Page 108 of Red Captive
“Please don’t do this.”
“It’s already done. Now, don’t make a scene, or I will be forced to have my guards chain and gag you. You can’t escape, so don’t even try it. I will see you very soon. I’m escorting you to the duke myself. You will be mated before the end of the day.”
Ice leaves, locking the door behind him. I go to the window, even though I know I’m several stories up. Five guards look up at me from below. I pick up the phone on his desk, but the line is dead.
All I can think is that Steel will be executed unless I can do something about it. I have to do something. What, though?
35
Steel
I stand holding the bars, straining to see down the hallway, waiting to see if Rex comes back. Just waiting for anything to happen. Anything at all. I half expect to see Ice. For him to come to gloat. Of course, that isn’t going to happen. He isn’t going to do anything to jeopardize his position. He’s definitely up to something, and I don’t like it. I need to tell Arctic. I’m sure he won’t listen, but I have to try.
Fuck! I need to do something.
Why is no one questioning me?
What the fuck is going on?
I sigh and start pacing my cell. Then I lie down, and I must fall asleep, even though I’m wired, because I wake up when my cell door clicks open. Someone is here. Finally!
I jump to my feet.
I’m shocked when Arctic walks in. He’s in full uniform, complete with royal crest. What is the king doing here? He heard me out. He found me lacking and had me locked up. What could have changed?
“What’s going on? I thought you didn’t believe me,” I voice my thoughts.
He folds his arms. “What gave you that impression?”
“Ummm…” I look around. “Geee, I wonder.”
“Don’t be a smartass, Steel. It doesn’t suit you. Actually, it does.” He starts to chuckle and then sighs; his shoulders look heavy. “I did believe you. I didn’t want to, but I did in the end. I just needed to be sure of the human. It’s hard for me to trust your judgment. You can’t blame me.”
“She’s trustworthy, I swear it. Ice is full of shit. He’s a liar. Everything you—”
“I know.” Arctic clenches his jaw. “I know, okay? I’ve known for a while,” he says in a gruff voice, looking down at his feet for a moment. “I’ve suspected for months, maybe longer, if I’m honest with myself. I’ve known for sure for a couple of weeks.”
“What are you saying?” I narrow my eyes.
“I’ve had this feeling that Ice was suspect. Things weren’t adding up. Cameras have this terrible habit of glitching when Ice is around. It doesn’t happen all the time, but enough that it has become a concern. Things just didn’t add up. When I look back, they haven’t added up for a long time. I decided to finally take action.” He shakes his head. “I didn’t want to believe it. I kept lying to myself. Kept putting off making a move that would get to the bottom of it. I had to have solid proof that Ice was plotting against me. I didn’t want to believe the worst of my own flesh and blood.”
“You found out that Ice is a liar. That he is planning something heinous.”
I take in Arctic’s slumped shoulders. His clouded stare. “Yes.”
“And it’s worse than you thought?” It suddenly hits me. “He was behind the shooting, wasn’t he?” I blurt. My blood runs cold. “He was behind your assassination attempt. Anya’s murder.”My voice breaks. “He’s planning another attempt. He wants you out?”
Arctic nods. “Yes. He was behind all of it. I placed cameras strategically around the palace, ones he didn’t know about. I put them in his office and bugged his phone. He’s so fucking arrogant that he never suspected. I realized quickly that he was dirty, as is Jakes.”
“The lieutenant,” I whisper. “I’m not shocked in the least.”
“I couldn’t act immediately because I needed to gather evidence. To find out who else was working with them. I wasn’t sure about you. I wasn’t sure right up until you broke into my bedroom. I’m sorry to say it, but you were top of the list as a suspect.”
I nod a couple of times. “That’s understandable.”
“You knew, Steel.” He shakes his head.
I frown. “Knew what?”