The Missing Monarch by Rachelle McCalla

Author:Rachelle McCalla
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin (UK) Ltd
Published: 2012-08-22T04:00:00+00:00

EIGHT

Monica crouched beside Queen Elaine in the tiny bathroom, praying fervently that God would protect them from whatever was happening on the other side of the door. When a shot rang out, they both started and looked at each other in terrified fear, listening carefully for some sound that would indicate what had happened.

With visions of an injured Thad tearing through her thoughts, Monica had no choice but to reach for the doorknob. She had to see if he was okay.

“Is it safe?” the queen whispered, her trembling hand falling on Monica’s wrist as if to prevent her from opening the door.

“I’m just going to peek,” Monica assured her, the still silence from the other side providing no answers, making her sick with worry for Thad’s welfare. She’d never forgive herself if he died before she got a chance to tell him how she truly felt about him.

How did she feel about him? She’d thought she was furious with him and assumed that meant she hated him more than anyone but Octavian himself. But the thought of him being shot made her realize she was angry with him because she cared about him. The depth of her anger was a clue to the depth of her feelings. If she hadn’t cared about him to begin with, she wouldn’t have felt so hurt when he left her. If she didn’t have feelings for him still, then the thought of him being killed wouldn’t have squeezed her heart so painfully.

Silently she turned the latch and let the door fall open just a crack.

Through the sliver of light she could see the king lying peacefully in his bed, apparently undisturbed as machines beeped and ticked in constant rhythm. The curtain blocked her view of anything beyond, save for a growing puddle of red that spread across the floor.

The curtain billowed. Someone was moving on the other side.

“Is it safe?” The queen’s fingers gripped her arm.

“Monica?” Thad stepped past the curtain toward the bathroom.

“Thad!” She dived toward him. “Is it safe?”

“For now. I think.” He stretched his arms out toward her.

“Are you all right? Were you shot?” She fought the urge to fling herself into his arms, unsure if she was welcome there, but desperate to hold him. The fear she felt for him rippled through her, and she reached for him.

“I’m fine.” He pulled her close.

It wasn’t until Monica got past the privacy curtain that she saw where the blood had originated.

A man in a jacket and slacks lay slumped on the floor. The nurses were gathered around him, but one had already shaken her head.

Monica tightened her hold on Thad, soaking up his solid strength, leaning on him as she fought to understand what had happened. “Is it Lucca?”

“It was. He tried to shoot the king.” Thad held her tight.

She clung to him, grateful he was alive, more than aware that the body on the floor could have easily been his. A sob shuddered through her, and she whispered, “I’m so glad you’re okay.

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