Ink and Blood

Chapter 10

Finn watched Clara move away from Kyrian and went to stand close to the King. Miles followed along after her. He saw Kyrian and Gavin talking, and Finn moved away from some of his so-called admirers to stand to the side of the room. He glanced around to find a pretty girl close to his age, smiling at him. He politely smiled back then turned his gaze to Clara and Miles dancing together.

"I'm Violet Morgan, from the Morgan Estate. You might have heard of me." The girl was standing right next to him, batting her eyes up at him. Finn grew uncomfortable, he shook his head, hoping she didn't recognize him as the thief who broke into her house one time and stole her jewelry.
"I'm not from around here." He said, shifting from one foot to the other. She grinned. "You're a foreigner! It's a pleasure to meet you. What is your name?" He turned to face her and got a view of expensive perfume and she was dripping with jewelry.
"I'm Alexander." He gave her his undercover name. He looked back at Clara who threw her head back and laughed at something Miles had said.

God, she's so beautiful, he thought. Her smile lit up her face and he chuckled. For the last few weeks, he'd gotten to know her, she became the one thing that was right in this world.
I'm so in love with her, his mind went straight to when they kissed. He smiled at the memory, then noticed Violet was still talking
"Excuse me, I am already spoken for." He said. She looked at who he was staring at and saw the girl he was referring to.
"A shame, really. I guess I can't have everything. But if you two don't work out, you know where to find me." He nodded distracted, not caring what she meant, and walked to where Clara was. Before he reached her, he heard people gasp to where the King was.

He turned and saw the King slumped over on a table. Finn raced toward him and heard people whisper.
"I don't know, he gasped and then just turned blue."
"I think he had too much to drink."
"He was making a choking sound when he swallowed his wine."
Finn helped and a few guards picked the King up. Finn looked at the guard who was holding him up. "What has happened?" The guard shook his head. "I do not know, he was shaking and then he collapsed. Let's bring him to his bed-chamber." The guards assured the disturbed crowd that the King was ill and to keep having a good time. Clara was next to Finn.

"I'll walk with the King to his chambers and make sure no one enters. This doesn't look right." She was correct. The King was carried out of the room. Clara followed behind them. Kyrian pulled Finn aside.
"Keep an eye on Silas, do not let him escape. The King might have been poisoned." Finn nodded. He turned and saw Silas looking suspiciously by the wall. Miles left to go guard the King. After a few minutes, Silas disappeared behind a group of dancers. Finn looked around but couldn't find him. He had a bad feeling. Finn turned to Gavin next to him.

"I have an unpleasant feeling about something. Can you try and find Silas? He slipped away." Finn said to Gavin, who nodded and left to find the bastard. Finn walked out of the room into the hallway. He heard a girl scream. Clara!

He ran and turned a corner to find Miles in a headlock by a man in black. Finn reacted instantly. He shoved the man into the wall, when Miles caught his breath, he grabbed the man, and together, Finn and Miles pushed the man into the wall and knocked him out.
"Thanks, mate. He jumped out of nowhere and grabbed me. He almost had me." Miles gasped. Finn grinned.
"You scream like a girl."
"I do not scream like a girl." Miles protested. "Well, you sure did a high-pitched scream."

"I did not scream."

"Oh, yeah, then what did you do?" Finn teased. "That was merely me trying not to have a heart attack with a little dignity." They laughed over the lame excuse. Then Finn remembered that whoever attacked Miles was after the King and Clara was with the King. He didn't hesitate when he ran up the marble stairs, with Miles trailing behind him. Finn tried to run as fast as he can to the chambers before anyone could harm the King or Clara.