Cara's Twelve by Chantel Seabrook Read Free Book Online

the ceremonial blood vows, her claim to the throne would be unfounded. Since she didn't participate in the ceremony, the Queen can't claim a coregency!”
    Reyn nodded and looked shaken. “She wouldn't have betrayed you. It's not in her nature. She was worried you would blame her if you found out what the Queen was plotting. That's why she didn't tell you.”
    “She knows I would never hold her mother's actions against her,” Cara sighed, but even as she spoke the words, she knew they were a lie. Maeve's insecurities blinded her to her own self-worth, and to believing that someone could love her unconditionally. Of course, Maeve would worry, but Cara didn't give a damn about the Queen or the crown. “I would have given her the crown if I could, and I wouldn't have cared if she had been made coregent. She's put herself at risk for no reason.”
    “It wouldn't have been that simple.” He placed his hand on her shoulder, and pulled her towards him. “She thought it was the only way to protect you.”
    Anger darkened her vision as she thought about what the Queen had done, and for a moment, all she could think about was hurting the evil witch as much as she had hurt Maeve. Cara struck her fists against his chest and cried out as she fully grasped the danger Maeve had put herself in, “We have to get her out of there. She's made herself disposable. A liability. Who knows what the Queen has planned, or what she's already done to her.”
    Reyn was silent for a long moment, but when he pulled back and stared down at her, his eyes were dark and filled with purpose. “I have an idea, but we're going to need help.”
    “The Queen has eyes and ears all over the palace. We can't trust anyone here.”
    He raked a hand over his face. “We're going to have to.”
    Both Cara and Reyn jumped at the sound of people approaching on the northern side of the corridor. Reyn pulled her deeper into the shadows and they held their breath until they were certain they were alone again.
    “We have to do this now!” Cara demanded. “Get her somewhere safe where the Queen can't hurt her.” She grabbed his hand and pleaded with him, “There are only two guards at the door, and they won't be expecting an attack. I can get a horse ready, maybe a carriage, but that might raise too much suspicion——”
    “Cara stop.” Reyn's frown deepened and he shook his head. “You aren't going to like this. I don't want to leave her there any more than you do, but in order for this to work we have to wait.”
    “You can't be serious.” Cara flinched and her stomach churned at the thought.
    “If we try to get her out now, what do you think the Queen will do? To Maeve? To you?”
    “I don't care what she does to me.”
    “We won't leave her. I promise you that. But we need to be patient.”
    Cara shook her head. “Then what's your plan?”
    Reyn was silent for a moment, and Cara could see him working out the details in his mind. “We're scheduled to leave in six days to travel to the province of Lydd.”
    “Which is why we need to get her out now. We can't help her if we are on the opposite side of the country.”
    A muscle twitched in Reyn's jaw. “Maeve is supposed to accompany you on the tour?”
    “Yes, but the Queen will never——.”
    Reyn held up his hand to cut off her words. “The palace will be in a state of pandemonium that day. There will be a large procession as we leave the city and most of the palace servants and guards will be in attendance, as will the Queen.”
    Cara bit her knuckles as Maeve often did when she was nervous. “You're right. We would have a better chance of getting her out undetected then.” Cara shook her head and worried. “But how can we be certain she won't send guards after us? If she sends a decree issuing Maeve to be returned, I have no power to stop her. We need to take Maeve somewhere safe. Somewhere the Queen will never find her.”
    “If we hide her now, we give the Queen reason to issue a claim