard in the palace. I could not understand how Frederick had managed to get these people to turn on the crown. It was both annoying and heartbreaking because I was not sure who I could trust anymore.

By morning, out was obvious that we were weeding out traitors and about five people disappeared from the palace. It wasn’t just guards who disappeared but maids too A hunt had to be put out for them and according to the law, it was death on sight. I hated it but there was not much I could do about it. They had made their choice and I was not above the law.

The two men were still in the dungeons and Ryker was busy with them while I tried to create some semblance of calm in the palace because everyone was freaking out over the knowledge that there were spies. The

truth was that I was worried too but I had to remain calm. I met with the elders who dove into a self–righteous speech about how weeding out the spies was the right task which I found weird considering the fact that they were against it in the beginning.

I could only take five minutes of it before I turned to them with boredom in my eyes. “Are you going to sit here all day and sing your praises or do you have actual information that can help?”

There was a minute of shocked silence followed by mumbling before they stood to their feet and walked out. As soon as they left, I buried my head in my hands and muttered a small curse. I just needed a few seconds to myself before my next meeting with the spies to figure out what to do about the tunnels. I had completely forgotten about them until the head of the spies sent a message informing me that they were done exploring and mapping out the tunnels.

poking her head in. “Is it alright if I come in?” I waved her in and she smiled

well she knew me. The question had been at the tip of my tongue.

She didn’t have to help me out with my kids every day or pick up where I slacked off but she did so without complain and I was

placed a hand on my shoulder. “It was no big deal. Now, Ryker asked me to sit in with you at the meeting with the spies. He is running a bit behind schedule

shot me a hard look and I

for an

protesting and allowed – her sit down while the representatives of the spies walked in. They laid out their mapping of the tunnels and my eyes widened when I saw just how large and complicated it was. It looked like one giant maze and I knew it would take years to know it from memory.

I asked and the one closest to me–a female-

entrances just to be sure, this is it. We also labeled it so you know where everything is. It is a huge network and it leads under the castle and out of

it up then placed it in my lap. “What would you suggest that

cast each other wary looks before turning back to me. “I’m not sure that

explore the tunnels for weeks. What do you think is

be the safest option but,” she trailed off but I gestured for her to continue. “The tunnels are not general knowledge. As it stands, only the royal family and the spies know about it. It could be useful in the case of an emergency evacuation. It would be a shame for the tunnels to go

of her colleagues cut in, “but what happens if it gets _out? The tunnels are so quiet that unless you are directly next to a wall

made, you will not hear

وو

but I held up a hand to stop both of them. I had heard all I needed to and I was already aware of what I wanted to do, I just wanted to hear from them. I turned to Christine and cocked my head to the side. She knew what I

began slowly. “It might

it is settled,” I saw Christine and the spy woman smile. “Breathe no word of this to anyone. Make sure no copies of

“Yes, your majesty.”

your

to Christine and handed her the map of the tunnels. “Keep this safe

one and put it in the

widened. “Are

going to use the tunnels without our knowledge, we

make sure that they don’t

out of my hands. “I will make sure

in search of Ryker. I made my way towards the dungeons but was told that he had already left. I was confused as to why he would leave and not come looking for me. The confusion got even worse when I realized that he was not in our room. I began to worry when I tried his mind link and realized that

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