“By order of King Hart, unhand the princess,” a knight orders. Larkin, I realize.
I feel a little better knowing at least Larkin, one of the Rebel plants, apprehends the man and not another member of the Force. I don’t think he intended to harm me. His eyes are far away, as if he’s not completely aware, lost. Does he suffer from the effects of the Virus?
The man breaks free of Larkin and bolts forward. Sebastian hauls me backward as Devlan steps in front of me. The man crashes into Devlan’s chest and is knocked to the ground. Larkin is close behind, V-Baton in hand.
A scream lodges in my throat. I prepare to order them not to hurt him, but I’m too late as the man is zapped.
He drops to his knees, and Larkin stuns him again. And then a third time. The man splays out over the cobbled roadway, his body seizing with convulsions. I cover my mouth, horrified, as he writhes and foam leaks over his lips.
I latch onto Devlan’s arm and gape from around his shoulder. My fingers dig into his solid arm. I feel Sebastian’s hand on my shoulder, trying to lead me away, but I cling there—staring at the man, petrified at seeing Larkin repeatedly shock him.
Larkin and another member of the Force lift the man, grabbing him under his arms, and start to drag him away. Before I turn away from the scene, Larkin’s gray-eyed gaze traps mine. A cruel smile drives up the corners of his mouth. I back away as his cold eyes penetrate mine, and his smile widens into a sneer.
If he’s merely playing his role as a Round Table knight, he plays it too well.
TWENTY-THREE
An hour after supper, I walk stealthily through the chill corridor. Devlan follows silently behind. Our day out of Court was cut short by the crazed man. I still have no idea what was wrong with him, or what he was trying to tell me. If it meant anything at all.
They’re coming for you.
His forbidding words echo in my mind. The look in Larkin’s eyes as he dragged the man off haunts me. Larkin seemed to take too much pleasure in executing punishment, and it was as if that punishment had been directed toward me.
Larkin wanted to keep the original Rebel plan, and now it feels like he’s personally targeting me. I recall that day at my farmhouse, when I elbowed him and spoke out against the Force. Surely he doesn’t hold a grudge against me because of that? He’s not even truly part of the Force. No, that cannot be the reason. If anything, he allowed me to get away with my treasonous actions. Now, I understand why.
I shake the pressing thoughts from my head and look straight ahead as I maneuver through the castle. It’s late, and the majority of the servants and courtiers are in their chambers. I peek around the corner of the long hallway leading to the secret room before I round the corner. When I reach the end of the hallway, Devlan surveys it one last time, then presses his hand to the wall and the door swings in.
He steps into the shadowed tunnel and grabs my hand, pulling me in front of him before he closes the door. Devlan grabs the torch and moves in front of me to lead the way down.
“You know something is wrong with Larkin,” I whisper, feeling my way along the stone wall. “What if he’s really a plant for Hart? You must have seen the look he gave me. He’s not right.”
Devlan hits the last step, turns and faces me—his face now level with mine as I’m two steps above him. “He was doing his job, Zara.” His brow furrows. “I agree Larkin has a mean streak, and he’s not happy about the change in command. But he’s not a plant for Hart.” He steps down into the dim room.
I march down and plant myself in his path. “How do you know for sure? Everyone here is carrying around secrets. How can you be sure of anyone’s true loyalties? How can I?” As I say it, I’m hit with the realization that it’s the truth. I have only just met all these players.
Devlan’s chest rises and falls, taking in deep breaths. “You’re going to have to trust me.”
“I do.”
“You’re going to have to trust that, no matter what, I won’t let anything happen to you.” His eyes bore into me, and I bite down on my lip. “Even if I didn’t know for sure he’s not a spy, I wouldn’t let Larkin anywhere near you regardless.”
He adjusts his posture, shifting more to one foot. “The man in the market was affected by the Virus.” His mouth pulls down at the corners. “Larkin’s expected to act as a knight of the Force.”
My eyebrows pinch together. “My father didn’t behave like that man.”
“Feel lucky your father didn’t suffer so.” He gives me an encouraging smile. “Now, we’re short on time.”
His words are a small comfort. My father didn’t suffer so before, that’s true, but he suffers plenty now.
I don’t question him anymore as we walk down the dark tunnel. When we near the secret entrance to the stable, he veers left, taking me down a tunnel I hadn’t noticed before. It opens up to another secret room, smaller than the chamber under the castle, but large enough to use for training.
I glance around as he places the torch in an iron sconce along the wall. “I thought you said it was too unsafe to be anywhere near the castle. Why are we here tonight?” I understand why when his face screws up, his eyebrows knitting together. Larkin is in charge of deleting our log. “You don’t really trust Larkin at all.”
Devlan releases an audible breath. “I trust that he’s not a spy. I trust that he witnessed the Force beat his father to death, and saw his mother used as a sacrifice and ripped apart. And that he wants to rescue his sister, the only family he has left, from Outside. I trust that he’s devoted to taking down Hart.”
I cringe. Hearing Larkin’s lot makes my situation seem minuscule in comparison.
Devlan’s eyes land hard on my face, fiery with the reflection of the torch. “But when it comes to you, I don’t trust his intentions. I trust no one with your life.”