I'm holding Raya in my arms as we cry together while watching Romero Junior's body get buried six feet under, right next to his fathers. I feel a hand on my shoulder and glance at Hayden who also has tears sliding down his cheeks and he brings both Raya and I to his chest before wrapping his arms around us and letting us cry in his arms.
Turns out the man who Keshia was with in the library was in fact not a commoner, it was Lincoln. Apparently they've been seeing each other for months plotting behind everyone's back to take the throne. I can't believe my sister was so stupid to betray her only family for a man who left her for the dead the minute he got what he wanted. She confessed to killing Romero too, and for what? All because Lincoln wanted to sit on the throne so badly, he killed his brother for it and Romero's only heir.
Later that day I'm reading the words 'My wife has the kindest soul but I know darkness lurks there too' in Romero's diary and I close my eyes for a moment before taking the letter I would've sent to Lincoln about a marriage proposal before throwing it in the fireplace. I hear footsteps behind me and because I know him better than I know myself, I don't turn around and he stops next to me before saying softly "You need to have a plan ready if Lincoln decides to attack the castle to kill us all" Hayden pauses like he doesn't actually want to say the next sentence "It's only a matter of time seeing as there is no longer a rightful heir"
My chest tightens and my bottom lip quiver but I bit down harshly on it before saying "Summon all the people of Ronder to the throne room then get Keshia"
I turn to leave but he gently grabs my wrist "What do you plan to do?"
"I plan to make an example"