“I…” Frederick lets out a heavy breath, having trouble processing the conversation. “I don’t know—maybe his office? But, Alex, this is insane. You’re wrong.”
“We’ll find out.”
“Unhook the horses,” Frederick says to his driver. “It will be faster to ride.”
I pace as we wait, my throat tightening with every minute that passes. What does Lord Cavinder intend to do with Sabine?
* * *
I jerkLord Cavinder’s office door open, startling Phillip. He stands behind the reception desk, blocking the entrance to the rest of the rooms.
“What are you doing here at this time of night?” Frederick asks.
“Your father is conducting business,” Phillip replies in his gruff voice, glancing at me. “He said he’s not to be bothered.”
“What business does my father have that I’m unaware of?” Frederick demands.
“You’ll have to discuss it with him.” Phillip crosses his arms. “For now, I suggest you return home.”
I extend my hands in a plea, walking toward him. “Listen, Phillip, we just need to talk to him. One of my actresses has disappeared—”
When I punch him, he lets out a startled grunt, and he goes stumbling back.
“Alex!” Frederick hollers. “What are you doing?”
What am I doingis right. The man is a monster—easily twice my size.
I attempt to go around Phillip to break into the back rooms, but he recovers faster than I hoped. With blood streaming from his nose, the brute lowers his head and barrels toward me, catching me around the neck and slamming me into the wall.
I struggle against him, gasping as his hand cuts off my air.
Suddenly, Phillip roars and rears back. He and Frederick struggle, but I fall to the ground, gasping for breath. As soon as I’ve recovered, I’m on my feet, stumbling toward the door.
Before I make it, Sabine rushes through, her eyes huge as she takes in the scene. The case of Frederick’s cane lies discarded on the floor, and Frederick has managed to corner Phillip with his blade.
“You’re all right,” I breathe, yanking the princess into my arms and pulling her to the side of the room as Lord Cavinder and a man I haven’t seen in four years step into the foyer. I hold Sabine closer, knowing I’m a fool if I think I can protect her from him.
I go cold as I look at the Fae man, trembling with hate and the memory of the pain his presence usually brought. Ian meets my eyes, tipping his head in a cruel greeting. “If it isn’t the pet who got away. Hello, Alexander.”
Sabine’s hands tighten on my arms.
Ignoring Ian, Lord Cavinder’s brow knits. Perhaps he’s startled to find his son holding his man at the point of a sword. “What’s going on out here?”
Frederick stares at the princess, and then he turns back to his father, looking betrayed. “Why do you have Sabine?”
As if it’s the most reasonable thing in the world, Lord Cavinder says, “We had business to discuss.”
“What business?” Frederick demands.
With a long-suffering sigh, Lord Cavinder jerks his head toward Phillip and says to Frederick, “Is that really necessary? As you can see, Her Highness is fine.”
Frederick glances at his hostage, and then he lowers the sword. “I don’t know what’s going on here, and I don’t care. Whatever plans you have, leave Sabine out of them.”
“I’m afraid it’s too late for that.” Looking smug, Lord Cavinder holds up three official-looking pieces of parchment. “The princess has already signed the contracts—and as we all know, the Fae are bound to their promises.”
* * *
Sabine isquiet on the way back to the hotel. She stares at her lap, her eyes haunted. Frederick drives the carriage, giving us privacy and likely needing time alone to process the night's events.