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, Cami. 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.”


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    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 pce. 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 pce. It wasn’t just guards who disappeared but maids too A hunt had to be put out for them and


    ording to thew, 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 thew.


    The two men were still in the dungeons and Ryker was busy with them while I tried to create some


    semnce of calm in the pce 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 hadpletely forgotten about them until the head of the spies sent a message informing


    me that they were done exploring and mapping out the tunnels.


    There was a small knock on the door followed by Christine poking her head in. “Is it alright if Ie


    in?” I waved her in and she smiled as she shut the door behind her. “Before you ask, Aurora is fast


    asleep and Audrey is doing her lessons.”


    I couldn’t help but smile softly at how well she knew me. The question had been at the tip of my tongue.


    “Thank you.”


    It wasn’t just for easing my worries, it was because Christine had been my anchor during everything.


    She didn’t have to help me out with my kids every day or pick up where I cked off but she did so


    withoutin and I was eternally grateful for that. I knew if I tried to say anything more than a ‘thank


    you‘ she would have picked offense.


    As if she understood, she smiled and ced 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 because


    they found a few of the runaways.”


    “You don’t have to,” I began but she shot me a hard look and I went silent.


    “You know that Ryker will not take no for an answer and frankly neither will I.”


    Iughed because I knew it was true so I stopped protesting and allowed – her sit down while the


    representatives of the spies walked in. Theyid out their mapping of the tunnels and my eyes widened


    when I saw just howrge andplicated it was. It looked like one giant maze and I knew it would


    take years to know it from memory.


    “Are you sure?” I asked and the one closest to me–a female- nodded.


    “We mapped it out from different entrances just to be sure, this is it. We alsobeled it so you know


    where everything is. It is a hugework and it leads under the castle and out of it. It was adventurous


    if I were to say so myself.”


    I stared at the map and carefully rolled it up then ced it in myp. “What would you suggest that we


    do?”


    The spies looked shocked. They cast each other wary looks before turning back to me. “I’m not sure


    that I heard you right, your majesty.


    “You did. You are the ones who had to explore the tunnels for weeks. What do you think is best?”


    “I don’t know,” she began unsure. “Sealing them up would 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 to waste.”


    “That is true,” one 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


    when a sound is made, you will not hear it. It is a huge risk.


    ??


    The woman wanted to respond 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 was asking.


    “I agree with her,” she began slowly. “It might be importantter.”


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


    Make sure no copies of this map were made. If anyone is found talking about this, they will be charged


    with treason and face death. Am I clear?”


    “Yes, your majesty.”


    your


    I nodded and they all filed out of the room. As soon as they left, I turned to Christine and handed her


    the map of the tunnels. “Keep this safe with you. If it is left in the pce vaults then there are too many


    unpredictable. Create a fake one and put it in the pce vaults in case someone decides to use it.”


    Her eyes widened. “Are you sure?”


    “If anyone is ever going to use the tunnels without our knowledge, we


    might as well make sure that they don’t seed. Can you do this?”


    She nodded and gently took it out of my hands. “I will make sure no one but me knows where it is.”


    Once that was done, I left 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 note 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 I could not reach him.


    I went out searching for him making sure to ask the guards but nobody had seen him. It was like he


    had disappeared from the surface of the earth. I forced myself to keep calm as I walked through the


    halls of the pce in vain. It took almost one hour before I felt a tug in the mate bond. It felt like


    confusion and worry but I knew it wasn’t mine. I allowed it consume me and lead me out of the pce


    doors.


    I found myself walking through the gardens until I got to the edge of the forest. It led me to a small


    stream and that was where I found Ryker. He was shirtless with his back to me and I saw his shirt lying


    on the floor stained with blood. I took slow steps towards him and he didn’t notice _my presence until I


    identally stepped on a twig. His head turned in an instant and for a split second, I saw a sh of the


    predator that everyone was terrified of before his eyes softened upon realizing who I was.


    “I was searching for you,” I spoke softly as I took the spot next to him. I reached out for his hand but he


    wouldn’t let me hold it and I realized that it was because although he had tried to wash off the blood,


    his palms were still red. “I don’t mind.”


    “I do.”


    “What’s wrong, Ryker?” I asked and he shrugged. There was a look in his eyes that I couldn’t decipher.


    “You could at least try talking to me.”


    “It’s been a while since I have had to hurt anyone,” he sounded like he was speaking more into the


    wind than to me. “I forgot how powerful it could feel. There is a rush thates from having someone’s


    life in your hands. It is addictive.”


    I didn’t quite understand the appeal so I just listened.


    “It brings a rush with it, your blood is rushing in your ears and you feel untouchable.”


    “So what’s the problem?”


    He turned to me. “Nothing, I just needed a second to calm myself before


    He trailed off and that was when I realized what the expression in his eyes was- want. It was so intense


    that it threatened to knock me off my feet. All I could do was stare and swallow deeply. Ryker reached


    out and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ears. He grimaced when he looked down at his hands on


    my skin and tried to pull it away but I stopped him by grabbing it.


    “Cami,” his voice was hoarse. “I don’t think you should be touching me right now.”


    “Why not?” he tried to pull away again.


    “I can’t be gentle with you right now.”


    “I don’t want gentle.”