COLE
I had never seen Mr. Barrett looked so terrified. His eyes were wide, his chest heaving as he struggled for breath.
“I-I’m sorry, Y-your Majesty,” he stammered the moment I stepped toward him. His mouth trembled – no, his entire body trembled.
“I-I didn’t mean to burst in unannounced – ”
“What happened?” I demanded.
Flynn stepped forward as well, flanking me with one hand on the sword at his side. I glanced past him and noticed the corridor was empty.
“Where’s Aiden?”
He was the King’s Guard assigned to tonight’s watch. He should have intercepted the servant and the lady, questioned their intentions, and prevented them from barging into my office. But he was nowhere in sight.
A sick feeling twisted in my gut.
“M-Mr. Moran h-has gone ahead,” Barrett stuttered, pointing wi
