There is a serial killer in Castle Krakenburg. And they're plotting to murder the Queen of Nohr.
Prince Leo is in charge of the investigation, but with no evidence and little time, he's struggling to keep his sister safe. He desperately needs help...
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I never saw the moment of Sasha's murder, but I did see her body. Then I became acquainted and re-acquainted with it during my sleep in the weeks following her death. But those dreams had vanished a long time ago.
Or so I'd thought.
There was a young woman lying in the entrance to the gambling hall. I understood that much. Her hair was dark and wrapped around her neck, tangled up, half covering her pale face.Blood had seeped from her abdomen into her tunic and dried there. Red scratches crawled up the skin of her arms.
They'd said they thought she was my sister. But my sister didn't look like that. She hadn't looked like that when she'd left me.
Her eyes were open. That was the worst thing of all. They looked at me as I looked at her, both despairing and empty at once.
"Is that her?" someone asked beside me. "Can you identify her, miss? Is that your sister?"
My blood was roaring in my ears. My legs felt weak, and I was suddenly too hot in my leather coat. I fumbled with the fastenings, trying to take it off before I fainted.
"Grace?" Sasha said.
I blinked, and she was standing up in front of me. Her eyes were still lifeless, looking through my skin. The rest of the room was suddenly empty.
I'd never seen this in a dream before.
"Why did you kill him?" Her voice echoed around the hall. "I didn't want revenge. I didn't want anyone to die because of me. Why?"
All I could do was shake my head. Black spots appeared before my eyes.
"Why?" Sasha stumbled towards me, a trickle of blood slipping between her lips. "Why?"
My knees gave way, and the world turned dark.
***
"Captain Grace?" There was a knock on my door. "Wake up, Captain Grace!"
I shot upright in bed. My blankets fell off, and I pushed my damp fringe away from my forehead with a shaking hand. Where am I?
The sharp rapping came again. "Captain Grace!"
The sleepy fog in my brain cleared, and everything flooded back to me at once. I cleared my throat. "Yes, I'm awake. What is it?"
"Prince Leo wants you in the servants' quarters with no delay, ma'am!"
"All right." I groaned and pushed my blankets away completely. The servants' quarters?
Clara came in silently and lit the fire while I rummaged through my trunk. The first thing I pulled out was a short, navy blue dress. I almost cast it aside, then hesitated. Frocks and gowns had never been my thing, but my usual fashion sense had made me stick out like a sore thumb amongst the murder investigation committee last night. I was supposed to be Prince Leo's partner, now.
