A Queen's Sacrifice (Book #5)

Chapter Four

Henry lost track of time long ago and couldn't find it within himself to guess. He was certain all was well with Elouise and Haven. He couldn't imagine anything worse. Otherwise, he would be like Ashton, standing in the same spot and studying the sun's every movement—every shadow and every change of the light's direction.

"How does calling upon the wolves work?" Henry finally asked, for the sake of breaking the horrid silence. It felt like boulders crushing down on him. "Is it... magic?"

Ashton stared hard at the ground where the tree's shadow was currently shifting.

"Ash?" Henry tried again.

"Hmm?" Ashton glanced back at him.

"How do you call upon the wolves?"

Ashton faced forward. "They sense my urgency. I suppose you can say we are connected, and their loyalty knows no bounds—alright! The sun is officially setting. Rather than telling you, allow me to show—"

"Wait!" Henry raised his hand when he spotted Elouise and Haven running toward them. "They're fine."

Ashton's expression softened, and then he grinned. "I was beginning to worry."

Haven slowed her pace and stood beside him, rolling her eyes. "We were just getting started."

"I will assume you found or heard something useful?" Henry asked.

"They are celebrating with a ball in a few days," Elouise said. She joined his side and pulled something out from beneath the metal she wore.

Henry stepped back, eyeing her over. "What are you wearing?"

"The spell wore off and disguising ourselves as soldiers was more fun than repeating it," Haven answered, lifting her chin and smiling quite proudly.

"Please tell me you did not hurt these soldiers," Henry said.

Haven laughed. "I'm not a monster, Hank. I just put them to sleep. They should be awake by now and mostly clothed."

"That could've ended terribly," Ashton chided. "Anyone could've seen through your disguise."

"Oh, here we go!"

As they bickered with each other, Henry noticed Elouise moving away from them. He saw her eyes moving as if she was reading something, and he drew closer to her. She lowered the piece of parchment and faced him.

"This letter is from Udolf," she explained. "It is dated five days before my father's death."

Henry raised his eyebrows. "Oh."

"He is confessing to everything and apologizing for lying about Eldon." Elouise groaned. "I cannot believe he never attempted to send it or hand it to me."

"Would you have forgiven him if he had?"

"Well, I..." Her features softened. For a moment, Henry could've sworn she was back to the same Elouise he'd known his entire life.

"What is it?" he asked, reaching out his hand. Yet he hesitated to touch her when she huffed.

"It frustrates me," she said. "It would be so simple to kill him. I had my chance in Caelum and another one right now. He found me. However, before you worry, he did not expose me to anyone else. We were alone in the drawing room, and I couldn't do it, Henry. I want to, but I can't." She crumbled the letter into a ball and clenched her teeth.

Henry frowned. He almost wanted to ask her why she thought that, except he wasn't sure if she would even know. Or maybe she did, and maybe that was an answer he didn't want to know.

"I should also tell you... we saw Ivy."

He almost wanted to grimace at the way she'd said it. His chest tightened, and he swallowed hard. "Should I ask how she is?"

"Oh, she seems perfectly fine. Though you and I both know that doesn't quite mean what we wish it to."

"Did we move the meeting to over here?" Haven asked, stepping into view. "I did hear much more fascinating gossip concerning that pathetic ball, and it has everything to do with Aaron."

"Do not leave us waiting, then," Elouise said.

"He plans to flee the castle with a small group of knights during that night. With everyone distracted, they hope to take as many weapons with them as they can. They are going to meet with knights in the east in hopes of recruiting them as well. The rest got muffled, but I understood something about upcoming attacks on certain areas. It sounds like Udolf or Godwin want to wipe villages and towns off the map. Aaron wants to prevent that."

Elouise widened her eyes, immediately causing Haven to question her.

"The map on the desk," Elouise elaborated. "There were various areas crossed out. I've no doubt that is what it means, then. Ilsen is one of them, which makes perfect sense. Udolf would want to destroy Eldon's home."

"Wouldn't be the first time Inferum cantivat tried," Haven mumbled.

Henry gazed around their surroundings and scratched his head. "What are we to do, then?"

"If their plan is to happen the night of the ball, we will be there as well," Elouise said—precisely what Henry had assumed she would say. He hoped his disappointment wasn't as evident as it felt inside.

Haven gestured to herself. "We're not exactly dressed for the occasion."

"We will figure out something. It is a masquerade, too."

"Oh, that's lovely. But are you forgetting the color of your eyes? A mask isn't going to hide that."

"I know that all too well," Ashton murmured.

"I'm aware, too," Elouise assured them. "Still, I can keep my head low and no one will recognize me."

"We can dress the part, but wouldn't we need an invitation?" Henry asked.

"Not when we have our teleporting savior here," Haven jested, giving her a wink.

"We are not taking advantage of her power."

"Except we have to," Elouise told him. "They only check invitations at the front gate. If we are already within castle walls, they will have no reason to question us."

Henry sighed. "Ashton, is this safe?" He side-eyed Ashton who rubbed his neck in such a manner that he'd seen Eldon do many times.

"Well, no," Ashton bluntly replied, lowering his hand. "What other choice do we have?"

"Did you happen to hear anything about Fayre or her whereabouts?" Elouise asked Haven.

Haven frowned. "That name was never mentioned anywhere I went. If it makes you feel any better, I don't think Godwin killed her. That wouldn't be as fun if you weren't around to see it."

Henry shook his head. "How does that make her feel any better?"

Elouise moved away from them, straightening out the letter and reading it to herself again. Haven sat on the ground and flipped through her journal, murmuring about the ingredients she needed next.

Henry gave them each their space and gazed around the fields surrounding them. How strange it was that everything could look exactly the same yet also different. Perhaps it was the aura of its ruler—a negative energy plaguing the land and tainting its once peaceful air.

"As we know, I cannot join you at the ball," Ashton said, standing beside him.

Henry nodded and frowned even more. "At least you will be safe and unseen." He glanced over his shoulder at Elouise who now had the letter burning in her grasp. Ashton asked about it, and Henry took a deep breath.

"If it was of any significance, she would've told us by now," he said.

Elouise turned around, meeting his eyes. He squinted at her, and she simply wiped her hands on the trousers she wore and sat down with Haven.

"Are you certain about that?" Ashton questioned.

Henry furrowed his brows. "Yes."